Sheet1Christy Culver is the Program Director of Workforce Development at the National Independent Venue Foundation, where she designs programs that train, mentor, and launch the next generation of live entertainment professionals without requiring a formal degree. She’s passionate about creating real, accessible pathways into the industry, especially for those who don’t see themselves in traditional education.

Christy’s journey started at 13, ushering at a venue in Branson, MO. It was just one piece of her family’s deep music roots: a dad who sang country, a mom who ran venues, and kids whose band she once managed into MTV sync placements. From green rooms to festival stages to curriculum strategy meetings, she knows how to turn hands-on experience into meaningful impact.