LifeSmarts is the national youth education program and competition of the National Consumers League.
Meet the
National Team
and
State Coordinators
Meet the
National LifeSmarts Program Staff
Cheryl Varnadoe
Program Director - LifeSmarts
Cheryl joined LifeSmarts in 2018 as the LifeSmarts Program Outreach Coordinator and now serves as LifeSmarts Program Director . Cheryl has a wealth of experience in youth development, Family and Consumer Science education, facilitation and communication. She telecommutes from Georgia and is a “Double Dawg”, having received her Master’s of Education and Bachelor’s of Science – FACS Education/Extension degrees from the University of Georgia. Before joining the LifeSmarts Program and the National Consumers League, Cheryl retired from the University of Georgia and Georgia 4-H after serving 34 years as a Georgia State Extension 4-H Specialist and County Extension 4-H Agent. She served as the Georgia State LifeSmarts Coordinator for 9 years, and received the LifeSmarts Outstanding State Coordinator Award in 2018.
She and her husband love to cheer on their son who is a Collegiate Clay Target champion. Cheryl gets her peace on the water, loves lake life, music, UGA football, and she is a 4-H volunteer leader / coach. Her favorite part of LifeSmarts is the seeing competitors excited about LifeSmarts and observing them grow in their knowledge of essential life skills that are embedded in the program while they learn teamwork, decision making and leadership.
Cristina Counts
Associate Program Director - Curriculum
Cristina Counts is the Associate Program Director – Curriculum at LifeSmarts. She joined the LifeSmarts team in July, 2024. Born and raised in San Diego, Cristina graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She pursued her passion for current events as a TV News Producer for 11 years in San Diego, Albuquerque, and Dallas/Fort Worth. Cristina then transitioned into education, like her mother, sister and brother before her, by teaching everything from Bilingual 5th grade to High School Alternative Education. Most recently, she taught all subjects to a small class of high schoolers at a private school where she became actively involved in LifeSmarts. As a coach, she led a team to three Texas State Championships and the Sweet 16. Cristina previously contributed to LifeSmarts as a consultant by writing curriculum on Healthcare, Post-secondary Education, and Social Media Awareness. She is excited to bring her experience and creativity to the LifeSmarts team.
Elena Robertson
Associate Program Director - Operations
Elena serves as the LifeSmarts Associate Program Director – Development / Operations. She joined the National Consumers League in April 2020 as the Development Manager focused on the LifeSmarts Program. She works alongside the Director for Development and the LifeSmarts Team to provide fundraising support. Since joining NCL, Elena has increased LifeSmarts’ engagement with corporate partners and built upon the LifeSmarts Alumni Program. Elena created the LifeSmarts Alumni Advisory Board, a group of young professionals and LifeSmarts Alumni who help shape the programming and engagement of the LifeSmarts Alumni Association.
Elena has been working in non-profit administration for nine years, previously lending her fundraising talents to the Shakespeare Theatre Company, National Public Radio, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Elena is from Fairfax, VA; she holds a Bachelors of Arts from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Arts from the University of London. When not focusing on LifeSmarts, Elena enjoys volunteering for causes that she cares about and is an avid marathon runner.
Ryan Barhoush
LifeSmarts Competition Coordinator
Ryan is responsible for the LifeSmarts database and website. He also serves as the competition coordinator for the National LifeSmarts Varsity Championship. He joined the National Consumers League in January 2022 as a Program Associate supporting both the LifeSmarts Program and NCL’s Food Safety & Nutrition public policy area. Prior to joining NCL, Ryan interned at Gulf International Forum as a research analyst studying OPEC. Besides being a consumer advocate, Ryan is passionate about foreign policy, corruption and transparency issues, and anti-trust monopolies in the marketplace. Ryan received his BA in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.
Lisa Hertzberg
LifeSmarts Consultant & Retired LifeSmarts Program Director Emeritus
Lisa has been with LifeSmarts for 30 years — first as a State Coordinator, and for 24 years as the National LifeSmarts Program Director. Lisa retired in July 2024. She continues to serve the program as LifeSmarts Program Director Emeritus and part-time LifeSmarts Program Consultant. Lisa loves hearing stories from coaches and students about what LifeSmarts has meant to them! Strategy, partnerships, and developing educational materials and competitions are some of Lisa’s favorite parts of LifeSmarts. And she is gratified to know that the program has reached more than 1.5 million students in the last 30 years!
