Daud Yohanna was born in Sudan. During the Civil War (1987-2005), the local boys were separated from their parents, including Daud (10 years old) and his older brother (12 years old). They joined a group of boys, known as “The Lost Boys of Sudan,” who walked for 30 days from Sudan to Ethiopia to escape.
Daud lived in a refugee camp in Ethiopia for four years before moving to the U.S. as a teenager. He began attending high school and lived in a church until he turned 21. Unable to speak English, Daud learned to speak the language after three months of classes.
In 2011, Daud joined our Souderton facility as hourly production team member.
“During my lunch breaks, I took 15 minutes to learn new jobs and move to other areas,” he said. “I told my supervisor that I wanted to become a lead.” Daud joined the Management Training Program and began work in the deboning department.
“JBS is the right company if you really want to promote yourself. Do what you got to do, and do it right,” he said.
Through the Management Trainee Program, he worked at another JBS beef facility in Plainwell, MI, before taking a position of superintendent in Souderton, PA, where he met his wife and fellow JBS team member. They are married and have two kids, a girl and a boy.
“I’m happy now. I took a job I was excited about it. I have fun in my new job, and I have fun with my babies,” he said. “I want to be a superintendent, and I’ll make it happen. I want to be the best leader out there for my people, for the business, and my family.”