[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING DAN-O'S SEASONING

 Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a 
family-owned small business and Louisville staple, Dan-O's Seasoning of 
Louisville, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
  Like many college students, Dan Oliver knew nothing about cooking. 
One day, while seasoning chicken, he threw together some spices and 
cooked the best chicken he had ever had. That spice blend planted the 
seeds for what would become Dan-O's Seasoning. Over the next 15 years, 
whenever he cooked for friends and family, Dan used his original spice 
recipe. After a career in the professional sector, Dan joined the 
restaurant industry as a cook and bartender. Dan, an aspiring 
entrepreneur, used his passion for cooking to develop what he called 
his ``million-dollar idea:'' selling his signature seasoning mix. Two 
years--and nearly 200 modifications later--Dan-O's Seasoning launched 
in 2017.
  Today, Dan-O's Seasoning is a thriving company selling products 
nationwide. The business is based in Louisville, where Dan and his team 
prepare and package the product. Initially, Dan traveled across 
Kentucky selling his seasoning at trade shows and flea markets. The 
low-sodium, sugar-free, 100-percent natural seasoning was a hit, with 
sales doubling every year. Dan-O's Seasoning was soon available at 
Louisville-area stores and online. Like many small business owners, Dan 
adapted to overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
With the trade show circuit closed, he turned to social media to keep 
his business afloat. After a video clip went viral on TikTok, a video 
creating and sharing platform, Dan-O's gained thousands of new 
customers and increased its sales more than tenfold. Their success was 
profiled in several local and national outlets, including WDRB, the 
Louisville Courier-Journal, Louisville Business Journal, and BuzzFeed. 
And in March 2021, Dan-O's exponential growth led to their products 
being sold at Kroger's, a regional supermarket chain located in the 
Midwest and South.
  Like many small business owners, Dan is actively involved in his 
community. Locally, Dan-O's Seasoning regularly supports community 
organizations, including the Louisville V.F.W. Post 6182, the 
Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund, and the Boone County Cancer Society. 
When the company hosts events, like its annual cornhole tournament, 
they prioritize working with local small businesses. Notably Dan-O's 
Seasoning sponsors several athletes, including NASCAR drivers, dirt-
track racers, tournament fishers, cornhole players, and NCAA athletes. 
In June 2021, Dan earned the Silver Fleur-De-Lis Award from the Greater 
Louisville, Inc. Metro Chamber of Commerce, recognizing his company's 
exponential growth and innovative marketing tactics.
  Dan-O's Seasoning is a remarkable example of how hard work, 
ingenuity, and discipline can turn a dream into reality. Small 
businesses like Dan-O's Seasoning form the heart of towns across 
Kentucky, regularly stepping up to support their communities. 
Congratulations to Dan and the entire team at Dan-O's Seasoning. I wish 
them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued 
growth and success in Kentucky and beyond.

                          ____________________