Leadership - National Consumers League

Board of Directors

The National Consumers League, a private, nonprofit membership organization, is governed by a board of directors with experience in consumer protection and advocacy, law, business, labor, and public affairs. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCL has affiliated members from every state and collaborates with an extensive nationwide consumer action network. Organizational affiliations are provided for identification purposes only. Board members serve on an individual basis.

Officers

Joi Chaney, J.D. (Secretary) - J.O.I Strategies

Joi O. Chaney is the founder of J.O.I. Strategies, which develops strategies for organizations and companies seeking to achieve Justice, Opportunity, and Inclusion for America’s underserved communities. Located in Washington, DC but with interests in Greater Washington, DC, New York State and Florida, J.O.I. Strategies seeks to further civil and criminal justice, expand economic opportunity, and advance diversity and inclusion for all, beginning with women and girls and persons of color.

Joi is a native of Orlando, FL but is an active member of the Greater Washington, DC Community, where she lives with her family. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Girls, Inc. of the Metropolitan Washington, DC Area and is an active member of the local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated. Joi is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Law School.

Jon Leibowitz (President) - Federal Trade Commission (Retired)

Jon Leibowitz is a retired partner with Davis Polk & Wardell’s Washington DC and New York offices. His practice focused on the complex antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions, as well as government and private antitrust investigations and litigation. He also provided counsel in the developing area of consumer protection and privacy law as well as advocacy involving Congress. Jon was Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from 2009 through 2013 and was noted for his bipartisanship. He served as a commissioner from 2004 to 2009. While at the FTC, his priorities included health care and high-tech competition. Jon attended the University of Wisconsin where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in American History and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1984 from the New York University School of Law.

Richard Fiesta, J.D. (Treasurer) - Alliance for Retired Americans

Richard Fiesta is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Retired Americans. The Alliance is a 4-million-member organization that works to create an America that protects the health and economic security of retirees and older Americans by rewarding work, strengthening families, and building thriving communities. Members are retired union members as well as members of community-based organizations. Key issues for the Alliance include the financial stability of the Social Security and Medicare systems and other matters that are important to retirees, such as pension protections and long-term care.

Sharon White-Páez (Vice President) - Potomac Waves Media

Sharon White Páez has created cutting edge, multi-lingual paid media campaigns and delivered victory for some of the nation’s highest office holders. Her experience ranges from working with incumbent U.S. Senators and Governors, candidates for U.S. President to state legislative candidates and local campaigns. Sharon’s rich, multicultural background gives her unique insight on how to best reach diverse communities and she is a frequent guest on speaking panels. She trains female candidates, campaign managers and committee staff on cultural competency and media planning, leveraging her years of experience to create a new generation of leaders and communicators.

Directors

Amy L. Hinojosa - MANA, A National Latina Organization

Amy Hinojosa is the President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization, the oldest and largest Latina membership organization in the United States, and its sister organization, MANA Action Fund. MANA focuses on strengthening Latina women and girls through mentoring, education, and advocacy. The signature MANA Hermanitas® program is the only national mentoring program specifically designed for Latina youth. Prior to returning to MANA in 2013, she served as Executive Director of the National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP), NAHP Media LLC, and the National Hispanic Press Foundation (NHPF), based in Washington, DC. Amy has extensive experience working on local and national grassroots campaigns targeted at mobilizing voices and actions in Hispanic communities across the country. Community education and engagement have been central to Amy’s work, with a particular emphasis on youth.

As a representative of MANA, Amy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), HTTP – The National Latino Voice in Tech & Telecommunications Policy, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), and as Secretary of LIDERAMOS. Amy has been a LATINO Magazine, Huffington Post, and Medium Contributor and writes about issues impacting Latinas. Amy has received the 2019 Humanity of Connection Award, the 2021 Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, was named one of the 2022 Social Impact Women to Watch by NonprofitHR, and received a 2023 Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

Brian Young - I Street Advocates

Brian is Vice President at I Street Advocates, a pro-labor, boutique government relations firm. He focuses on labor, postal, media, and health policy, advising clients on complex regulatory and legislative issues before Congress and federal agencies.

Before joining the board, Brian served as an in-house consumer advocate at the National Consumers League, where he lobbied to incorporate common-sense consumer protections before numerous state legislatures, and several federal agencies. During his tenure, he led the effort to create a model bill to protect consumers from deceptive automatically renewing contracts and successfully advocated for the model bill to be signed into law in the District of Columbia.

Before joining I Street, Brian was the in-house lobbyist for the American Postal Workers Union, where he leveraged his coalition-building experience to successfully lobby for the passage of the landmark Postal Service Reform Act and federal funding for an electric postal fleet.

