MEET YOUR 2025 POWER PLAY PANELISTS!
JULIANA M. WATHEN, DMCP | President & Owner; Cosmo Cool Concepts
Juliana Wathen's professional journey in Houston commenced in 1986 as a costumer for Stages Repertory Theatre, where she adeptly balanced her responsibilities as a costumer by day and a performer by night. By the mid-1990s, she had transitioned into the realm of special events. Leveraging her multifaceted talents as an actress, singer, writer, and producer, she advanced to the role of Senior Event Designer at a prop house. In this capacity, she seamlessly integrated her expertise in set design, costumes, lighting, and logistics to craft memorable and immersive experiences for corporate clients globally.
In 2008, Juliana entered the Destination Management Company (DMC) industry as a corporate event planner. By 2022, she acquired Cosmo Cool Concepts, Inc., a DMC Network Company. With over 30 years of active involvement in the Houston hospitality community, Juliana has frequently shared her insights on various panels, benefiting both planners and suppliers. She currently serves as the Immediate Past President of MPI-Houston.
Cosmo Cool Concepts, Inc. is a Certified Woman Owned Business, a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise and well as ADMEI Certified. Juliana is also an active member of NACE, LGBTQ+ Chamber of Houston, The Woodlands Chamber, EiSi and a yearly volunteer with Rodeo Houston.
RACHEL QUAN | Vice President of Special Events; Houston Astros
Rachel Quan joined the Houston Astros as the Vice President of Special Events in July, 2024. She came to the Astros from a marketing, sponsorship and communications agency in Houston (Professional Sports Partners) where she was the managing director of the Live Events division.
Quan’s background in production and events began as a festival director and then the National Director of Production and Arrangements for an international non-profit that conducted festivals around the country. She first oversaw one of their largest festivals to date in Houston and then went on to manage production in other festival cities. From here she headed up the Houston office for Mowalla Productions where she met her future business partner, who co-founded SBHH with her a number of years later.
A large component of Quan’s events career was in the co-founding of SBHH, an event management and production company where she was the managing partner. She, along with three other company partners, made a name for themselves in the large event space - including concerts, corporate conferences, sporting events, stadium events and large outdoor festivals. Through the company, Quan managed various large-scale events for a myriad of clients including as the Vice President of External Operations for the HLOC with the three most recent NCAA Men’s Final Fours in Houston (2011, 2016, 2023) in addition to working on the 2018 and 2022 Men’s Final Fours. She sold her partnership in SBHH in 2022.
Quan was a founding board member for the WISE Houston Chapter in 2016, and the recipient of their Woman of Inspiration award in 2022. She was also the recipient of the Houston Business Journal’s Diversity in Business, Outstanding Head of Diversity award in 2023 while on the executive team for the Men’s Final Four.
NICKI KEENAN | Sr. Vice President of Sales; Fertitta Entertainment | Board Member; Houston First
With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Nicki Keenan serves as the Senior Vice President of Sales at Fertitta Entertainment. She oversees all sales and gift card efforts for a diverse and dynamic portfolio encompassing all Landry’s, Inc. and Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino locations nationwide. This expansive portfolio features over 6,000 guest rooms and more than one million square feet of private dining and event space across 600 dining, entertainment, hospitality, and gaming locations nationwide.
The dining division includes more than 60 nationally recognized brands such as Mastro’s Restaurants, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, and Saltgrass Steak House, just to name a few. The hospitality and casino divisions boast Texas' only Forbes Five-Star hotel and spa, The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, as well as the Westin Houston Downtown, Kemah Boardwalk Inn, The San Luis Resort Spa & Conference Center, Galveston Island Hilton, and Holiday Inn Resort on the Beach in Galveston. The gaming portfolio includes seven Golden Nugget Resort & Casinos located in Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Lake Tahoe, NV; Atlantic City, NJ; Biloxi, MS; Lake Charles, LA; Cripple Creek, CO; and Danville, IL.
As a dedicated board member of Houston First Corporation, she works tirelessly to promote Houston as a premier global destination, aiming to attract conventions and leisure travelers from around the world. Her efforts have been instrumental in securing noteworthy events for Houston, including two Super Bowls (2004 and 2017), the FIFA World Cup (2026), and the Republican National Convention (2028), among many other major meetings, conventions, and special events. Additionally, she is actively involved with The Greater Houston Partnership, the Executive Women’s Partnership, and The American Heart Foundation.
IRENE FLORES | Corporate Affairs Advisor; Chevron
Irene, a native Houstonian, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown and her master’s degree in communications from the University of Houston. She joined Chevron in 1999 as a switchboard operator, then moved to Public Affairs in 2001 where she has held positions with increasing responsibility. Prior to her current role, Irene supported the Africa and Latin America headquarters group working on community partnerships and events across those regions.
In her current role, Irene is a member of the One Houston team and manages Chevron’s partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston, New Hope Housing and the sports partnerships with the Astros, Texans, Dash, Astros Golf Foundation/Houston Open, First Tee of Greater Houston and the Chevron Houston Marathon.
Outside from various work events, Irene stays busy as a mom of four, with two adult daughters and two very athletic and active sons.
MODERATOR: LEAH MASTAGLIO | Sr. Assistant General Manager; NRG Park | WISE Houston Chapter President
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.