Canton native David Dafoe, founder and chief operating officer of 8th Street Ventures, was recently named Kentucky’s Small Business Person of the Year by the US Small Business Administration.

Dafoe was born at Canton-Potsdam Hospital in 1962 and grew up on Pink Schoolhouse Road in Pyrites, before moving to the Midwest as a teenager, according to a press release.

He went on to found Flavorman and Distilled Spirits Epicenter, a multi-million dollar beverage development company based in Louisville, Ky.

Dafoe, along with the other national winners, was invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C May 1-2, where he will be given award.

Dafoe founded Pro-Liquitech International in 1992 after being employed at the Brown-Forman Beverage Company, where he developed highly successful new products.

Pro-Liquitech evolved into Flavorman, an international custom beverage production company. Its client list includes internationally known brands and some of the world’s largest distilleries.

Flavorman secured three SBA loans to grow the business and relocate near downtown Louisville, kick starting a revitalization of the area, according to the release.

In 2012, Dafoe founded Flavorman’s sister company, the Distilled Spirits Epicenter, on the Flavorman campus.

The Distilled Spirits Epicenter is made of three distinct and collaborative parts: Moonshine University, Grease Monkey Distillery and Challenge Bottling.

Flavorman and the Distilled Spirits Epicenter currently have 30 full time and four part time employees.

“Flavorman and Distilled Spirits Epicenter is a wonderful example of a small business using different SBA programs to grow profitably and create jobs. We admire Mr. Dafoe’s vision, tenacity and leadership,” said Ralph Ross, SBA Kentucky district director.