He earned his bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. After graduation, Brian went on to study at Georgetown University, where he received a Master of Arts in American Government. After graduation, Brian worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI).

Cynthia Bauerly - Bauerly Consulting

Cynthia Bauerly, a longtime American civil servant, serving in spans senior roles in law, government, and policy at both the state and federal levels. She served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue from 2015 through 2020. She previously served as a Commissioner, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Federal Election Commission, and as Legislative Director and Counsel for United States Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. Bauerly has also worked in private practice in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., specializing in complex litigation and appellate law, with a focus on intellectual property.

Debra Berlyn - Consumer Policy Solutions

Debra Berlyn is the Executive Director of the Project to Get Older Adults online (Project GOAL) which work to promote the adoption of broadband for older adults and to advance technology applications for this community. She is also the President of Consumer Policy Solutions, a firm focused on developing progressive policies for consumers in a competitive and innovative marketplace. Prior to Project GOAL and Consumer Policy Solutions, Ms. Berlyn served as Senior Legislative Representative with AARP, working on telecommunications and energy issues, and the digital television transition. She has worked closely with national aging organizations on several internet issues, including online safety and privacy concerns. Ms. Berlyn currently serves as Vice-Chair of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee and is a board member and senior fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum.

Dr. Marvin L. J. Blye, D.B.A. - The Blye Group

Dr. Marvin Blye is the founder and owner of The Blye Group, LLC. He is also the current Chief of Fiscal Services at the Baltimore City Department of Transportation. As Chief of Fiscal Services, he directs and administers the fiscal services of the Conduits Division’s $41 million dollar capital and operating budgets. He exercises supervisory responsibility of the administrative, accounting, fiscal and office support personnel. He successfully led the development and implementation of the timely vendor invoicing payment process for the division, which led to the reduction of invoice payments processed to vendors by 30%. Before serving in his current position, he was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Housing and Community Development. He is a strong advocate for consumers and the workplace marketplace as well as workplace issues. He has published articles in the International Journal of Business and Management Research (IJBMR). Dr. Blye has a B.S in Accounting from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an M.B.A. from Wilmington College, and a D.B.A. with a specialization in accounting from Walden University.

Jenny Backus - Backus Consulting, LLC

Jenny Backus is the owner and president of Backus Consulting LLC, a strategic communications firm specializing in strategy development, campaign and project management, and consulting. Backus has worked for Fortune 500 companies, national trade associations, academic institutions, NGOs and in the political arena serving in leadership positions in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and on presidential campaigns. Backus also served in the first two years of the Obama Administration as the acting assistant secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) and the principal deputy assistant secretary for Strategy & Planning at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to her consulting work and government service, Backus was a senior policy advisor and head of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement at Google. A graduate of Brattleboro Union High School and Brown University, Ms. Backus resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Ed Pagano, and son, Jack.

Josh Hurvitz - NVG Partner

Josh Hurvitz is a Partner at NVG, a strategy and policy consulting firm based in Washington, DC, that often spearheads projects aligned with its leaders’ progressive values. Josh leads the firm’s technology, media, and entertainment practice, borrowing on his decade of experience as Vice President for Public Policy at Time Warner Inc. At Time Warner, Josh focused on advocacy for the rights of intellectual property creators and became an expert on the congressional and regulatory review of major corporate mergers.

He works with a broad cross-section of clients at NVG, including labor unions, major corporations, trade associations, arts organizations, and civil society groups. He previously served on the Board of the Copyright Alliance and frequently lectures at American University on the intersection between public policy and the entertainment industry.

Earlier in his career, Josh served as Legislative Director to U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, where he oversaw all legislative and policy activities and staffed the congressman on the Judiciary, Energy & Commerce, and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees.

Josh is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University and lives in Washington with his wife and two children.

Kirstin Downey - Honolulu Civil Beat

Kirstin Downey covered consumer protection and workplace issues at The Washington Post for 20 years. Her coverage of sexual harassment led to significant corporate reforms, and she exposed the growth of risky mortgages that spawned the 2008 global financial collapse. She served as an investigator on the staff of the U.S. Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and was editor of FTC: WATCH from 2010 to 2015. She is the author of The Woman Behind the New Deal, a biography of Frances Perkins, an NCL employee who rose to become Labor Secretary under FDR and crafted much of the nation’s social safety net.

Maureen Thompson - Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Maureen Thompson is vice president of policy at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP). Prior to joining the CFP Board, Thompson was a founding partner of The Hastings Group, where she organized and managed advocacy campaigns involving organizations representing women, older Americans, working families, consumers, investors, and others. Maureen worked on the following campaigns: supporting the Department of Labor’s initiative to update retirement investment advice rules; opposing legislation that made it more difficult for financially vulnerable Americans to file for bankruptcy; proposed solutions to the foreclosure and student debt crisis; and fighting harmful cuts to Head Start. Thompson is a 1981 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Skidmore College.

