Spring 2025 Member Spotlight!

We are thrilled to welcome many new members to the ILEA Houston chapter, along with a great number of renewing members! We can't wait for everyone to get to know each other, and we have some great programs upcoming for you to get to do just that. We highly encourage everyone to attend our monthly in-person meetings, as this is the best way to truly get to know the ILEA community. After all, networking is most effective when we come together to network!In the meantime, scroll down to meet some of our new and returning faces.

Deborah Elias

Elias Events

Returning Member Since 2000

 Deborah Elias, CSEP, CMP, CIS, is a renowned event planner with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of Elias Events, LLC in Houston, Texas, she has successfully executed exceptional events across the United States and internationally.

Her career is distinguished by numerous awards and accolades, reflecting her commitment to excellence. Deborah’s expertise is underscored by her certifications as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP), and Incentive Travel Specialist (CIS).

Deborah has made significant contributions to the event planning industry through her leadership roles, including serving as president of the Houston Chapter of the International Live Events Association (ILEA). She has also been actively involved with the SEARCH Foundation and the Texas Meeting and Events Advisory Board, further shaping the industry.

As a thought leader, Deborah has written for prominent publications such as Connect Magazine, The Special Event Magazine, Plan It Meetings Magazine, and Texas Meeting and Events Magazine. Her insights on event innovations have also been shared at major industry conferences, including The Special Event, IMEX, SITE, and IBTM.

Known for her creativity, precision, and dedication, Deborah continues to lead Elias Events in delivering impactful, memorable experiences. Her passion for innovation and excellence has solidified her reputation as a visionary in the event planning industry.eliasevents.com

Richard Hoggatt

Stage Directions

Returning Member Since 2006

In 1987 Richard Hoggatt started Stage Directions, Inc.

As he defines those times, “We have always been on the leading edge of technology and have been chasing it ever since.”

A few years later he joined ISES, now ILEA and is a Past-President.

Today 38 years later Richard and his company continues to push the boundaries of innovation in the live events world.

To find our more visit www.stagedirections.com.

Kyle Buthod

Citizens Catering

New Member

We Serve Houston: Citizens Catering & Patton Productions

Citizens Catering is more than just a catering company—we are a movement dedicated to serving the community with exceptional food, heartfelt service, and innovative media solutions through our sister company, Patton. Founded on the belief that great events bring people together, we specialize in full-service catering, delivering unforgettable experiences for any and all events.

Our commitment to the community extends through We Serve Houston — our mission-driven initiative that supports local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and events that make a difference. 

Beyond catering, Citizens Cafe — our specialty coffee shops around Houston—offer handcrafted drinks and a welcoming atmosphere where guests can gather, work, and connect. With current locations in Conroe and the Energy Corridor, and new locations opening soon near Downtown Houston, New Caney, and Richmond, we are expanding our reach to serve even more of the Houston Metro Area with locally roasted coffee, foodie-worthy bites, and welcoming service.

We also provide full-scale media services, including photography, videography, photo booths, audio-visual solutions, and drone footage, ensuring that every special event or life moment is captured and showcased beautifully.

Whether you need catering, coffee, or creative media solutions, Citizens Catering is here to serve Houston and beyond—one meal, one event, and one moment at a time.

Visit us at www.weservehouston.com to learn more!

Kierra Taylor

Kierra's Photo Booth Productions

New Member

Capture the Moment, Tell Your Story! At Kierra’s Photo Booth Productions, we’re all about bringing your vision to life with professionalism, integrity, and a whole lot of fun! Whether striking a pose or leaving a heartfelt message, we give your guests the perfect way to express themselves. Our mission? To create unforgettable experiences that celebrate individuality, creativity, and connection—one snapshot at a time. Let’s make memories that shine just as bright as you do!

Mason Moss

Public Content

New Member

About Mason Moss: With over 15+ years in the events industry, I have built a strong foundation in live music and experiential event production + programming. As the Programming and Events Director at Public Content, I thrive on crafting unique, memorable experiences that captivate audiences and foster meaningful connections. I’m passionate about building relationships and meeting new professional contacts, and I take great pride in creating innovative events that leave lasting impressions. Each year, I oversee the production of over 200 events, ranging from intimate gatherings, grand openings to large-scale festival productions, ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly. Creativity, collaboration, and delivering exceptional experiences are at the heart of everything I do! About Public Content:Public Content is a full-service, integrated marketing firm offering strategy, content creation, media relations, community engagement, social media management, influencer marketing, creative services, and event production + programming. With decades of combined experience, we approach marketing with a fresh, results-driven mindset. Our strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets, built on years of trust and collaboration, help us deliver timely, impactful messaging. We’ve proudly supported high-profile destinations, restaurants, hotels, non-profits, and innovators, growing our reach across the country. Founded in 2018 through the merger of Houston agencies Studio Communications and On the Mark Communications, Public Content prioritizes a collaborative, turnkey approach to ensure cohesive, unified strategies for all our clients. From strategy to execution, we manage all aspects of public content under one roof, reflecting the voice of brands people love. 

Hilary Zanoni

The Cannon

New Member

Hilary is the Chief Enablement Officer at The Cannon, leading sponsorship acquisition, programming efforts for members of the entrepreneurial community as well as event sales & coordination for multiple Cannon event spaces. Prior to this role, she spent three years at a marketing and advertising agency, most recently as the manager of accounts and operations and member of the leadership team, where she worked to improve the operational efficiency of the business. With over 9 years of full-time work experience, she has served as the main point of contact for a diverse group of clients, community members, corporate partners and internal teams. 

The Cannon offers a variety of spaces for our members, partners and Houston-area community members to host social networking events, educational workshops, educator development meetings, fundraisers, galas, festivals, pitch competitions, and numerous other types of gatherings. The goal for opening up our doors to these events is to foster community, learning, and advancement of Houston’s startup and small business ecosystem.

Courtney Chilton

Bootleg Betties

New Member

Courtney has worked in theatre and live event entertainment for almost twenty years. She specializes in creating a warm and collaborative environment. Bootleg Betties bring Broadway style immersive entertainment to your event. Whether it's with strolling performers or full production numbers on a stage, we get your party up and dancing. Pick a number from our repertory and build it up with more dancers and singers, or commission a custom number with Texas' best triple threats. We also create custom industrials for meetings and conventions, teach dance lessons in many styles, and create custom strolling characters specific to your event. Come be a part of the show!