HOUSTON (Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023) – Houston Dynamo Football Club (HDFC) announced earlier today that Jessica O’Neill was promoted to President of Business Operations for the organization. Additionally, Vanessa Scott and Lana Ramirez were elevated to executive roles within the organization. Six of the nine executive positions in the HDFC leadership team are now held by women.
O’Neill will oversee all business operations for the Club, which includes the Houston Dash, Houston Dynamo FC, Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park. She reports to majority owner and chairman, Ted Segal and is responsible for leading the growth of the Dash and Dynamo.
“Jessica O’Neill led Houston Dynamo Football Club through a transformative year on and off the pitch. Under her leadership, we’ve welcomed a new stadium naming rights partner in Shell Energy, reinvigorated the fan experience at our matches and reorganized our business staff to help deliver on our extensive goals. We are proud to have Jessica leading our organization as we move forward with our ambitious agenda to elevate the standing of our Club within Houston and U.S. Soccer.”
Additionally, in the past year, O’Neill oversaw major construction projects to introduce additional premium seating at Shell Energy Stadium, improve the player experience at Houston Sports Park and relocate the Club’s front office operations into a new state-of-the-art headquarters in East Downtown.
“I appreciate the commitment that Ted has made to Houston in ensuring that this organization is one that the community is proud of, and I’m honored to lead HDFC on his behalf,” O’Neill said. "We are undergoing a transformation ahead of a pivotal time for the global game in the United States and the initial success we’ve seen so far is only the beginning. Our diverse and talented team will continue to work thoughtfully to engage fans, partners and the city in authentic and meaningful ways.”
O’Neill joined the Club in March 2022 after spending nine years in Charlotte, N.C. with the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. The University of South Carolina alum is a current board member of Dynamo and Dash Charities, WISE Houston and Central Houston, as well as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership.
Vanessa Scott was recently elevated to Chief Operating Officer and will also serve as the Chief Financial Officer for the Club. In this role, Scott will oversee all administrative functions for Houston Dynamo Football Club, as well as facility operations. The Houston native joined the Club in June 2015 from the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center and is the executive sponsor of UNIDOS, the Club’s Hispanic employee supporter group. Scott joins the revamped business operations executive team, which includes Chief Marketing Officer, SJ Luedtke, and Chief Revenue Officer, Jeff Stewart, both of whom joined HDFC in early 2023.
Additionally, Lana Ramirez, who joined HDFC in May 2015, was promoted to General Manager of Facility Operations earlier this season and will oversee the guest experience and stadium operations for all events at Shell Energy Stadium. Ramirez also managed the multimillion-dollar renovations ahead of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The venue hosted 49 events in 2023 with a 20 percent rise in visitors this year compared to 2022.
Shell Energy Stadium will host its first event of the 2024 calendar year on January 5 with a three-day concert series, The AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!, part of the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. Dash and Dynamo players will return to Houston in January to prepare for their respective seasons at Shell Energy Stadium. For updates and additional information about HDFC, visit HoustonDynamoFC.com.