Meet the State
Coordinators
NCL and LifeSmarts are fortunate to partner with amazing State Coordinators who are the face of the program at the state and local level. Visit the Coordinator page for more information on how to become a LifeSmarts State Coordinator.
Jessica Street
Arkansas
Jessica Street is the County Extension Agent 4-H at the University of Arkansas. Jessica supports Lifesmarts because it is a great opportunity to enhance our 4-H consumer education and life skills knowledge. It is practical information that all youth need to learn as they graduate and head out into the “real world”. My favorite parts of LifeSmart is the National Championship and seeing the excitement in a members eye when the information they are learning finally clicks and they understand it! I’m so excited for this opportunity to bring LifeSmarts to more youth in Arkansas!
Rachel Chaney
Arkansas
Rachel Chaney serves as the 4-H Healthy Living Program Associate for Arkansas is the County Extension Agent 4-H at the University of Arkansas.
Karen Ellington
California
Karen Ellington is the Assistant Principal at San Luis High School in California. Karen became involved in LifeSmarts as a coach for teams from her high school and took teams to the LifeSmarts National Competition for several years. As a coach, she has seen how LifeSmarts can directly impact students’ lives. They learn so much more in LifeSmarts that can immediately translate into their world than they do in any academic class. The best part about LifeSmarts for Karen is always the in-person competitions and the interactions between the students. Even though they are in a competition, they are making friends and supporting one another.
Sahvanna Mease
Colorado
Family and Consumer Science teacher Sahvanna Mease was named the 2025 recipient of the Jump$tarts Neil Milner New Ideas Award, which honors Jump$tart’s second Chair, whose tenure was marked by an era of fresh approaches and new ideas. The Jump$tart National Educator Conference was founded during his term with a good deal of his personal involvement. She was also honored with the LifeSmarts Coach of the Year award in 2024.
Ms. Mease introduced LifeSmarts and financial literacy to her student population in a completely new way, establishing partnerships and integrating programs within her course for the first time. Seizing the opportunity, she collaborated with Jump$tart to host Jump$tart Teen Teach-In events, empowering her students to take their learning to elementary schools and creating a district-wide focus on LifeSmarts and financial literacy and also, helped Jump$tart present the program to the National Association of State Treasurers’ Treasury Management Training Symposium. She explains, “I’m passionate about teachingLifeSmarts and financial literacy in a fresh, accessible way that resonates with all students, regardless of the class they’re in.”
George Horn
Delaware
George Horn is a retired teacher and LifeSmarts coach who now serves as the volunteer LifeSmarts State Coordinator in the state of Delaware.
Sarah Elwell
District of Columbia
Sarah Elwell is an Assistant Director of Professional Learning at the American Federation of Teachers. I support LifeSmarts because as a former coach I have seen the transformational power of the programming and students gain valuable, practical knowledge from the program that will help them in all facets of their lives. My favorite part of LifeSmarts is the learning, the connections & friendships, the FUN!
Christopher Green
Florida
Christopher Green is the Public Relations Manager and Outreach Coordinator for the Division of Consumer Services at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Division of Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints and a consumer resource for protection, information, and education. As a consumer education program, LifeSmarts ties right in with the department’s philosophy that an educated consumer is a safer consumer. Christopher looks forward to promoting LifeSmarts in Florida and to making a positive difference in the education of Florida’s young consumers.
Brittani Lee
Georgia
Brittani Lee is a Northwest District 4-H Program Development Coordinator with the University of Georgia Extension/Georgia 4-H, and began serving as a Coordinator in 2018. Lee was a LifeSmarts coach and has served as a member of the Georgia State LifeSmarts committee since 2013. Georgia 4-H supports LifeSmarts because it is an engaging youth program that aids Georgia 4-H in meeting our mission of providing positive youth development opportunities. The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. LifeSmarts truly embodies this mission by providing a fun, safe, and engaging learning environment for middle and high school students to develop valuable life skills that can aid them in adulthood. My favorite part about LifeSmarts is watching not only the students, but the coaches and volunteers learning along side one another.
They truly have fun together in this program. You can see through the laughter, smiles, and jokes LifeSmarts is truly the BEST
program to showcase to youth that we are all lifelong learners. Adults may know a lot, but we don’t know everything and LifeSmarts is a prime opportunity to aid youth in being ok with not knowing everything all the time. That’s life. That’s LifeSMART!
