Episode 23
🎙️ From Embassy Security to American Steel: C&D Tool's Bold Return to U.S. Craftsmanship
In this episode of From Battle to Business, Dean Van Dyke sits down with Marine Corps veteran and entrepreneur Kris Forrest of C&D Tools. Discover how a missing cocktail shaker sparked a movement in American manufacturing. From the sands of Iraq to steel workshops in the U.S., Kris and co-founder Rebecca Beardsley are proving that heirloom quality isn’t dead—it’s just getting started. Learn how military grit, old-school values, and entrepreneurial daring fueled their rise from service to startup success.
What happens when two veterans can’t find a well-made, American cocktail shaker? They built it themselves. In this gritty, insightful episode, Kris Forrest takes us behind the scenes of how C&D Tools was born—not in a boardroom, but through a passion for quality and a refusal to settle for overseas knockoffs.
We cover Kris’s Marine Corps service, time as a diplomat, and the moment he realized America needed to bring craftsmanship back home. This isn’t just a story of tools and steel—it’s about identity, integrity, and building something that lasts.
Key Takeaways:
- How military service shaped Kris’s entrepreneurial mindset
- Why C&D Tools focuses on heirloom-quality, American-made products
- The turning point that led to launching a manufacturing company
- Lessons learned about scaling a product business from scratch
- Why storytelling matters in product-based businesses
Step-by-Step Journey:
- Enlistment and Service – Joined the Marines at 17, served in Iraq.
- Diplomatic Service – Worked in government and diplomacy post-service.
- The Cocktail Shaker Problem – Realized no U.S.-made shakers existed.
- Launch of C&D Tools – Combined textile and steel legacies to fill the gap.
- Scaling With Purpose – Built a brand that stands for more than profit.
Quotes:
“I enlisted at 17. I needed direction. The Marine Corps gave me that—and more.”
“Nobody was making an American cocktail shaker. That was wild to me.”
“I don’t think you have to separate discipline from creativity.”
“We’re not just making products. We’re reclaiming pride in American craftsmanship.”
“Integrity didn’t start when I launched a company. It started in the Corps.”
Resources Mentioned:
- C&D Tools: https://www.cndtools.com – American-made barware rooted in military-grade grit and precision.
- New York Times Feature: Boosted visibility and highlighted the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing.
- Marine Corps Values: A foundation of honor, courage, and commitment that drives business ethics.
My Advice:
Too many entrepreneurs skip the “why” and rush to the “what.” Kris and Rebecca didn’t. Their clarity of purpose is what makes C&D Tools more than a product—it’s a mission. If you’re starting a business, build something that matters. Build it like it’s going to outlive you.
Connect with C&D Tools: https://www.cndtools.com
Connect with Dean Van Dyke at The Breakthrough Blueprint
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