About

Chief Marketing Officer, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Lisa Gagnon is the chief marketing officer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In her position, she oversees all marketing efforts for the Rodeo, including brand, advertising, public relations, communications, and broadcast. Lisa’s expertise lies in brand management, market research and brand activation has helped guide the Rodeo’s brand evolution.

Lisa Gagnon is the chief marketing officer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In her position, she oversees all marketing efforts for the Rodeo, including brand, advertising, public relations, communications, and broadcast. Lisa’s expertise lies in brand management, market research and brand activation has helped guide the Rodeo’s brand evolution.

Prior to her role at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Lisa was vice president of marketing at the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee, overseeing all brand and marketing activities for the Host Committee, including Super Bowl LIVE, the ten-day fan festival. Lisa also served as the director of brand for Waste Management. During her seven-year tenure with Waste Management, she managed the company’s corporate brand, advertising and sports sponsorship including the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Prior to WM, Lisa worked at Johnson & Johnson where she was on the Tylenol brand focused on new product development and sports sponsorships, most notably their NASCAR sponsorship.

Lisa received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

AGM and VP of Arena Operations at Toyota Center

Leah Mastaglio is currently the Senior Assistant General Manager at NRG Park. Mastaglio’s day-to-day responsibilities included overseeing the Event and Guest Services, Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Technical Services, Parking and Security departments.

Mastaglio has been with NRG Park since the property opened in 2002. She has worked in the Event Services and Sports Marketing and Sponsorship departments before being promoted to Assistant General Manager in 2014. Mastaglio has over 15+ years of tradeshow and facility management experience.

Leah Mastaglio has served as the Tournament Manager for the 2008, 2010, 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. For the 2011 and 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four Leah was the chairperson of the Stadium Operations Committee for the event. In 2010 – 2013, Leah assisted the NCAA Staff with managing the Men’s Final Four Championship by being a member of their Facility Management Group. Leah has assisted in the management of Super Bowl XXXVIII, held at Reliant Park, Super Bowl XLVIII held at MetLife Stadium, Super Bowl XLIX held at University of Phoenix Stadium, Super Bowl 50 held at Levi’s Stadium and Super Bowl LII held at US Bank Stadium. Leah served as the NFL contact for Stadium operations for Houston’s 2017 Super Bowl LI. Other events Leah has managed include two Big XII Football Championships, international soccer matches, several large-scale stadium concerts, Offshore Technology Conference, the largest offshore drilling conference in the world, four years of the Grand Prix of Houston and many other events.

Leah has assisted other properties with projects such as opening the American Bank Center in Corpus Christie, US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, assisting with facility management for Oakland Coliseum, Solider Field, Louisiana Superdome and University of Phoenix Stadium.

Leah Mastaglio has served on the Houston Mayor’s Office Commission for People with Disabilities for four years. She is a member of International Association of Venue Managers, WISE Women in Sports and Events, and has also completed a two-year study of the International Association of Venue Managers’, Venue Management School.

Chief Operating Officer, Professional Sports Partners

As the quarterback of PSP, Tamara is at her best when the game is on the line. Keeping clients’ goals and objectives at the forefront of planning, Tamara is the first to ask “What does success look like?” and then calls the play for her team to score the winning touchdown. 

Tamara leads the team at PSP to over-deliver for clients, challenging them all to re-think the status quo and push the boundaries for brands beyond their expectations. Having been with PSP since its launch in 2012, Tamara is a key leader on the executive team in shaping the trajectory of the agency. 

PSP has a strong roster of clients across the country, including Mahindra Tractors, Coaches vs. Cancer, 76, TDECU, Mattress Firm, Toyota, and Protective Life Corporation. Additionally, PSP is a go-to marketing partner for mega events here at home, including Men’s Final Four Houston 2023 and Houston’s World Cup Bid Committee. The sales consulting arm of PSP develops partnerships on behalf of properties, including the naming rights to CHI Health Center in Omaha, entitlement of the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, and the jersey kit partners for Union Omaha and the Las Vegas Lights.

Prior to moving to the agency side of sports business, Tamara spent her career on the team side. With experience in minor league hockey and a touch of the NFL, Tamara worked with the NBA’s Houston Rockets for nine seasons, first in marketing/branding/promotions and later in corporate partner development and activation. 

A proud Longhorn, Tamara earned her BBA in Marketing from The University of Texas.