Theresa A. Kong Kee
Hawaii
Theresa A. Kong Kee is the Investor Education Specialist at the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in the Business Registration Department, Investor Education Program. Teresa has served as the state coordinator of Hawaii LifeSmarts since 2013. She believe LifeSmarts offers a unique opportunity for students to learn about real consumer and financial topics that will help them now, and in their future. The content, friendships and overall experience can be life-changing for many students! Her favorite part of LifeSmarts at the state level is seeing the excitement of the students as they give it their all to win and represent Hawaii at the national competition. At the national level, she enjoys seeing the Hawaii team participate and embrace the total experience that NCL provides through the competition and supporting events. Theresa is grateful for all the community supporters and staff/volunteers who contribute to the program annually. After more than 10 years as the state coordinator, she is proud to say that the LifeSmarts Program is more than a competition, it’s an excellent opportunity for students to grow and better themselves both academically and personally. Theresa was honored as the LifeSmarts State Coordinator of the Year in 2021.
Lauryn Reich
Hawaii
Lauryn Reich is the Securities Multi-Media Education Specialist at the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, in the Business Registration Division, Investor Education Program. Lauryn is serving as Assistant Coordinator to the Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts Program and joined in 2025. She is enthusiastic about making learning fun and appreciates how LifeSmarts offers a game show-style competition that instills students with real-world skills. Lauryn is assigned to promote LifeSmarts in Hawaiʻi and is inspired by the program’s ability to equip youth with the consumer and financial knowledge that they can carry with them through their lives.
Dr. Chuck Stamper & Kim Schrader, Ph.D
Kentucky
Chuck Samper is an Extension Special Projects Coordinator, Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, he has been a LifeSmarts State Coordinator for 3 years. 4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. The four H’s represent the idea of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. These are the values members work on through fun and engaging programs. 4- H supports LifeSmarts because it believes in providing positive development experiences that all youth to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity and it fits completely within the educational goals of the KY 4-H Program. 4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. Chuck’s favorite part of LifeSmarts is the State Event and all the wonderful resources 4-H hopes to increase participation in the Kentucky program this year.
Charlene Nichols
Kansas
The Kansas Council for Economic Education is a longtime supporter of the LifeSmarts Program. The Council believes that LifeSmarts topics are the things most adults wished they would have learned in school but did not. LifeSmarts’ competitive format is a great way of encouraging many students to work just a little bit harder than they might have while rewarding them for their hard work. The Council loves hearing from previous LifeSmarts students how much they appreciate all the knowledge gained from LifeSmarts. That makes all the work worthwhile! The knowledge gained in LifeSmarts is information every student will see as valuable to their future, regardless of their career choice.
Renee R. Gassen & Dianne Cashio
Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Justice has supported LifeSmarts since 2013. Renee Roberts Gassen, Director of Outreach and Dianne Cashio, Outreach Representative serve as our State Coordinators. Attorney General Liz Murrill strongly encourages Louisiana high school students to participate in the LifeSmarts program to strengthen their consumer knowledge and build solid skills for the future. The General and her department say their favorite part about LifeSmarts is watching the students engage, learn, and compete.
Alva Amaker
Maryland
Alva is President/CEO of A&A Athletic Consulting. LLC in the state of Maryland. Professionally Alva’s experience has afforded her 26 years in management and program development. She has served 25+ years in the health industry as a health educator, emergency medical technician, and community health consultant providing emergency response training, community education on chronic diseases, and direct service provider in adolescent drug treatment and case management. Alva also served 20+ years in the sports industry as a coach, an official, event staff, and 15 years in athletic administration. Alva supports LifeSmarts because it creates the ability for students to apply learning to life and feel that it is critical to building self-sufficient young adults. Life Smart provides the connection to situational life skills. Her favorite part of LifeSmarts is the daily quizzes.
Mary Hillmann
Minnesota
The South Central Service Cooperative serves as the Minnesota State LifeSmarts Coordinator. The organization is represented by Mary Hillmann, the Academic Program Administrator at South Central Service Cooperative, who has been the MN state coordinator since 2015. LifeSmarts fits well within the Cooperative’s programming of student events and activities. Mary’s favorite things about LifeSmarts are its’ helpful curriculum for educators and the face-to-face state competition, which she believes is great fun. SCSC works hard to have more participation in the LifeSmarts program and believes the practical, yet fun format is great for all students across the state of Minnesota.
