SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. is moving up one of their own into an important part of its corporate structure. 

Dan Zelenka, vice president, laboratory services, Tyson Foods

Dan Zelenka has been promoted to vice president of laboratory services for Tyson Foods. He replaces Neal Apple who retired in December.

“Dan’s extensive knowledge of our plants, people and processes make him the right person to manage the dynamic team involved in our world-class laboratories,” said Rick Roop, senior vice president, food safety and quality assurance.

Laboratory Services is a network of 18 laboratories, providing Tyson and its customers with research, analytical, chemistry, microbiology and serology services. The group completes more than 280,000 tests per month for farm-to-table food safety.

Zelenka began his career with Tyson in 1986 as a geneticist and has made contributions to the company’s use of statistical process control in operations, food safety and quality management programs. In this new role he will continue oversight of the statistics and experimental design team while adding the new laboratory services duties.

Zelenka earned a bachelor’s in agriculture at the Univ. of Illinois, a master’s in poultry science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., and a doctorate in genetics, also from Virginia Tech.