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC

Vanessa Scott serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC. In her current role, she oversees all administrative functions and general operations related to the MLS and NWSL clubs in Houston, Shell Energy Stadium, the Houston Sports Park, and Dynamo & Dash Charities. During her 10-year tenure with the club, she has held various positions reflecting her ascension through the finance field.

During her time with Houston Dynamo FC, Scott has been instrumental in leading various organizational initiatives ranging from ownership transitions to system implementations and the development of key administrative departments that support ongoing organizational needs. She currently serves as the Executive Sponsor for the Hispanic/Latino Employee Supporter Group and has been a major contributor in areas specific to business and strategic planning, company culture, and DE&I.

Prior to her career with Houston Dynamo FC, Scott held roles in both the accounting and ticket operations departments with the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center for several years. She is a founding member of the WISE Houston Chapter and a Board Member for Financial Executives International (FEI).

Scott is a native of Houston, Texas. She graduated from Tulane University as a scholarship student-athlete in Track and Field where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in finance. To remain a student of her craft, Scott received her second master’s degree in accounting in May of 2023.

President, Business Operations, Houston Rockets

Gretchen Sheirr was named President of Business Operations of the Houston Rockets in May of 2021 following her 20th season with the team.  She began her stint with the Rockets as an account executive and worked her up, holding titles including Vice President of Sales & Service, Chief Revenue Officer, and Chief Operating Officer.

Early in her career, Sheirr spearheaded the implementation of a private-label ticketing venture, now known as AXS Ticketing, which garnered success for both the Rockets and Toyota Center.  Her comprehensive understanding of ticketing strategy and ability to forecast industry opportunities along with a commitment to digital innovation and fostering strong relationships within the Houston business community have been vital to the organization’s success.

Throughout her tenure, she has been responsible for growth of the revenue for both the Rockets and Toyota Center launching several key initiatives including the renovations of many hospitality spaces in the arena. She also implemented new global sales strategies leading to record revenues and implemented the Rockets jersey sponsorship platform. She now oversees all business operations for the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center, including finance, strategic planning, arena booking, facility management, marketing, media relations, sales, community and social responsibility and the Clutch City Foundation.

A native of Spring, Texas, Sheirr graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in marketing. She also was a four-year letter winner as a diver for LSU.  In 2017, she was named one of Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, which annually recognizes the top young professionals in sports business.

Sheirr is a founding board member of WISE Houston and currently serves on the boards of March of Dimes Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership, Central Houston Inc., and USA Diving. She was honored as a WISE Houston Woman of Inspiration in 2019. Sheirr and her husband, Ken, live in The Woodlands with their twin sons, Zachary and Jordan.

Department Administrator, Sport Management, Rice University

As the Department Administrator for Sport Management at Rice University, Kerri Barber manages the day-to-day business administration, social media accounts, website, plans and executes departmental events, manages the departmental budget, as well as fosters relationships with current majors and alumni.  

Kerri served as a Resident Associate (RA) for Jones College at Rice from 2015-2023. The RA is crucial to the Rice University college system by serving as a positive community facilitator and role model, while also providing guidance and leadership to college members. Kerri served as Chair of the Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) for three years, as well as, the inaugural Chair of the Rice University Staff Council.  

Prior to joining Rice, Kerri was the founding Athletic Director at the Southwest Campus of YES Prep Public Schools from 2005-2013. She originated and established the initial policies, procedures, and standards to successfully generate eight middle school and 10 high school athletic programs at the Southwest Campus. She developed the inaugural athletic handbook for YES Prep Public Schools, and served as the University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 25AA Secretary and District 24A volleyball and basketball Chair. She also co-founded and oversaw the compliance for 11 middle schools and 14 high schools within the now defunct Texas Independent School Soccer Conference (TISSC).

Kerri earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from Ithaca College. She was a member of the 2002 Division III National Softball Championship team, where she was also named to the All-Tournament Team. She was recently inducted into the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame along with her 2002 softball teammates.

Senior Sales Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Diane’s hospitality career began in the windy city of Chicago before making Houston Her home. She has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years with 20 of those years working with sports and entertainment groups for the Four Seasons Hotel.

As a graduate of Illinois Valley Community College and Illinois State University, Diane played both Volleyball and Basketball, while graduating with a double major in Business Administration and Marketing.

Having worked in the industry for so many years, she has built lasting relationships with many top entertainers known around the world. Her knowledge has made her a leader in the hospitality industry and a mentor in her own hotel where she loves helping develop the next generation of hoteliers.

