Berlin Steel

September 2004

Dave Hunt re-joined Berlin Steel in January. Pictured are David T., John, Amy, Dave, Elisabeth and Rebekah


NEW FACES

Art Daniels Art and Mary, Vanessa, Amber and John	Ed Colon

March 2004 Employee Profile

PROFILING JOE BOSCARINO

Joe came to Berlin Steel’s Connecticut Office in 1999, leaving CAPCO Steel where he had been head of Estimating and Sales for the Connecticut area. In addition to his experiences at CAPCO, and a 5-year stint as General Manager of DBF Industries (an Aircraft support business), Joe brought with him a 28 year history encompassing many phases of the Steel Industry.

Born in Syracusa, Italy to a family of general contractors, he was encouraged to excel in school. When Exxon and Shell sponsored a special School of Industry and

Technology to develop construction specialists from the local market, Joe entered at 14 and found himself in the first graduating class. Courses specific to the construction industry encompassed the studies of structural steel from the foundry to fabrication, welding, detailing and developing time studies for material handling. After moving to the United States with his family, he continued his education at Middlesex Community College where he studied Construction Management, and then on to Porter and Chester for Steel Detailing. He knows the materials he is estimating, their strengths and limitations.

Joe acknowledges expertise in his ability to estimate Erection, Structural Steel, Miscellaneous and Ornamental Irons. He is well known in the industry and has been a past member of the AISC, SSFNE, CBIC and Estimators Association of Connecticut. He attributes his networking, as well as a reputation for attention to detail and meeting schedules, as enhancing his ability to land jobs in both Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

It isn’t all work and no play for Joe who is married to Elvira J., with two grown children, Rose and Sal. He enjoys building homes, restoring old cars, as well as car racing, travel, and immersing himself in the history of areas he has visited. Together with his family, he has toured most of the United States and Europe.

The history and reputation of Berlin Steel had long been known to Joe, and when approached to join the Estimating Department, he accepted knowing that his professional goals and standards were aligned with those of Berlin. Today’s market is challenging and leaves little room for error. Joe looks forward to developing a department that will be an important link to the chain that ties us all to a successful and profitable future.

April 2003 Employee Profile

PROFILING MIKE STILKEY

Although Mike’s father was a Mason in the Army stationed in Petersburg, Virginia at the time of his birth, the family eventually returned to their home in Freeport, Maine. Mike grew up there with his brother Hazen and sister Cindy Dyer.

After graduating from Camden High School, Mike moved to Connecticut with a permit to begin his career as an Ironworker (During the first 2.5 years, he was simultaneously enrolled in the Apprenticeship Class with Local 424.). Those first years found him tying rebar for

the I-91 and I-84 bridges. During the period when Berlin Steel was doing a large volume of foundries in the state, Mike enjoyed the challenges of this work because at the time the rigging was done with air chuggers and not cranes. The job he enjoyed most was the Swiss Bank job in Stamford, Connecticut, because of the unique challenge of placing the long box girders over the Trading Floor.

As Carl Johnson remembers: “Quiet and confident are two words I think aptly describe Mike’s demeanor. He first showed up at Berlin Steel in 1968 and proceeded to accomplish a lot of work with no fuss, with an air of certainty, and no accidents. At the time I was Erection Super, and as I worked with Mike, realized that he had a natural understanding of the iron business, worked hard, worked well with the other men, and worked well with the customer. His quiet confidence seemed to put everyone at ease, and contributed significantly to his career success”. (Mike recalls by 1971 Carl was encouraging him to push himself into advancing to the position of Foreman.) Carl further comments that over the next twenty eight years Mike has worked at Berlin Steel he has supervised the erection of over ten thousand tons of steel, hundreds of thousands of square feet of deck, and millions of pounds of precast. He has accomplished so much and has made it look easy. At Berlin Steel, Mike both found a place to become successful and a place to help make success. Mike’s quiet confidence has had a positive affect on all of us at Berlin Steel.

Mark Lajoie recalls working with Mike on many jobs, among them 300 Atlantic Street and Cartech. “Mike always works safe, is a great teacher, and really looks out for you when you’re under his wing.”

Jim Bass commented, “I have enjoyed working with Mike both as an Ironworker and as Project Manager on many very complicated and challenging jobs since 1979. Three jobs that come quickly to mind are Cartec, the Stamford RR Station and Yale Branford - Saybrook. Mike is a hard worker who is committed to getting the job done and has always been very serious about safety. In fact Mike has been a member of the BSCC Safety Committee from the first day it was started. Mike is a true “Can Do Ironworker” who will always lend a hand and is always thinking three steps ahead.”

In closing, Doug Bass commented that Mike is one of the Senior Foreman for Berlin Steel. His professionalism, dedication, achieving schedule goals without compromising Safety, and unobtrusive mentoring of the younger and Apprentice Ironworkers make him one of Berlin’s Best.

