Sheldon Lavin, chairman and chief executive officer at OSI group LLC entered meat industry about 43 years ago. Before entering the meat industry he was a successful investor and executive in banking industry and owned a financial consulting firm.
The OSI group is a privately owned firm that deals with meat processors and services the retail and food services industries. The international headquarters of OSI is located in Aurora, Illinios.
In 1970 when Sheldon was working at a financial institution, Otto and sons (Predecessor Company of OSI industries) were looking for investments. It was the time when the bank requested Sheldon Lavin to have an ownership position at Otto and Sons Company. At first Lavin was not looking for the idea but eventually he joined under the condition that he would have same amount of leverage that members of Otto and sons had.
Sheldon Lavin got more involved in business of Otto and sons and started to look for investments overseas. Then, Sheldon was proposed to join in full time business so that OSI could grow with McDonald’s. Sheldon had deep appreciation for entrepreneurial; culture and strategies of Mc Donald’s which was a strong point for him to join OSI in full time business.
Since then OSI group started to expand and grow in North America, Europe, South Africa and Taiwan. Lavin was left as a sole owner as one of the partners decided to sell out and remaining partners retired, In the 1980s. After Lavin took over he decided to grow OSI group bigger and is still perusing the growth of the company. Today the OSI group has extended to Philippines, Australia, India, china, japan and South Africa.
The OSI and McDonalds is one of the largest protein suppliers in the world and has circled the globe and taken the culture overseas. OSI has 55 and more facilities in 16 countries. Sheldon Lavin and his educational background in accounting and financing has made him able to take OSI to a new level expanding and growing the industry overseas.
Sheldon Lavin has also contributed to several charities. Some of them include Ronald McDonald house charities. The inner city foundation of Chicago, the multiple sclerosis society, boys and girls clubs of Chicago and the united Negro college fund among others.
Sheldon Lavin has been awarded for his contribution and has taken part in a number of services. Some names of the services are trustee for Ronald mc Donald’s house charities, board member of rush university medical center, board member of the Goodman theater, president and director of the Sheba foundation etc. Sheldon also received the global visionary award on February 20, 2016. OSI Group has received many awards since Lavin took over as the CEO which includes awards for health management, environmental management and safety risks, 2016 Globe of Honor by the British Safety Council awarded to OSI Foods UK for its risk management strategies. On 25th November 2016 OSI Group was awarded by an environmental award.