Owen E. Herrnstadt, J.D. - Georgetown Law Center

Owen Herrnstadt has served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Export-Import Bank for the last three years. Having been nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Prior to his public service, he was the Chief of Staff, Director of Trade and Globalization, and Associate General Counsel for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Owen also taught U.S. employment law and international employment law at the Georgetown University Law Center and American University’s Washington College of Law for over twenty years as an adjunct professor of law.

Advocacy in matters regarding consumer fraud and child labor is of special interest to me. Having considerable expertise in efforts to stop child labor both in the U.S. and internationally, he believes he could be particularly helpful in NCL’s work with the Child Labor Coalition. Mr. Herrnstadt has been involved in efforts to include international labor standards prohibiting forced labor, discrimination, and child labor, and protecting freedom of association and collective bargaining in unilaterally implemented corporate codes of conduct as well as international framework agreements negotiated between corporations and global unions.

Pamela Gilbert, J.D. - Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP

Pamela Gilbert has been a named partner in Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP, and its immediate predecessor
firm, since 2003. Ms. Gilbert focuses her practice on government relations matters. Ms. Gilbert represents a wide variety of clients before Congress, the executive branch, and regulatory agencies. Ms. Gilbert is one of the leading advocates in Washington, DC, working to preserve access to the civil justice system for both individuals and businesses. Ms. Gilbert’s work at CGL has achieved notable successes, including:

Ms. Gilbert received the 2019 Public Interest Network’s Alumni Achievement Award and was chosen as Consumer
Advocate of the Year by the Trial Lawyers’ Association of Metropolitan Washington in 1995. She is currently Chair
of the Board of the American Antitrust Institute.

Pastor Herrera, Jr. - California State University-Northridge

Pastor Herrera, Jr. of Los Angeles has been involved in the field of Consumer Protection and Education for over 30 years. Formerly, he was employed with the County of Los Angeles (LA) – Dept. of Consumer and Business Affairs (“LA DCBA”), where he served as the Director for 19 years. The LA DCBA provided direct consumer counseling, investigative, and mediation services to LA County residents. Additionally, he, together with his team, developed an award-winning volunteer, college internship, and AmeriCorps program, and implemented a strong community partnership and consumer education component. Currently, Mr. Herrera is an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). Mr. Herrera is also a Board member of various community associations, including National Consumers’ League (NCL), Mt San Antonio Community College FCS Advisory Committee, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC). He has also served as an Application Funding Reviewer for the Rose Foundation located in California. He is a former Board member of the CA Contractors State License Board and the LA Financial Credit Union (LAFCU). In his professional career, he has been recognized nationally and locally for his leadership and commitment to Consumer Protection and Education, Organizational Collaboration, Management Skills, and Community Enhancement programs. He is fluent in Spanish, has a Lifetime California Adult Teaching Credential, and is a graduate of UCLA.

NCL Staff

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Chief Executive Officer

Sally Greenberg, J.D. - Chief Executive Officer, National Consumers League

Sally Greenberg is a champion of consumer and worker rights and joined the National Consumers League (NCL) as Executive Director on October 1, 2007. An expert on a broad spectrum of issues, Sally has testified before Congress and federal agencies on privacy matters, food labeling, geopolitical tracking, teen financial literacy and NCL’s teen LifeSmarts program, child labor, fraud, product safety, data privacy, auto safety, and prescription drug access, safety and affordability. In 2022, Sally assumed the role of CEO, continuing to advance NCL’s mission of advocating for fairness and transparency in the marketplace.

Before joining NCL, Sally honed her expertise as Senior Product Safety Counsel at Consumers Union from 1997 to 2007, where she focused on product liability, food safety, and auto safety. Earlier in her career, she worked at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and served over a decade as Eastern States Civil Rights Counsel for the Anti-Defamation League in Boston, combating discrimination and promoting justice.

Sally’s public service journey began as a legislative correspondent for Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) and later as a legislative assistant for Congressman Toby Moffett (D-CT). Throughout her career, Sally has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to empowering women and advancing equity. She served as president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and the Women’s Bar Foundation, contributing to several gubernatorial commissions under Massachusetts Governor William Weld.

Sally brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, serving on prominent boards and advisory councils. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Fair Labor Association and the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Council of Tzedek DC and participates in the ANSI Consumer Information Forum. Committed to her community, Sally volunteers as Co-President of Temple Sinai Women of Reform Judaism.

