Craig Carlson was elected Local 2 Business Manager in 2005, he was elected IATSE Vice President in 2008. He’s an IATSE PAC Committee and Stage Craft Department Member and District 9 Co-Chair. In 2013, Carlson was elected Illinois AFL-CIO Vice President, and he sits on the Chicago Entertainment Industry Labor Council.

Carlson initiated Local 2’s Journeyman / Apprentice Training Fund in 2007, and he spearheaded Local 2’s first office purchase in 2008. Carlson organized Shakespeare Theatre, Aragon Ballroom, Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, The Metropolis, Sound Co-Op, OSA, Fiserv Forum, Alpine Valley, Riverside Theatre, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, and others.

He negotiated Local 2’s first agreements for work at Now Arena, Radius, Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, Charter One Pavilion, Soldier Field, Wintrust Arena, Wrigley Field, Seat Geek Stadium, Indie Fest, Spring Awakening and many more. Carlson also brokered an agreement between Local 2, McCormick Place, Navy Pier, SMG, and the IBEW which has created thousands of jobs and makes McCormick Place Convention Center more attractive to producers.