In her spare time, you can find her volunteering at her church or lounging by the pool and loving her amazing dog named Ziggy.

Executive Director, Houston Texans Foundation & Community

Amanda Grosdidier joined the Houston Texans in July 2023 and serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Texans Foundation & Community. In this role, she leads the Houston Texans Foundation and community efforts throughout the Greater Houston area. Grosdidier oversees the development of new programs, community partnerships and fundraising initiatives to increase the philanthropic and community impact the Texans have across Houston. Since joining the Texans, Amanda has increased fundraising by 46%, increased youth football participation by 62%, and evolved the team’s community strategy to directly impact communities through a hyper-local neighborhood-based approach.  She works directly with ownership, corporate partners and fans to leverage the Texans brand to make a lasting impact on the Houston community.

Prior to joining the Texans, Amanda was with the Kansas City Royals for 15 years serving as the Sr. Director, Community Investments & Executive Director of Royals Charities. In this role, she oversaw all community partnership and investment efforts while also leading the charitable foundation of the Royals, Royals Charities. She also led the development of Royals Charities into its own 501c3 in 2011 and grew their annual giving from $275,000 to $4.2 million. Throughout her time with Royals Charities Amanda led Royals Charities to give over $23 million back into the Greater Kansas City community.

Grosdidier joined the Royals as an assistant in 2009 and rose through coordinator, manager, and director roles in support of both the team’s foundation and Community Relations departments. During that time, she created and implemented recognizable Royals and Royals Charities programs like the Royals RBI Program, Broadcast Auction, the 50/50 Raffle, the Braden's Hope Calendar, Royals Respond fund during the pandemic, and the Our Heroes program, which honors a service member or veteran at every Royals home game. In conjunction with MLB, Amanda oversaw the community impact and development for the 2012 All-Star Game, the 2014 Royals Playoff run to the World Series, and the 2015 World Series Championship. Amanda also developed community impact initiatives at 7 of the Royals Minor League affiliates, as well as with the Royals Academy in the Dominican Republic.

A native of Paola, Kansas, Grosdidier earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Business with honors from Emporia State University in 2007. Her studies also included minors in biology, health, and sociology. Grosdidier has served on multiple nonprofit boards including WISE Houston, Variety the Children's Charity, Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer research, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.

Director, Wine Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Jennifer Lindsay joined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo staff in 2007 and is currently the Director of the Wine Show. She has been in her current role since 2015, where she hones her passion for event planning. In this position, she oversees the planning and execution of the Rodeo’s wine competition, grand tasting event, wine auction and Champion Wine Garden during the Rodeo event, as well as the organization of over 2,000 volunteers. Under Jennifer’s leadership, this program has doubled its revenue to support the charitable mission of the show. In her first 8 years with the Rodeo, Jennifer managed the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, the Commercial Exhibitor program, the Western Art program, as well as the Trailblazers Committee and Merchandise program.

Prior to working with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Jennifer worked as a Sales Manager for the ASM-managed NRG Park and as a Marketing Coordinator for the ASM-managed Baton Rouge River Center, cementing a well-rounded enthusiasm for the events industry.

Jennifer graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Jennifer has a passion for learning, and currently holds several wine certifications.  In addition to WISE Houston, she is a Board Member for the Louisiana State University Alumni Association – Greater Houston Chapter, and a member of the Junior League of Houston, Women of Wine Charities, Society of Wine Educators, and the Wine Scholar Guild.

Director of Marketing, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

As the Director of Marketing for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR), Muffy King oversees branding, advertising and marketing activations.

Prior to her role with HLSR Muffy was the Director of Marketing, Media and Brand at the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC), overseeing all brand efforts including business development, advertising, public relations, communications, broadcast, and merchandise. Before relocating to Houston, she worked with Fortune 500 companies in the oil and gas and technology industries assisting with communications, marketing and event management roles.

Muffy received two bachelors at Michigan State University where she was a member of women’s water polo team winning 4 Big Ten titles and one national championship. She also received a master’s degree in mass media communication from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Regional Director of Marketing & Public Relations, SMG

Nina Jackson was named the Regional Director of Marketing for SMG’s Midwest region, conjoined with her current position as Director of Marketing & Public Relations at NRG Park – home to the NFL’s Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™.

In her this role, Jackson provides extra support in the ongoing marketing, public relations, media buying and sponsorship efforts and development for SMG venues in the Midwest region, including Oklahoma, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas.

