ABOUT US
Cheer District was founded in 2017 by Dr. Scott Christie and Brianne Hanson out of their combined passion for the sport. What started as a patient-practitioner relationship and shared understanding of the impact the sport of cheerleading has on the body, quickly turned into their passion project.
At Cheer District it is our mission to empower the next generation of cheerleaders with the tools to support their bodies before skill. To help them get stronger, get skills more quickly, and most importantly keep them on the mat and off the sidelines by helping them reduce their risk of injury.
At Cheer District we go beyond just the workouts (but let me tell you they're pretty amazing), we ensure the athletes, coaches & parents have the tools to maintain accountability, as well as continue their education in the sport. For athletes and parents we share nutrition information, mental training advice, stretching programs, & more. For coaches, we provide analytics & accountability right within the app, we provide education through our blog and private facebook group for our clients, and we continue to do research on the sport in order to better understand the physiological demands and repercussions on a cheerleader in order to better design practices & routines.
We are excited about the journey we have ahead of us in helping to change the way athletes & coaches train, and make conditioning outside of practice part of our sports culture.
Will you join us?
DIRECTORS
Dr. Scott Christie
President, Sports Scientist
With over 30 years experience in both the cheerleading and health and wellness industry, Dr. Scott has a deep understanding of the physiological demand the sport of cheerleading places on the body both mentally and physically.
As a former cheerleader for Western University, Power Cheer Athletics, and his numerous years coaching, Dr. Scott Christie developed an extreme passion for the sport and the challenges it presents to the cheerleading community.
Through his many years as a sports scientist and health care practitioner, Dr. Scott Christie shares his extensive knowledge and expertise with the cheerleading community, to further strengthen and build the next generation of athletes.
Telfer Hanson
Chairman
The year was 1967 and 4-year-old me walking through the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room, with a program in each hand, signed by every player on the Stanley Cup winning team, knew I had just won the lottery. You can catch me any day of the week watching endless hours of CNN – I am a news junkie (so my wife says). With 30 years in the investment banking world, the majority of which spent in the medical device industry.
I have a love for travel. During the winter months you will very easily find my wife and I lying on a beach, kobo’s in hand, enjoying the sun. Reach out whenever you want to chat about sports, travel, or anything around the world as I consider myself a beacon of knowledge – or as I say - I know a whole lot about a whole little.
Brianne Hanson
CEO
Cheerleading has been everything in my life. From the age of six, through university, to today, cheer has been my passion, drive and my connection to some of the people that have had the greatest influence on my life.
Fortunate to have competed at all levels, including Worlds, I also know what it is to be a captain. Being the Captain of the Laurier Cheerleading team taught me invaluable skills which are helping me to navigate the development of the most exciting cheer competition of my life... Cheer District.
Dr. Lauren Karatanevski
Secretary
Over 24 years Lauren tumbled, twisted, flipped and jumped my way onto the competitive stage of gymnastics and springboard diving. My career led me to Provincial, National, World and Olympic level competitions. Cheerleading is a sport that embodies the athleticism, skill and competitiveness of both these sports.
Best of all, cheerleading is a sport where athletes from all over the world come together as a team where they don’t just cheer they connect. Now a health care practitioner, my passion for health and fitness persists as I share my knowledge and expertise with others to help them be the best and healthiest versions of themselves.
TEAM MEMBERS
Brittany Johnson
Director of Canadian
Sales Operations
Brittany has been part of the cheerleading community for over 20 years. She has been an athlete, coach, tumbling coach, choreographer, event manager and gym director.
Named MVP and captain, Brittany brings a strong sense of cohesiveness and energy to the team. Brittany has competed multiple times at the Cheerleading Worlds, NCA, and many other competitions across North America, winning numerous International, National and Provincial Championship titles.
In her role as the Director of Canadian Sales, Brittany brings deep knowledge and understanding of the sport, strong leadership, and infectious enthusiasm to the Cheer District team and cheerleading community.
Christina Acosta
Director of US
Sales Operations
Christina Acosta has been involved in the cheerleading industry for over 15 years. She began cheerleading at Cheerforce Wolfpack in Canada, which eventually lead her to earn a scholarship to cheer in Texas.
During her time as an athlete, she also worked as a cheer camp counselor, a tumbling and all-star coach, as well as, assisted with event productions.
After graduation from Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Studies, she continued her career by managing Cheer Texas in Arlington, TX and Trinity All-Stars in Roanoke, TX. She has also sat on the Southwest Regional Advisory Board for the USASF.