Her prior leadership roles include serving on the boards of the Alliance for Justice and HALT, an organization dedicated to legal system reform. She was also appointed to the Board of the Reagan-Udall Foundation, established to support the FDA. Sally’s previous board memberships further include the Keystone Center, Trillium Asset Management, Responsive Law, and Impact100 DC.

Sally’s thought leadership extends to writing, with publications including a chapter, “Who’s Minding Our Business,” in the National Museum of American History’s 2015 volume, American Enterprise, as well as numerous law review articles and an Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Awards:

Communications & Marketing

Lisa McDonald - Vice President of Communications

Lisa McDonald is a senior executive recognized for her expertise in marketing and communications, where she has crafted impactful campaigns to elevate brands, grow market share, promote organizational missions, and expand philanthropy for national organizations. As Vice President of Communications for the National Consumers League (NCL), Lisa brings over 25 years of strategic communications, marketing, policy, and fundraising to support consumer advocacy initiatives.

Lisa has held senior leadership roles across nonprofit, corporate, agency, and academic environments, consistently driving growth and engagement. At RealWave® Neuropathy Treatment Centers, she expanded operations from three to eleven centers as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. As Chief Communications Officer for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, she elevated the organization’s profile and enhanced philanthropic support during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her role as Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, she expanded media coverage, increased event audiences, grew membership, and secured corporate support for educational initiatives.

Adept at navigating complex media landscapes, Lisa is known for her crisis communication skills and her ability to build strong stakeholder relationships within the healthcare and nonprofit communities. As a Vice President at Reingold, Lisa supervised client accounts with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit organizations while managing a media relations team of seven. During her tenure at George Washington University Hospital, she led a marketing team that earned over 75 awards for advertising, publications, websites, and digital media. Her early roles, including Director of Marketing for HCA Dominion Hospital and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Northern Virginia, underscore her commitment to mental health and public health. Raised in New York, Lisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the State University of New York and lives in Washington, D.C.

Sepideh Karaee, M.A. - Senior Graphic Designer

Sepideh Karaee joined the National Consumers League in November 2022 as a Graphic Designer. She has 10+ years of experience in the management of completing design processes from conceptualization to delivery. Sepideh is certified in advertising, engineering, and creative ads’ modern techniques. She has a bachelor’s degree in printing technology and a master’s in Art Research from the Art university of Iran.

Allison Chinyavong - Communications Associate, Web, Digital & Social Media

Allison Chinyavong is a communications professional driven by a passion for mission-based work and advancing the collective good. Her work focuses on outreach, education, and promotion across web and social media platforms to inspire awareness and action. Allison brings more than two years of experience in public health communications at the Institute of Public Health Innovation, where she supported initiatives to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities, along with a year in advertising with Yelp. She earned her B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Maggie Oliverio - Communications Associate, Media Relations

Maggie Oliverio joined the National Consumers League (NCL) in November 2024 as a Media Relations Communications Associate. With a strong background in political communications, media relations, and content creation, Maggie works closely with Communications VP Lisa McDonald and the NCL team to amplify the organization’s mission. She began her career as a Press Assistant for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, where she managed a wide range of communications efforts. Maggie holds a B.S. in Journalism from West Virginia University, with minors in Public Relations and English.

Development

Karen Silberstein, Ph.D. - Senior Director of Development

Karen Silberstein joined the staff of NCL in July 2018. As Senior Director of Development, she is delighted to lead the development team to advance NCL’s mission. She brings a passion for mission-driven work along with extensive experience in fundraising strategy, donor engagement and strengthening organizational capacity through strategic partnerships, collaboration with community partners, industry, and education institutions.

Prior to joining NCL, she cultivated partnerships in workforce development to expand program impact and managed grant-supported initiatives, for both the University of the District of Columbia Division of Workforce Development and Training and the Home Builders Institute, a national training provider focused on building trades.

She holds a B.A. in English from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in French Literature and Culture from Columbia University and has recently pursued graduate coursework in Public Administration at the University of the District of Columbia.

Toby Mulford, M.F.A. - Associate Director of Development

Toby Mulford joined the National Consumers League in June 2021 as the Development Manager. He has an extensive background in nonprofit theater and education, with 13 years as the Associate Artistic Director for Traveling Players Ensemble, a company that teaches theater and outdoor skills to teens and preteens. He also served as Managing Director for DC’s award-winning Faction of Fools Theatre Company. He holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Fine Arts from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater.

Elena Robertson,M.A. - Associate Director of Development

Elena Robertson serves as the Associate Director for LifeSmarts Development and 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 and oversee LifeSmarts operations. 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 fundraising and administration since 2014, 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 Bachelor of Arts from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Arts from the University of London. When not focusing on LifeSmarts, Elena spends her time volunteering with causes she cares about and training for marathons.

