OUR TEAM

ABOUT

At IMM, we believe who you work with is one of the most important elements of what you do.

We do not just do the work, we build partnerships and come along side you to support your passion and vision through our expertise and experience. Our goal is to become an extension of your team.

Additionally, the IMM Team operates with certain values at the core of all we do.

We know that the service you receive and your experience working with us will be directly and positively impacted by who we are and what we value. We believe in making things happen, with kindness and professionalism.

And, we really love what we do!

The IMM “A-Team” has over 50 years of collective experience in the events and hospitality industries. Additionally, we have wonderful relationships with established professionals in our field of expertise, and with other service providers and vendors, such as audiovisual, production and hotel partners, to bring you the best in the business.

CATIE DUHON, CMP

President

Catie Duhon, CMP is president of International Meeting Managers, Inc. (IMM), an association, meetings, and special events management company formed in 1986. Catie has been with IMM since 2009 and took on ownership of the company in 2022. Houston born-and-raised, Catie’s creativity stems from her lifelong loves of dance and art. While earning her degree and planning campus events at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), she discovered her passion for organization, planning, leadership and event design. She has gained invaluable experience in the meetings, events and association management industries and has honed her skills as an event producer, strategic problem solver and leader. Catie has managed the operations, special programs and meetings for several associations and non-profit organizations, and has gained notable acclaim for her organization, event production and relationship-approach to working with clients and vendors. Catie feels blessed to use her strengths to help people and organizations in meaningful and impactful ways – this sentiment led her to launch the non-profit, Powers For Good, centered on professionals sharing their individual strengths and expertise to enable good through other individuals and organizations. She also enjoys filling the roles of MC and moderator for meetings and events and facilitating team-building and team meetings. Catie serves on the Board for the Houston Society of Association Executives (HSAE), the Advisory Board of the Beta Academy in Houston, is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was recently named one of BizBash’s Top 40 Under 40. She is also an active volunteer, enjoys spending time outside with her pups, loves her friends and family including many nieces and nephews, and in her ‘spare’ time teaches dance to children and students.

LIZ
CAVAZOS

Elizabeth Cavazos is a skilled manager with a solid record of accomplishment in planning and executing events for clients and managing client accounts. Liz is adept at developing data-driven strategies to promote events and maximize reach. Additionally, she is accomplished in reaching revenue targets and increasing sponsorships for events and organizations based on their goals and objectives. Liz also brings a collaborative spirit of creativity and problem solving to the team, always ready to jump in, support and learn about what comes next. She is thoughtful in providing feedback and ideas for moving forwarding or improving on the next iteration of a meeting, event or program. Beyond her professional skills and accomplishments, Liz readily makes herself available to support clients or her team, and she is friendly and easy to work with. As a seasoned professional, her perspective and experience continue to enhance each project she is involved in. Liz extends her expertise as a member of the board of directions for Meeting Professionals International (MPI). From San Antonio, Liz and her husband, Bryan, now live south of Houston and enjoy time with their friends and family.

LINDSAY
KONLANDE

Lindsay Konlande serves as a Meeting & Association Manager at IMM. She began her career in association management with the Institute of Real Estate Management, Houston Chapter (IREM) and was with the organization for 8.5 years. As Associate Director, she built meaningful relationships through her work with the board, committees, members and volunteers, and learned everything from event management to association marketing. Ready to apply her skills, passions and eagerness to innovate to a wider range of clients, Lindsay was invited to join the IMM Team. Lindsay and Catie have been colleagues and friends-in-the-industry for many years, planning events and giving presentations to Association Executive peers. She has been an active member of the Houston Society of Association Executives (HSAE) for several years, serving on the board since 2020, and holding the role of President in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Texas A&M University. Lindsay believes association and event managers shape all aspects of our community by supporting those that work and thrive within it. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

