Meat&Poultry -- July 2014 - 8

Commentary
BY JOEL CREWS, EDITOR
jcrews@sosland.com

Leading and succeeding
by example
H

aving worked in restaurant

companies, with annual sales of $6.1 billion.

management for a decade after

Having started with the company right

college, I learned early on how leading by

out of college in its finance department,

example is one of the quickest ways to earn

Milovanovic worked his way into plant

the respect and loyalty of employees.

operations, including overseeing its flagship

Because I started my foodservice career

plant in Oakland, Iowa, for four years.

during college as a busboy working

Learning the nuts and bolts of the day-to-

up through the ranks (including

day operations was integral in his earning

"promotions" to dishwasher, bar-

respect and a reputation for working hard

back, poolside bartender, waiter, fry

and achieving results. He is quick to point

cook, catering director and food/

out that this results in building a team that

beverage manager), I never hesitated

understands and shares his goals.

to jump into any role and help
wherever was needed. The credibility
earned by a leader who isn't above doing
the jobs that require rolled-up sleeves (and

The credibility
earned by a
leader who has
worked in the
trenches is
priceless.

He lauds the people up and down the
company's roster. Likewise, they are quick
to gush about his commitment, energy
and passion for excellence. "I've been in

often in my case, rolled-up pant legs and

the trenches," he told me, adding that

expert command of a toilet plunger), can

he knows what it takes to succeed at the

prove to be priceless when employees are

operational level.

asked to go the extra mile or when building

And with a steady stream of data

a team that isn't content to do just enough.

and production stats at his fingertips,

It made me not only a better trainer, but

Milovanovic says there often is no better

also gave me an appreciation for all the

means of gauging how a plant is operating

moving parts required to make any business

on any given day than by taking the pulse

operate successfully.

of the employees. "If you look at peoples'

After spending most of the day recently
with Dan Milovanovic, Meat&Poultry's

faces, you can tell a lot," he said.
As the third recipient of the annual

2014 Operations Executive of the Year, I

no exception. He and I can attest to how

worked his way up through the ranks to

working alongside people you depend on

achieve his current position as senior vice

to succeed is a sure way to earn the respect

president of North America operations

and admiration of those in the trenches

with the company, which ranks No. 10

and the people around the boardroom.

in M&P's Top 100 listing of processing

July 2014 *

respective companies, and Milovanovic is

25-year career with the company, he has

Meat&Poultry *

that work up and down the ranks at their

success with OSI Group LLC. During his

*

award winners is the vital roles of the people

bond that he admits has played a role in his

8

award, a common theme among each of the

almost immediately realized a common

Congratulations to this year's winner. ■

www.MeatPoultry.com
http://www.MeatPoultry.com
Meat&Poultry -- July 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meat&Poultry -- July 2014