LifeSmarts

Cheryl Varnadoe, M.Ed. - LifeSmarts Program Director

Cheryl’s main responsibilities include planning and conducting LifeSmarts outreach, marketing, and social media; recruiting and training LifeSmarts State Coordinators, coaches and teams; creating active collaborations with LifeSmarts CTSO / youth leadership organization partners; and presenting LifeSmarts at national conferences / meetings. She also manages the LifeSmarts engagement Advisory Panel, a group of high school students who provide youth voice to the LifeSmarts program.

Before joining NCL, Cheryl worked 34 years as a 4-H County Extension Agent and University of Georgia 4-H Extension Specialist. She developed and conducted youth-centered consumer education programs and competitions. She received the National LifeSmarts Coordinator of the Year Award in 2018.

Cheryl earned her Master’s of Education degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. 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, and college football; and she is a 4-H volunteer leader / coach.

Cristina Counts, M.A. - LifeSmarts Associate Program Director

Cristina was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She followed her passion for current events and always being “in the know” into the TV news business, working as a TV News Producer in San Diego, Albuquerque, and Dallas/Fort Worth over 11 years.

Cristina then decided to change gears and follow “the family business,” becoming a teacher just like her mother, brother, and sister. She has taught everything from Bilingual 5th grade to High School Alternative Education. Most recently, Cristina taught high school at a private school, where she was responsible for teaching all subjects to a small class of 9-12th graders. It was during this time that she became actively involved in LifeSmarts.

As the coach of a 3-time Texas State Championship team, Cristina even led her team to the Sweet 16! After leaving the classroom, she was hired to write curriculum for LifeSmarts, including units on Healthcare, Post-secondary Education, and Social Media Awareness.

Ryan Barhoush - LifeSmarts Competitions Coordinator

Ryan Barhoush joined the National Consumers League in January 2022 and is the Competition Coordinator supporting the LifeSmarts Program. Prior to joining NCL, Ryan had a fellowship at the Gulf International Forum as a research analyst studying GCC & OPEC energy policy. Besides being a consumer advocate, Ryan is passionate about foreign policy, corruption, transparency issues, and anti-trust monopolies in the marketplace. Ryan received his BA in Political Science with a specialization in international relations from the University of Central Florida.

Operations & Finance

Arlene Johnson - Managing Director

Arlene Johnson joined the National Consumers League in January 2018. She is responsible for the financial management and daily operational efficiency at NCL. She works closely with the executive director in overseeing the resources and needs of the organization.

Arlene has developed a passion for working for non-profit organizations that are committed to making a difference in society. She is committed to educating individuals in matters that promote the greater good.

Before joining NCL, Arlene spent 10 years as director of finance and administration at Brookings Executive Education, where she supported the education of executives in leadership and policy issues. Arlene’s prior experience includes financial management at George Washington University, MCI Telecommunications, and PepsiCo Inc. She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer of an interior design firm.

Arlene is a graduate of Howard University, where she earned a B.B.A degree with a concentration in Finance.

Andrea Smith - Associate Director, Operations and Finance

Andrea Smith joined the National Consumers League as operations manager in January 2019. She assists the managing director with improving operational systems, processes, and policies towards supporting NCL’s mission. She also collaborates in the development of short- and long-term strategic goals for the operations department.

Prior to joining NCL, Andrea worked for 12 years as the director of finance and administration for the non-profit education association American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), where she was responsible for daily operations, human resources, and financial management.

Andrea has also worked for the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), Red Coats Janitorial Services, and Potomac Services in finance and administration management.

Andrea is currently a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Paine College.

Rogina Knight - Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Rogina Knight joined NCL as the Executive Assistant/Office Manager in May 2023. She has over twenty years of administrative experience and ten years of experience working with non-profit organizations.

Originally from New York City, she moved to the DMV to attend Howard University. Rogina is certified in adult trauma healing, and when she is not working, she spends time counseling women who have been through traumatic experiences. Rogina is an avid reader, loves hiking, games nights, and spending time with her son and grandson.

Public Policy: Child Labor & Workers’ Rights

Reid Maki, M.A. - Director of Child Labor Advocacy and Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition

Reid Maki joined the National Consumers League in March 2008. In his work at NCL, Reid coordinates the activities of the Child Labor Coalition, striving to minimize abusive child labor and to protect the health, safety, and well-being of child workers in the United States and abroad. Reid is a proponent of corporate social responsibility, including fair labor standards for American workers.

Prior to joining NCL, Reid worked for 12 years at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) where he directed the Children in the Fields campaign, a joint effort launched by AFOP, NCL, and the International Initiative to End Child Labor. Their goal was to end the legal loopholes in child labor law that permit child agricultural wage laborers to work longer hours and to work at younger ages than children working in other industries. Reid was an active member of the Child Labor Coalition between 1994 and 2006.

