Kelly Brennan | INTIX Interviews

Getting to Know: Kelly Brennan

FutureTix’s Vice President of Operations and our INTIX 2020 Co-Chair grew up going to Shea Stadium. Here, Kelly reflects on seeing the final artist perform at the legendary venue, INTIX’s role in her career and her dream of living in the woods with chickens.

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What is the quality you like most in a person?

Integrity. In life, everyone makes good and bad choices. Someone with integrity tries to make the best of whatever they’re given each day, thinks of others first and not only owns up to their mistakes but attempts to fix them.  

What is the quality you most like in a colleague?

Humor. I really enjoy working with people who make me laugh and feed off my sarcastic nature. 

What qualities are important to you in a leader?

Empathy. Without it, many of the other qualities that make a person great – such as strength, integrity, passion, charisma and confidence – can only take you so far. With empathy, these qualities create a leader that others can respect and follow. 

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Teaching is my greatest passion. Before moving into ticketing, I worked as an elementary school teacher. As a consultant, I use those skills every day.  It’s the greatest feeling in the world when I can help someone have an “aha moment” and they finally understand or accomplish something they couldn’t do before. 

Which talent would you most like to have?

I’ve always been jealous of people who have musical abilities, how by picking up a musical instrument or singing they can express exactly how they’re feeling or what they’ve been through and get others to feel something bigger than themselves. I’ve always wanted to be able to sing along and share in that experience.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I’m extremely proud of the work that I helped accomplish with the INTIX Mentor Program during my time as Chair of the Member Connections Committee. On top of helping to create the program and get it off the ground, we successfully moved it forward. This initiative had been attempted several times over the last decade. Furthermore, with help from others, I was able to establish the Mentor Program as its own INTIX Task Force, which was approved in 2019 and is now recognized as a separate committee from the Member Connections Committee. After years of hard work, it's a great feeling to see your vision come true and know that others in our industry will benefit for years to come. 

 

Where would you most like to live?

In the middle of the woods with some chickens.  Every time my husband and I travel to upstate New York, passing through or on vacation, we never want to leave.  I like the idea of being secluded and the thought of living peacefully, surrounded by nature.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.  Although they’re not a “possession,” they are the only thing I truly couldn’t live without. 

What do you value most in your friends?

Loyalty.  A true friend has your back no matter what. They stand by you whether you’re right or wrong.

What’s the best live event you’ve ever seen and why?

Billy Joel’s Last Play at Shea. I grew up going to Shea Stadium and I have lots of great memories there.  It’s even where I spent the days after 9-11, volunteering when it was set up as a disaster recovery triage center.  Hearing Billy Joel and his musical guests perform songs that I grew up listening to was my final goodbye to a place that will always remain dear to me.

What is your favorite team of all time?

The New York Mets will always be my team!  They’ll always have a place in my heart!

What is your favorite place to visit or place you’d love to visit and why?

I have so many places that I love to visit and luckily with my job, I get to travel.  I do have to say though, I get especially excited when I visit California.  I love the type of offices and work style that I typically encounter when I work with my West Coast clients and friends.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Forget what you think you’re supposed to be or what others say is the right thing. Just be yourself.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to sew.  I am not very good at clothes but I can make quilts, curtains, pillows and things like that.  I like to sew baby’s blankets for friends and family. 

If you were granted three wishes today, what would they be?

I’d like to start a family.  I would wish for FutureTix to be a complete success (although I think it already is, and will continue to be successful on its own).  My third wish would go to my husband for something that he wants. 

What brings you the most joy or greatest meaning in life?

My family and friends give me meaning and joy.  Without them, there’s no real point. 


Kelly with her husband.

Why are you a member of INTIX?

I joined INTIX because it allows me to learn about the latest technologies and best practices.  I love technology, I love what I do and helping my clients, so it’s a win-win.    

What do you get from INTIX?

INTIX allows me to be better at my job and to better serve my clients.  Personally, I have made friends that I would never otherwise have met.  INTIX brings together people from around the world to talk ticketing, share similar stories and experiences and collaborate.  That also helps me grow professionally.

How do you use INTIX?

Over the past several years, as former Chair of the Member Connections Committee and current Co-Chair of both the Mentor Program and INTIX 2020 Conference Planning Committees, I have had the privilege of answering member questions about the website, conference and more.  Because of this, I’ve learned a lot about what INTIX has to offer so that I convey the correct information.  I consider this a blessing because, in turn, after realizing the wealth of data and tools INTIX provides, I find myself on INTIX’s site using them all the time.  

 

Additionally, playing a part on these committees and attending the conference each year has helped me create an abundance of industry contacts, which has provided me with a network of resources at my fingertips that I rely on regularly for continued professional development. 

What does INTIX give you that is different from everything else you are doing?

For years, INTIX was an endless resource teaching me about the industry, who the major players are and making connections.  In recent times, it has also allowed me to give back, helping others and our industry thrive as a whole. 

Who is your mentor?

I have several, including Russ Stanley (San Francisco Giants), Joe Carter (LA Philharmonic), Curtis Howells (Consolidated Printing) and Tracy Noll (Penn State Performing Arts) – who have always been there whenever I’ve had questions. My colleague, Karen Sullivan, a FutureTix consultant, as well as Maureen Andersen have always been willing to help whenever I’ve needed guidance.  Additionally, my boss, Dan DeMato, has provided me with the necessary foundation, which not only gave me the knowledge needed for me to grow in this industry, but also the courage and confidence.  Lastly, my mother has always been there making sure that I know that I can do anything I set my mind to.  I’m not sure where I’d be without her.  


What do you love most about your job?

Every day is different and I never get bored.  I’ve helped with implementations, third-party integrations, building proactive sales teams, creating roadmaps and more.  In doing so, I’ve worked with many respected organizations in numerous verticals.  Although my job can be difficult, I really enjoy those moments when everything comes together.

What do you love most about our industry?

We ticket events that make people feel something.  Little kids stare wide-eyed at the circus as clowns juggle and acrobats swing.  Families cheer, jump and chant with strangers as their favorite player scores.  We play a part in creating these unforgettable memories and experiences that impact people’s lives. 

What is your most memorable career moment?

Speaking in front of hundreds at the 2017 INTIX Conference.  I found out I would be speaking during the opening keynote just hours before it happened.  It was an amazing experience to tell attendees, firsthand, about the new Red Dot Mentor Program. 


Kelly with Maureen Andersen and Dan DeMato, Principal of FutureTix.

Is there anything else you would like to share that defines you as a professional or a person?

Ticketing is something that sucks you in once you start.  I come from a family of seven and, though we never planned it, five of us work in the ticketing industry.  In fact, I always swore I wouldn’t.  The hours are long; and you can miss your own holidays or time off because you’re too busy doing behind-the-scenes work so that others can maintain traditions and create memories. But the people, thrill and sense of accomplishment makes it so that you never want to leave.  Plus, our industry is a family.  We work together, but we also eat, drink and have fun together.