Craig Buhrendorf was born in Dayton, Ohio and grew up in Westfield, New Jersey. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and is the third generation member of his family to graduate college with a Mechanical Engineering degree. While at Lehigh, Craig was actively involved with the Lehigh Radio Network as a “progressive rock” deejay, serving first as Program Director for its FM station, and later as General Manager for the AM-FM network. Craig also belonged to Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, where he was both Treasurer and President.

After graduation, Craig began his career at General Electric’s aircraft engine manufacturing plant in Lynn, Massachusetts. He had several assignments there, including a stint as a shop foreman. He then switched to selling large industrial machinery, working as an area manager for a couple of smaller international companies and living in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut before settling in Avon in 1984. During that period he closed the largest industrial air compressor order ever for his division and broke into the ski industry with his division’s first sale of air compressors for snowmaking.