Martha Creek Interviews David Dafoe

Dave is the founder and owner of Flavorman and has become one of the country's foremost authorities on flavor. He began his career with Fries & Fries, now known as Givaudan. In 1989 he accepted a position with Brown-Forman Corporation in Louisville, KY to head up the product development of a new Jack Daniels Country Cocktails line. After five years with the company in 1992, Dave began Flavorman, previously named Pro-Liquitech known as the "Beverage Architects". Flavorman has grown from a consultation firm to an international, full-service custom product development and ingredient supply company.

Marking the company's 20-year anniversary, Dave launched the Distilled Spirits Epicenter. Dave identified a need to support the rapidly growing craft distilling industry through education and production support services, which the Epicenter fulfills. Comprised of Grease Monkey Distillery, Moonshine University and Challenge Bottling, the Epicenter makes it possible for anyone to create and explore the possibilities in artisanal spirits.

The company has been featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods, Forbes, the Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners and The New York Times. Dave was SBA’s Kentucky Business Person of the Year for 2016 and ranked 4th in the nation. Dave is active in the Louisville community and currently is on the Norton Healthcare Foundation Board, Miami University Foundation Board, Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation Board, a MUCORP volunteer and an active member of the Kentucky Southern Indiana World Affairs Council. He was past President of the Board of Trustees at his church, past member of the Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Science and the Alumni Association Board at Miami University.

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