Reid worked for both daily and weekly newspapers as a reporter earlier in his career. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in American History at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Stanford University, respectively.

Public Policy: Food, Nutrition, & Obesity

Nancy Glick - Director of Food and Nutrition Policy

Nancy Glick joined the staff of the National Consumers League as Director of Food and Nutrition Policy in September 2020 after a long career in health and nutrition communications, advocacy, and public policy.

At NCL, Nancy works closely with the executive director and stakeholder organizations to develop policy positions and mount education and advocacy campaigns on key issues of concern to consumers, including food insecurity, food safety, eliminating food waste, food fraud, obesity and diet-related diseases, and improving food and beverage labeling.

Prior to joining NCL, Nancy worked in the public relations field designing and implementing communications, social marketing, disease awareness, healthcare and nutrition advocacy, and public policy programs. From 2009 through mid-2020, Nancy was Director of Health Affairs and Advocacy at the global public relations firm MSL, working with a team of advocacy specialists to assist the firm’s clients in forming strategic alliances with health, medical, consumer, and patient groups in the United States and building coalitions to advance nutrition and health care issues.

Before joining MSL, Nancy served in a variety of executive positions at three other leading public relations agencies — Ruder Finn, Porter/Novelli, and Hill and Knowlton, Inc. Nancy was also a press officer at the Food and Drug Administration, where she handled food, cosmetic, drug, and consumer issues and agency announcements about product recalls.

Sara W. Jaffe - Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow

Sara was named the Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow at the National Consumers League in September 2024, bringing extensive experience in advocacy, public policy, and stakeholder engagement. She joined NCL in February 2023, supporting Nancy Glick, Director of Food and Nutrition Policy in developing the Obesity Bill of Rights; and enhancing public health advocacy through research and collaboration with experts and partner organizations.

In addition to her professional work, Sara volunteers with organizations like The Children’s Inn at NIH and previously served on the Board of Directors for Noyes Children’s Library. Her commitment to community service includes a year with AmeriCorps NCCC in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, where she led volunteer projects and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a minor in Arts in Healthcare from Columbia College Chicago. She can often be found exploring DC’s parks with her dog Brady.

Public Policy: Fraud, Telecom, & Product Safety

John Breyault - Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications & Fraud

John Breyault joined the National Consumers League in September 2008. John’s focus at NCL is on advocating for stronger consumer protections before Congress and federal agencies on issues related to telecommunications, fraud, technology, and other consumer concerns. In addition, John manages NCL’s Fraud Center and coordinates the Alliance Against Fraud coalition. John is also Research Director for the Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), a project of NCL. In his role with TRAC, John advocates on behalf of residential consumers of wireline, wireless, VoIP, and other IP-enabled communications services.

Prior to coming to NCL, John spent five years as director of research at Amplify Public Affairs, where he helped launch the firm’s Web 2.0-based public affairs practice and focused on producing actionable public policy research. Earlier in his career, John worked at Sprint in its International Carrier Services Division and at the American Center for Polish Culture in Washington, DC.

John was a member of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee from 2005 to 2007 and served on the Board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. He is a graduate of George Mason University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.

James Perry - Consumer Services Manager

James Perry is a veteran staffer at NCL’s Fraud.org. Since January 2000, he’s been counseling consumers on a variety of scams ranging from telemarketing- to Internet-based issues. James began at the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch programs (now NCL’s Fraud Center) as a fraud counselor, speaking with thousands of consumers each year about cases of suspected and confirmed fraud. James was later promoted to supervise the staff of NCL’s Fraud Center, and he regularly speaks about his experiences counseling fraud victims to the media and nonprofit and law enforcement agencies.

As Consumer Services Coordinator, James monitors complaints submitted to NCL via the complaint form at www.fraud.org and serves as a representative on the Consumer Federation of America’s Fake Checks Working Group. At NCL, James works with law enforcement agencies to transmit consumer fraud complaints to more than 200 agencies in the United States and Canada.

Eden Iscil, M.A. - Senior Public Policy Manager

Eden Iscil joined the National Consumers League in October 2021. As a public policy manager, they develop and execute NCL’s policy advocacy to advance consumer protections and equitable access to critical services. Eden’s policy portfolio includes the areas of air travel, antitrust, data privacy, financial services, fraud prevention, higher education affordability, and live-event ticketing,

Eden came to NCL from a background of legislative experience. They completed a graduate internship with Congresswoman Elaine Luria preceded by three legislative sessions in the Virginia General Assembly. Besides being an advocate for the public interest, Eden is passionate about parliamentary procedure, Middle East policy, and music theory. Eden received their MA in Political Science from American University and a BA in Political Science and Music from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Daniel Greene - Senior Director, Consumer Protection & Product Safety Policy

Daniel Greene is a former Senior Professional Staff Member for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he developed and executed the House Democratic Caucus’s portfolio on automobile safety, privacy, tech accountability, fuel economy, manufacturing, trade, sports, and animal welfare issues. Daniel is also a former Legislative Assistant in the office of Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), where he led the Senator’s transportation, infrastructure, consumer protection, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and privacy portfolio on both the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee. Daniel received his Master’s in Public Policy and Bachelor’s degree in public policy from the George Washington University.

