In this episode of Behind the Curtain, hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe sit down with Kristin Intress, a relentless entrepreneur, former military soldier, international hospitality executive, and the CEO of Firefly Venues. From leaving home at 16 and serving in the U.S. Army to running cardiac clinics, acting on stage and film, and serving as CEO of WorldHotels across 65 countries, Kristin’s journey is anything but traditional.

Kristin shares how her diverse background culminated in the founding of Firefly Venues—a curated collection of private retreat environments just outside Nashville, including Leon Russell’s legendary former recording studio in Gallatin. Designed specifically for corporate leadership teams and executive peer groups, Firefly Venues is built on the belief that where we gather fundamentally changes how we think, connect, and lead. Kristin pulls back the curtain on structuring businesses with an exit strategy in mind, scaling without losing the human touch, and why real leadership is about building trust and removing barriers for your team.

• Unconventional Roots to Army Grit: Kristin recounts leaving home at 16, overcoming severe dyslexia through pure work ethic, studying pharmacy in the U.S. Army, and how her military experience taught her the true essence of leadership and trust.
• From Theater and Cardiac Clinics to Global CEO: Discover how Kristin’s eclectic path—from winning stage roles in LA to earning an Executive MBA at Kellogg—prepared her to acquire, scale, and lead major international tech and hospitality brands.
• The Magic of Firefly Venues: An inside look at how Kristin transformed historic spaces like Leon Russell's former recording studio into immersive, safe-haven retreat venues that spark authentic executive conversations around the fire pit.
• Always Plan the Exit: Why small business owners struggle to scale due to fear and control, and why Kristin builds every venture with a clear, intentional exit and legacy strategy from day one.
• "Surprise and Delight" Hospitality: How Firefly Venues replaces rigid corporate hotel pricing with all-inclusive, experience-driven hospitality—featuring farm-to-table dining, custom breakout spaces, and unexpected moments of delight.

Kristin Intress is the CEO of Firefly Venues and an adjunct professor in the capstone program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She is a former CEO of InnLink and WorldHotels, with a proven track record of founding, scaling, and selling companies across healthcare, technology, and luxury hospitality.

Connect with Kristin & Firefly Venues:

• Website: FireflyVenues.com

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