KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Commemorating a career that has spanned 25 years with OSI Group LLC, Dan Milovanovic, senior vice president of North America operations, has been recognized as Meat&Poultry’s 2014 Operations Executive of the Year. As part of the honor, Milovanovic will be featured in the July issue of M&P in a cover story chronicling his career development with one of the industry’s most-respected processing companies. Previous recipients of the awards include Smithfield Foods’ Henry Morris in 2012 and Plumrose USA’s Freddy Mortenson in 2013.

Each year, M&P’s publishing team and editors solicit nominations from readers and industry suppliers to develop an A-list of operations executives whose reputations for excellence and exemplary leadership qualities translate into successful and efficient plant operations at their respective companies. At the top of this year’s list, was OSI’s Milovanovic, whose career path with the Aurora, Ill.-based company started in the financial division of the operation.

Through the years, his business acumen and ability to manage and lead allowed him to shine when he was afforded the opportunity to oversee operations at several of OSI’s highest-profile processing plants, including its flagship facility in Oakland Iowa. En route to his current position, Milovanovic assumed the position of vice president of strategic and operational initiatives, which took him to OSI plants all over the world, including operations in Brazil, Australia, Japan, China, India and South America. Approximately five years ago he was appointed to his current position. During his tenure, the company has seen production increase as much as 40 percent by maximizing productivity at its current plants. His leading-by-example approach has allowed him to learn about all facets of the business while earning credibility up and down the ranks of the company.

Editor Joel Crews presented Milovanovic with the award this past month as part of a visit to the company’s Aurora headquarters and tour of its Geneva, Ill. plant. To learn more about Milovanovic’s success with OSI, read M&P’s cover story in the upcoming July issue.

Read stories on previous recipients of the Operations Executive of the Year award:

Freddy Mortenson, 2013 Operations Executive of the Year

Henry Morris, 2012 Operations Executive of the Year.