Jackson has been with SMG for 25 years and during her tenure, she has been instrumental in securing some of the biggest sporting events in the country for NRG Park including the Big 12 Conference Football Championship (2002 and 2005), Super Bowl (XXXVIII and LI), NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship South Regionals (2008, 2010 and 2015), and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Final Four (2011 and 2016).

Jackson is a native of Houston, Texas and a graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she received her bachelor of business arts in accounting.

Advisor, Community Relations, STEM Education and Sports Sponsorships; ConocoPhilips

Adrienne Saxe is an Advisor at ConocoPhillips' Houston headquarters, where she manages a diverse portfolio of sports sponsorships, including partnerships with the Houston Dynamo and Dash, University of Houston, Houston Texans, Houston Astros, and the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament. She also oversees STEM education programs in collaboration with nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Houston, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Children’s Museum Houston, and Teach for America.

Before joining ConocoPhillips in 2024, Adrienne spent nearly a decade with the Houston Texans as the Director of Community Development. In this role, she managed community partnerships, implemented NFL community relations initiatives locally, and led fundraising events for the Houston Texans Foundation, which has raised over $45 million since 2002. Under her leadership, the Texans were finalists for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sports Award, recognizing innovative uses of sports to enhance community health.

Adrienne's previous experience includes roles with the Houston Astros, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Hermann Park Conservancy. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Adrienne is a board member of WISE and Bo’s Place, a nonprofit grief-support center, and is passionate about animal rescue. She lives with her partner Andrew and their son.

Potter Advisors LLC

Carrie Potter is a financial planner and business advisor to professional athletes, women, and small businesses including non-profit organizations. Prior to launching The Carrie Potter Group in 2006, Potter was Vice President of PMG Sports and Entertainment in Washington, DC. Carrie created and teaches a course in Sport Finance at Rice University. As a Certified Financial Planner™ and Registered Investment Advisor, her expertise is in designing and implementing financial plans and business strategies; financial statement analysis; pooled investment vehicles; non-profit financial management; and financial workshops. Potter earned an MBA & BBA from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

In addition to WISE Houston, Potter serves on the Board of Directors of the Mercy Education System of the Americas; The George Washington University School of Business; The Jensen Project; the Advisory Council, Former Board Chair and VP of Finance of the Houston Area Women's Center; former Board Chair and Treasurer of Texas Executive Women. She has been recognized as the HAWC Community Advocate; Women Who Mean Business in Finance and 40 Under 40 by the Houston Business Journal; WISE Woman of Inspiration; FHPW Woman of Excellence; Houston's 50 Most Influential Women; STEAM Role Model and a TEW Woman on the Move.

Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Houston Astros

Anita Sehgal is currently in her 12th season with the Houston Astros, currently serving as Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications. In her role, Anita provides strategic leadership for the ballclub’s retail, advertising, marketing, communications, broadcasting, and alumni relations, including support for a broad variety of sponsorship, ticket, special event, community, and the Astros Golf Foundation and Texas Children’s Houston Open initiatives.

Prior to joining the Houston organization, Anita spent over 20 years in various strategic marketing functions with several organizations, including FGL Sports, Best Buy and Academy Sports + Outdoors. Hailing from Canada’s Regina, Saskatchewan, Anita, who earned her United States citizenship in September of 2019, received a bachelor’s of business administration degree, with a focus in marketing and human resources, from the University of Regina.

She plays an active role in several Houston-based organizations, including her position as an Executive Committee Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston and a Board Member of WISE Houston.  She is also an active Marketing 50 member of World 50 and participates in Greater Houston Partnership Executive Women Program.   Anita serves as an Independent Board Director with Reitman’s Canada, Ltee, and Holley Inc – where she also serves as Chair for the Governance & Nominating Committee.  She is also a member of Women’s Corporate Directors and NACD.

In 2016, Anita was honored as one of Houston’s Top 15 Business Women by the National Diversity Council. In 2018, Anita was honored again by the National Diversity Council as the National Business Woman of the Year. She also received honors in 2018 as one of Texas Executive Women’s Women on the Move.  In November 2021, Anita was celebrated with the Woman of Inspiration award by WISE Houston, and she was also recognized in both 2021 and 2022 by the National Diversity Council as a Power 50, for her contributions and commitment to both business and community. In 2023, Houston Woman’s Magazine honored Anita as one of 50 Women of Influence.

Founder & Managing Partner, Strata Advisory Group

Chief Operating Officer; Harris County-Houston Sports Authority