CRAIG WALDMAN

PRESIDENT & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

Craig didn’t chose this lifestyle, this lifestyle chose him- and it all started in the beautiful city of San Luis Obispo while he attended college at Cal Poly. Craig began his involvement in the events world when he joined the student body and was tasked with putting together concerts and shows for the students on campus. He was able to get musical talents such as BLANK booked for private shows at the college which catapulted his love of live events. He graduated Cal Poly Slo with a Bachelors in Graphic Design and continued to produce events at various venues within Los Angeles. A serendipitous moment occurred as Craig was producing an anniversary event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel; he was approached by the late Merv Griffin in 1993- Merv owned the hotel at the time and an instant friendship emerged. They soon after developed Merv Griffin Productions, a company that cultivated partnership and built one of the premiere event companies of its time. Inspired by the company Craig built with Merv and its partners, when the time came in 2001, Craig stepped away and began his own venture along with his wife Cindy. 15 years of experience in the industry and starting from scratch at 40 years old—that is how 15|40 Productions emerged. From working out of his laundry room, to growing a renowned global event company, somehow this all still feels like it’s just the beginning.