Fireside Chat: Caroline Chapdelaine on Buying a Carve Out in Defense Manufacturing

The Durable Small Business Series brings together a curated community of small business owners, investors, and operators from across Utah.

Our events focus on meaningful conversations and quality programming — from speaker series and fireside chats to hands-on workshops.

Today’s event features a Fireside Chat with Caroline Chapdelaine on Buying a Carve Out in Defense Manufacturing

Caroline is the CEO and Co-Founder of Northstar Photonics and her small business journey is anything but typical — she’s gone from serving in military intelligence to leading a cutting-edge defense manufacturing company.

With experience at defense giants like Northrop Grumman and L3 Harris, Caroline carved out Northstar Photonics from an established firm and hasn’t looked back. She’ll share what it takes to navigate the high-stakes world of defense contracting, from acquiring specialized equipment to mastering government regulations and overcoming financial hurdles.

If you're curious about bold career transitions or building a business in a niche market, this conversation promises real-world insights on resilience, strategy, and the power of strong partnerships.



We'd like to thank our sponsors of this event, ProvenCFO and CCBank.

ProvenCFO delivers fractional executive, accounting, tax, and capital advisory services, offering everything from CFO-level oversight to daily bookkeeping. We partner with small to mid-market companies, providing trusted financial and operational expertise, while offering scalable back-office solutions that grow with your business.

Attendees and Durable community members can receive 20% off 3 months of service as new clients of ProvenCFO.


Capital Community Bank or commonly known as CCBank has been in business since###-###-#### We are one of Utah’s few remaining locally owned community banks. This means quick, local decisions with a banking partner who has our community in mind.

CCBank has an experienced SBA department with the designation as an SBA Preferred Lender providing small business loans nationwide for real estate purchases and refinances, equipment loans, business acquisitions, working capital uses and more. We are known for quick decision making and the ability to execute.