Chelsey Greene
Nebraska
Chelsey Green is the Human Sciences and Education Career Field Specialist and Nebraska FCCLA State Adviser at the Nebraska Department of Education. Nebraska FCCLA is excited to support LifeSmarts as a way for members and students to apply the knowledge they are learning in Career and Technical Education classes and be recognized their achievements. The educational materials that are available to teachers through LifeSmarts are also great benefits to working with the organization. The opportunity for LifeSmarts to be seamlessly integrated into various CTE classrooms is an exciting opportunity for educators across Nebraska. Chelsey looks forward to seeing their students find success through this program. Chesley is also excited to see students put their knowledge to the test and gain recognition for their efforts.
Joanne Zylak
New Hampshire
JoAnn Zylak is the Business/Computers/Economics and Law Professor at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy in New Hampshire. JoAnn heard about LifeSmarts from NH FBLA and the previous NH Coordinator; I have integrated it into my curriculum every day and love it, I am a trivia guru, so it is perfect for me! My favorite part about LifeSmarts is the Daily Questions! JoAnne is looking forward to making it easier to add a team and compete with FBLA.
Heidi LaBree, Megan Sauer, & Katie Richard
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
Heidi, Megan, and Katie serve as co-coordinators for the North Dakota LifeSmarts through the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. One of the key pillars of our department is financial literacy. We support LifeSmarts because it provides young people with the skills and knowledge to be successful after high school. Our favorite part of LifeSmarts is that it makes learning life skills enjoyable.
Cathy Allen
Oklahoma
Cathy Allen serves as Associate Extension Specialist with Oklahoma State University, where she is responsible for coordinating 4-H curriculum and Healthy Living programming. Cathy is excited to be coordinating LifeSmarts and introducing the program to Oklahoma youth Oklahoma 4-H is excited to be a part of LifeSmarts because they feel it aligns perfectly with the 4-H mission of developing skills for life.
Ayah Favors
South Carolina
Ayah Favors is the Public Information Coordinator at the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs is committed to protecting and educating our community members. We fully support young adults learning about their consumer rights and responsibilities, as well as developing their own personal finance skills. What I love most about LifeSmarts is its dedication to student learning, providing ample opportunities for participants to deepen their understanding of consumer responsibilities and the marketplace. This is my first year working with LifeSmarts as a state coordinator, and I’m so excited to facilitate such an awesome opportunity for students all across South Carolina.
Kim Edmonds
Virginia
Kimberly Edmonds is a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension in Henrico County. She co-coordinates the program with Cherry Hedges and began serving in 2012. Kim considers LifeSmarts a natural fit for the Extension because it supports the Extension’s role of providing information, education, and tools that all citizens can use every day to improve their lives in a fun way. The Virginia Credit Union support the Virginia LifeSmarts Program. Kim’s favorite part of LifeSmarts is meeting the teams during the state competition.
Megan Pintus
West Virginia
Megan Pintus is the Business & Marketing Teacher at John Marshall High School in West Virginia. Megan is a FBLA Advisor, 4-H Leader, and Technology Student Association Executive Secretary. I have been involved as a LifeSmarts coach since 2018, I feel that LifeSmarts is one of the most beneficial and engaging programs available to middle and high school students. I want to work on expanding LifeSmarts within West Virginia and get programs such as FBLA, 4-H, and WV TSA to embrace the opportunities available. LifeSmarts is a wonderful asset to any organization and provides turn key activities, programs, and information for teens to broaden then life knowledge and best prepare to be knowledgeable consumers in their future. The flexibility of the competitions allows any group to participate in a manner that best fits their organization. My favorite part of LifeSmarts may be seeing the competition first hand at the National Championship. There is no feeling like the energy reverberating through the air in those competition rooms. The comradery and teamwork within LifeSmarts is unmatched and I hope to bring that same opportunity to the West Virginia level of the competition.
Tammie McCarthy
Wisconsin
Tammy McCarthy is a Retired Educator and a Wisconsin State LifeSmarts Coordinator assisted by Erin Bykowski who is also a Wisconsin LifeSmarts Coordinator. Tammy supports LifeSmarts she believes that the information learned and the skills gained will help all participants be better consumers wherever their path takes them. . Her favorite part of LifeSmarts is the face-to-face competitions and meeting all the students at Nationals.