AMANDA
TENZER, MS

Amanda Tenzer, MS has a degree in Hospitality Management from Texas Tech University, and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from The New School in New York. Amanda began her career in hotel catering. Hoping to make more of a difference, she moved to New York to pursue her Master’s degree. In New York, she worked at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The United Way of New York City where she assisted planning corporate volunteer events and fundraising campaigns. After returning to Texas in 2015, she served as the Special Projects and Events Coordinator at the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. There, she was responsible for social and service event coordination, management of their young professionals’ group, and event planning and for their Annual Luncheon. Amanda has been with IMM for over five years managing special programs, events and operations for multiple clients; she also managed the impressive TBHF scholarship program, serving as the liaison with participating universities, coordinating interviews, managing awards and working with the alumni membership program. She also served as the Executive Director of IMM’s now-retired nonprofit organization, CMER, which specialized in continuing medical education. Amanda has three young boys and a great sense of adventure. And if you are lucky, you might get to sample some of her awesome baked Tenzer’s Treats!

LYNNE
TIRAS, CMP

Lynne K. Tiras, CMP formed IMM in 1986 as an association, meetings, marketing and special events management company. Lynne passed the baton to Catie in 2022 to carry on the IMM legacy, and she remains involved as a mentor, confidant, supporter and part of the event team. Lynne served for seventeen years on the Board of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and has served on various industry Meetings Advisory Boards and major industry Editorial Board publications. Recently, Lynne served on the Houston Community Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation, the Associated Luxury Hotels Industry (ALHI) Advisory Council and remains on the Advisory Board of the Beta Academy, Houston, Texas. Lynne served as Executive Director for 29 years for the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation. In 2017, Lynne was named as one of the Top Influential Women by Smart Meetings Magazine in the Leadership Category and in 2019 named one of Connect Magazine’s 15 over 50 Association Leaders, Mentors and Stars, in their inaugural list. Lynne is Past President of the Houston Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was named Meeting Planner of the Year for 1988 -1989. Lynne served on the international level of MPI’s Advisory Council of Special Interest Groups for Independent Meeting Professionals from 1992 through 1998 and served as chair of that council for 1994 -1995. Lynne was one of the first in the hospitality industry to obtain the title of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). She has been a writer for industry publications and a speaker at both local and international Hospitality Industry meetings. Besides working professionally with her husband, Harvey Tiras, CPA, Lynne is most proud of her family including Harvey, daughter, Pam, son, Craig, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

AMARYS LEAL

Amarys Leal supports the IMM team as an administrative assistance and events coordinator. She joined the team in 2022 and has learned so much about meeting preparation, event planning and executiion and business operations. Amarys is currently in school, very involved with her church, coaches cheer and is excitedly preparing for her next chapter with her fiance, Matt. Catie has known Amarys since she was young and it is exciting for them to be working together now as professionals!

MANDY KOLKHORST

Mandy Kolkhorst is a Houston native and studied business at the University of Texas. Following graduation, she and her brother started a company which was quickly successful and purchased by Frost, where Mandy currently works in insurance. Outside of her primary role, Mandy lends her talents to office management, program development, production design and travel planning. She is highly invovled in her church, volunteers and spends free time with her friends and large family. Mandy also loves the theater and attends shows regularly and participants in local performances.

CALI MEANS

Cali Means has degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Texas Christian University. After school, she moved to New York and was a field organizer for political campaigns. When she returned to Texas, she began teaching dance at Carol Ehler Dance School, using and sharing her artistic side. Today, along with teaching, Cali works at an elementary school, where she helps kids in special education. Cali is intentional, dedicated, forward-thinking, a great problem solver, and a hard worker. She brings all of these skills, along with her positive and joyful attitude to the IMM team, assisting with projects and onsite event support.

Our Approach to Business is Relationships

THE EXTENDED TEAM includes several other meeting, association and event professionals, and experts in related areas (such as social media, marketing, design, production, and more), who support IMM events on a regular basis. Post-pandemic, our company continues to grow and we have been strategically expanding and rebuilding a team that brings a variety of strengths, skills and experience to the table.