Public Policy: Health

Lisa Bercu, J.D. - Senior Director of Health Policy

Lisa Bercu joined the National Consumers League in June 2025. Before joining NCL, Lisa spent eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she served as Senior Regulatory Counsel in the Office of Generic Drugs and later as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs. Prior to her time at the FDA, she worked in congressional and regulatory affairs at a medical society and a reproductive health organization. Lisa earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. from the University of Michigan. In her free time, Lisa enjoys discovering new restaurants and exploring Washington, DC with her husband and two children.

Samantha Sears, M.A. - Senior Manager of Health Policy

Samantha Sears is the Senior Manager of Health Policy here at the National Consumers League, having joined the team in January of 2024. She has worked in the health policy space for nearly five years now. Prior to joining NCL, Sam worked with the National Council of Urban Indian Health, a national organization focusing on the health and wellbeing of urban Natives across the US and the facilities that provide their care.

Besides consumer advocacy, Sam is interested in reproductive justice and equal rights. She moved to DC for graduate school, receiving a MA in Public Policy with a concentration in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from George Washington University. She received her BA in Mathematics from SUNY Geneseo.

Interns

Alyssa Bredefeld (2025) - University of Connecticut

Alyssa Bredefeld interned with the Child Labor Coalition while getting a dual-degree student at the University of Connecticut, studying Allied Health Sciences and Human Rights. She plans to pursue a career in medicine with a focus on community-based care or global health equity.

Audrey Smith (2025) - University of Virginia

Audrey Smith is spending the summer of 2025 as a Public Policy and Fraud intern at NCL. She is also currently pursuing a master’s in public policy at the University of Virginia. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Audrey earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University. She hopes to build a career in advocacy, focusing on social policy.

Logan Baker (2025) - University of Tampa

Logan Baker is a rising junior at the University of Tampa, pursuing a major in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Spanish. In the summer of 2025, she gained valuable progressional experience working alongside the communications department at NCL. During her time at NCL, Logan immersed herself in projects that strengthened her communication skills and deepened her understanding of media relations and public outreach. Her internship provided hands-on experience in the field, equipping her with the tool and confidence to navigate the fast-paced world of communications. In the future, Logan will pursue a career in communications, where she can utilize her skills and experiences to connect communities on a broader scale.

Mekdes Agezew (2025) - Wake Forest University

Mekedes Agezew is a junior at Wake Forest University majoring in Economics with a minor in Health Policy and Administration. She was a spring intern in the Health Policy department at NCL. She hopes to pursue a career in Public Health and Health Policy, working towards a more just and equitable health system that ensure greater access to quality healthcare for diverse populations.

Emily McKay (2025) - American University

Emily McKay is a freshman at American University and was a spring intern at NCL in the Communications department. She is majoring in data science for political science. Previously, Emily has worked with AI enrichment in private and charter schools.

In the future Emily hopes to work in AI legislation and regulation. She is excited to use the skills and background knowledge that she has gained at NCL.

Luz Vazquez (2024) - Michigan State University

Luz Vazquez, a senior at Michigan State University, worked with the National Consumers League (NCL) and the Child Labor Coalition (CLC) as a summer intern. Her major is in Public Policy with a minor in Leadership to Organizations. Luz’s experience interning with NCL and CLC secured co-sponsors for child labor bills while gaining a deep understanding of the legislative process and enhancing her outreach skills.

In the future, Luz is committed to advancing advocacy for farmworkers, with the aim of becoming a leader and policymaker who champions the needs of her community.

Tesa Hargis (2024) - University of North Texas American University College of Law

Tesa Hargis is entering her third and final year of law school at American University Washington College of Law, with a focus on labor and employment law. Before law school, Tesa earned a BA in International Studies from the University of North Texas and an MA in Human Rights from University College London. After completing law school, Tesa plans to work as a labor lawyer within the government or at a plaintiff-side firm.

Tesa’s summer at NCL was incredibly enriching—she gained valuable insights into the intersection of nonprofit organizations, advocacy, and government regulations. This experience allowed her to further develop the skills she acquired through her education and previous roles, while also learning about the inner workings of a nonprofit organization.

