Every event is an opportunity
Our philosophy is pretty simple: we always put the client first and bring our best to every endeavor. And while our work is consistent, we ensure that each event has the client’s individual imprint. We live to curate memorable experiences for our clients and their guests!
Our Core Values
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
We don’t just meet our clients’ expectations, we exceed them. Whether it’s a corporate event, wedding, or retail experience, we will deliver the highest quality products and services, whatever it takes!
TEAMWORK
As a company that’s based on honest communication, we are always collaborating and sharing our knowledge. We support each other and make each other better. Every member of our team takes ownership of what they do, knowing that we all have their back.
COMPASSION & KINDNESS
It is a priority for us to create a culture of warmth and belonging, where every employee feels safe and supported to do their best work. We’re professionals at the top of our game, but we lead with our hearts. It’s what underpins the rest of our core values, and it’s how we approach our work – and each other – every day.
INNOVATION
Research and development is an essential part of our success and evolution—we love trying new things! We invest in industry conferences, continuing education, and on-the-ground research to stay ahead of the curve.
COMMUNITY
We support local organizations that directly affect the people of Maine and beyond. We do this by doing what we do best: throwing a party! We donate our time and food through philanthropy events for the Travis Mills Foundation, The Dempsey Center, and the Ronald McDonald House, as well as Full Plates Full Potential, the Michael Goulet Foundation, and the March of Dimes.
Meet the Team
Heather Tumidajski
— Senior Event Planner
Heather has been planning events at Black Tie since 2016. She leads the team in event planning, execution, and sales. Heather enjoys co-creating with clients and finding solutions to problems, but what she loves the most is seeing an event come to fruition, and the hugs and happy tears that follow. Heather thinks of Black Tie as a big family and appreciates the comfortable atmosphere where everyone gets along. Heather has two children, a boy and girl, and her husband is a chef at a restaurant. She spends her free time going to the beach, hiking, working in the garden, and exploring Maine.
FUN FACT: A former ballet dancer, Heather loves heavy metal music and bands like Tool and Killswitch Engage.
Renae Sek
— Office Manager & Event Planner
Renae first worked at Black Tie for a dozen years as a “weekend warrior” doing catering service. She’s been back with the company since 2020, this time in the office assisting with event planning, delivering catering orders, and organizing and preparing all the necessary “stuff” for events. Renae enjoys event planning and “putting together the pieces of a puzzle.” She especially likes the people at Black Tie who genuinely care about each other, including part-time staff who come back year after year to work together, like she did. When she’s not at Black Tie, Renae is outside! She runs, hikes, and mountain bikes…but she also likes sitting on the patio with a cocktail and a book.
Fun Fact: Renae can do a handstand for longer than two minutes. (She was having trouble with her thumbs and hands, so her acupuncturist suggested this old yoga trick – and it works!)
Avery French
— Executive Chef
Avery has worked with Black Tie for ten years. Every day is different as she oversees all of the company’s food services, from catering to Black Tie’s various retail locations. Avery works closely with event planners to develop menus and leads her team in preparing and presenting food at events and tastings. She is also in charge of ordering ingredients and beverages and strives to procure fresh, seasonal Maine products. Avery likes collaborating day-to-day to make sure everyone has what they need – and working together at events to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Avery enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her husband and their dog, Pearl at their camp up north. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she also loves to entertain, so any time she can cook for family and friends she does (although she doesn’t use recipes at home unless she’s baking).
Fun Fact: Avery loves EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and going to music concerts and festivals.
Kim Retus
— Executive Pastry Chef
As head of the baking division, Kim orders and organizes ingredients, prepares production lists, and creates all of Black Tie’s baked goods, everything from cakes and cookies to all of the breads and pastries sold at Black Tie locations. She has worked at the company for more than five years, and for her, it’s truly a family affair – Kim’s mother and aunt are on the bakery staff. What Kim likes most about working at Black Tie is that everyone is on the same page: they really care about what they do and want to put out their best work so that the client is happy. When she’s not at work, Kim spends time at home gardening, gaming, and playing with her four cats. And even though they work together, she loves hanging out with her family.
Fun Fact: Kim likes to do crafts like embroidery, and she recently learned to needle felt.
Alex Tumidajski
— Sous Chef
As Sous Chef, Alex supports the Executive Chef in all her duties. He has extensive experience in the kitchen, starting as a dishwasher at the age of 14. Since then, Alex graduated from culinary school – Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island – and has worked as the chef at Inn By the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, the Falmouth Country Club, and the Purpoodock Golf Club. While Alex hasn’t been with Black Tie long, he’s been part of the family since his wife Heather joined the company in 2016. (Black Tie catered their wedding just two years later!) He appreciates the continuous communication that happens within the team and with clients, which helps solve, or even prevent, problems.
Fun Fact: Alex has many “Yamadori in training,” or trees and plants that he tends, trims, and prunes with planning and patience.
Jess Black
— Manager, Union Wharf Market & PMA Cafe
Jess manages the PMA Cafe and the Union Wharf Market, coordinating the retail store and preparing food for catering and Black Tie locations. She started at the company when she graduated from culinary school and worked there from 2008-2011. She left to work as a chef on yachts and tall ships before returning to Black Tie in 2017. Jess’ favorite thing about working at Black Tie is the opportunity to try new things. She appreciates that because it’s a small company, there are many places where she can affect change – and that her voice is valued. She likes to spend as much time outside as possible, hiking, biking, or just being in nature.
Fun Fact: Jess loves to travel and is always up for an adventure…like cooking on yachts and tall ships!
Amy Collins
— Owner
Amy has been with Black Tie for more than 20 years. She started when she was 20, first as a server at what was then called the Black Tie Cafe in Portland and, soon after, at catered events. It was also then that Amy decided that she loved the company and wanted to own it one day. She went on to become an event planner, then in 2015 became part-owner overseeing daily operations at the company. In 2019, she became the sole owner. Amy loves coming to work and being surrounded by people who look at every opportunity as an opportunity to do their best. It lifts her up and makes her want to do the same. When Amy isn’t steering the ship at Black Tie, she likes being outdoors with her family, and dogs, especially on the ocean in their boat.
Fun Fact: Amy has six chickens, whom she describes as “amazing little creatures with incredible personalities.”
Join Our Team!
Are you a wizard in the kitchen? Or are you a customer service ninja? Do you love detail work and seeing it all come together?
At Black Tie Catering & Events, we’re looking for people who take pride in their work and understand that, in the end, everything we do is for the client. If you value excellence in customer service and teamwork, and treat others with kindness and compassion, then we want to hear from you!
