Our mission
Building community thoughtfully.
Photos by Jenny Bravo
About
Held was an idea that developed over a cup of coffee. Tenaya and Mary Beth are passionate about their Portland community and ensuring others feel supported and connected. We believe in bringing people together thoughtfully to promote deeply meaningful relationships, personal growth, and community well-being. We design each gathering based upon the intended outcome. Our desire is to make every held event transformative by reimagining human connection.
The founders
Tenaya Britton
Tenaya lived in Portland, Maine as a small child and moved back the summer of 2022 from Brooklyn, New York with her husband, Matt and daughter, Hayden. After living in big cities such as NYC, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., she and her family were seeking a home where community was more accessible. Tenaya has spent most of her career in advertising and marketing for large corporations. Before starting her own company, she led the marketing for Tech & Innovation and Philanthropy at Bloomberg where she was focused on programming and experiences that drove positive impact on global and local communities. She currently runs a marketing studio that provides marketing strategy and execution for small businesses and organizations that want to accelerate growth and impact and is an advisor to two startups. Tenaya loves meeting new people and forming deep connections.
Mary Beth Golden
Born on the Jersey Shore, Mary Beth spent her childhood between the beach and playing various sports. After majoring in Advertising and Marketing Communications at FIT in NYC, Mary Beth went on to work for 8+ years at MAC Cosmetics, overseeing North America press outreach, collaborations, fashion week, influencer relations, and executive profile pieces. She then spent two years leading the Lifestyle and Hospitality at DKC Agency. After almost 16 years in the East Village, Mary Beth and her family moved to Portland, Maine in 2018 and she began her consulting career. Mary Beth specializes in high touch experiences both in-person and virtual which include product launches, collaborations, and brand milestones. She, her husband Mike, their daughters Charlie and Lucy, and their pup Killian are exploring all New England has to offer.