Tesa had the opportunity to engage in research and advocacy efforts, which was both challenging and rewarding. She is deeply inspired by the work of NCL and by leaders like Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO and Child Labor Coalition Director Reid Maki, both of whom have dedicated decades to protecting consumers and ending child labor. Their passion and commitment to these causes are truly motivating.

Eric Feigen (2022) - Brandeis University

Eric Bo-wen Feigen was a health policy intern at the National Consumers League in 2022. During his internship, he found a mentor in NCL’s former Health Policy Director, Jeanette Contreras, who taught him the nuts and bolts of policy advocacy and the power of coalition building to organize broad support for issues that impact the average American. He then had the opportunity to apply what he learned by writing policy statements and providing background research to support NCL’s advocacy efforts.

Eric’s experience at NCL led him to his current position working for the Immune Deficiency Foundation’s policy team as their Regulatory Affairs Manager. In his role, he engages with government agencies, patient coalitions, and legislators on policy to improve access to treatments and encourage the development of new therapies for those affected by primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Eric received dual degrees in International Global Studies and LatinX Studies from Brandeis University, with minors in Economics, Social Policy, and Politics. He keeps in contact with Jeanette who remains a mentor and friend.

Rasheed Christian (2021) - University of Virginia

Rasheed Christian graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a double major in Media Studies and Public Policy at the Batten School. In 2021, Rasheed interned at the National Consumers League, where he assisted the public policy, telecommunications, and fraud team. During this internship that perfectly combined his areas of study in college, he contributed to several projects and research surrounding anti -fraud campaigns, organized a national anti-fraud conference involving various stakeholders and legislators, and co-authored several editions of NCL’s Fraud Alert & Data Insecurity Digest.

Currently, Rasheed is a Strategic Communications Senior Associate at FGS Global, a leading global strategic communications and public affairs consultancy, where he focuses primarily on the film and entertainment industry – a dream come true for him!

While it’s a bit different from his work at NCL, Rasheed continues to apply the skills he honed at NCL, such as concise memo writing and efficient research on unfamiliar topics. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with an advocacy group as his experience underscored the importance of effective communication in bridging the gap between consumers, businesses, and government, a principle that inspires him daily and remains central to his work today.

Evan England (2021) - University of Mississippi

Evan England graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2024 with a BA in Public Policy Leadership. He interned with the LifeSmarts division of NCL in the Summer of 2021 after his freshman year of college.

Evan currently works for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Western Kentucky University.

Working for NCL helped Evan improve his communication and research skills. He also learned how to work as a team in a professional setting. He finds inspiration in his faith and in leaders who have supported him when he faced adversity.

Talia Zitner (2020) - Wesleyan University

Talia Zitner, a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, majored in English and Environmental Studies. Her interest in event planning led her to the Aspen Institute, where she works as an Event Coordinator for the Financial Security Program.

Talia worked for NCL in 2020, where much of her work surrounded the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout. While she was an intern, she would meet up with NCL staff for socially distant walks since everyone was online.

Talia’s current work focuses on increasing the wealth of middle and low-income Americans through private and public financial services. She is inspired by the power of convening, community, and a really good meal.

Sean Davis Jr. (2018) - George Washington University

Sean Davis Jr. J.D. graduated from George Washington University Law School. During Sean’s time with NCL between 2018-2019, he worked on issues focused on data privacy, advocacy, and collaborating with various stakeholders to find common ground.

After NCL, Sean continued in tech policy working with other think tanks and non-profits on bridging the digital divide, consumer privacy, and digital decarbonization.

With expertise in diagnosing complex policy challenges and leveraging research insights, he delivered comprehensive, data-informed solutions that resulted in measurable outcomes. He successfully led high-impact initiatives focused on consumer protection, environmental justice, and policy portfolio management, demonstrating his ability to align organizational goals with meaningful legislative advancements. In 2023 he founded his consulting firm, CT Consulting Group, where he provides business management services and helps teach clients how to integrate AI into their businesses. His work has culminated in filing trademarks for several new businesses, creating privacy policies, and even securing thousands of dollars for a DCPS laptop drive. He hopes to continue his work with local governments in administering a roadmap for strategically helping students prepare for the workforce of tomorrow.

Amos Budde (2009) - Brown University

Amos Budde graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. During Amos’ time with NCL in 2009, he learned about the inner workings of Washington, DC’s policy landscape. He tracked legislation as it was being drafted, attended Capitol Hill mark-ups, and connected with other consumer advocacy organizations.

As of 2025, Amos holds 15 years of experience in the data and analytics industry, particularly focusing on using analytics technology in the political, nonprofit, and advocacy sectors. He is currently a Vice President of Professional Services at Civis Analytics.