(Please note: This is an overview of Mike’s extensive career. Our thanks to Doug Bass for his nomination of Mike and comments, and to Carl Johnson, Mark Lajoie, and Jim Bass for contributing their thoughts and photographs.)

November 2002 Employee Profiles

PROFILING DAN THE GUZZ LLOYD

Dan found himself working in the steel industry after graduating from drafting school. He started out at Crescent Iron in West Philadelphia as a detailer. After spending four years at Crescent Iron he went to work for Central Metals as a miscellaneous detailer and then a project manager. He left Central after 14 years and came to Berlin Steel in March of this year. Dan has brought a tremendous amount of knowledge and energy to our office. He is constantly on the go, between the Eagles Stadium and the Borgata Casino. At times I don’t how we will complete the amount of work that we have and

everyday he complains to me that we should have more. I guess that’s not a bad thing.

Dan was born and raised in Collingdale, PA and moved to South Jersey in 1989. Dan lives with his wife of 20 years, Jackie, and their three children - Jess (15) Holly (13) and Danny (11).

He enjoys doing carpentry work and the outdoors. He recently took up fresh water fishing while on vacation in Lake George, NY. At night Dan enjoys studying astronomy. He either spends his night viewing the planets and stars with his telescope (at least that’s what he tells us - we are really not sure what he is looking at thru the telescope), or sitting in his hot tub with a cold beer - hence the name The Guzz.

Dan is always full of energy and new ideas. He enjoys seeing the jobs and company do well. Since he came to work here, we have not seen a dull moment for the past seven months. Dan, on behalf of the office and company, we hope you have a long and prosperous career with Berlin Steel.

Reported by Mike Tierney, Dennis Bachman, Robin Gifford and Jackie Lloyd

PROFILING SALVATORE LEO MANGIAFICO III

Sal works in the Berlin Steel drawing room. He has worked at Berlin Steel since 1998. Sal is 32 years old, single, but looks forward to being married one day. Sal is very Italian, although he stresses that he is Sicilian. He is also a little French.

Sal went to Manchester Connecticut Community College for general studies. He also went to the Connecticut Culinary Institute in Farmington CT for a one-year course. He worked at WB Cody’s restaurants in Glastonbury and Bloomfield. He is a very good cook and one time he brought in some food he prepared for the drawing room to sample!

Sal also went to the Porter and Chester Institute in Wethersfield CT to learn CAD. After a one-year course there, he contacted the placement office at the college, which then referred him to Berlin Steel. And the rest is history.

Sal is a dedicated worker who is always on time. He is very accurate in his detailing. He mainly works on AutoCAD, but he does help out on the X-Steel program when he is needed.

Sal enjoys coin and stamp collecting. He also has a giant baseball card collection. His prize card is a 1992 Dunruss elite Cal Ripken signature card. Last time he checked it was worth about $400.

Sal is a closet Trekkie We all enjoy the moment when he wears his Spock ears to work (just joking).

Sal enjoys vegetable gardening. He currently owns a condo in nearby Cromwell, so he does not have a garden. He looks forward to the day that he can buy a house with a yard.

Sal is a good sport who takes a lot of teasing from his co-workers. We all enjoy working with him. Keep up the good work, Sal.

Reported by Andrea Parent, Production Control Coordinator

July 2002 Employee Profiles

	PROFILING RANDY SCOTT Randy is the assistant foreman to Jerry in the paint and loading department at FEI. Randy always has a smile and something good to say about folks, a tough thing to do when you work for Rod. He is a lifelong resident of Natural Bridge where he graduated from Natural Bridge High School after playing football and lettering in basketball. How he ended up as a motor head came naturally. He grew up watching his father race on the dirt oval at Natural Bridge Speedway and later as a drag racer at the
same facility. He learned to turn wrenches while helping his father build engines and race cars. His teenage daughter Nicole (our photographer) is already interested in cars and racing, accompanying Randy to the track on race day. Perhaps she will continue the family tradition. Profile by Rod Spengler

	PROFILING MYLES ST. JEAN Wow! I volunteer to write a profile about my buddy Myles, and then I read a great profile about Rick Vogt in the last newsletter. How am I gonna top that? Amazingly enough, Rick and Myles have a few things in common. First of all, Myles has a spotless safety record. Now, some of you may say to yourself, "he works in the office for Pete's sake", but you should witness some of his antics!! (Those of us who work with him remember the incident with his desk. That's all I'll say about that!!) Secondly, when something in the office needs to be handled, Myles is your guy. He fixes the copier, the blueprint machine, he carries heavy items, he moves furniture, he fixes doors, he shovels
snow. He's the guy. The "Big Guy" that is!! Myles started at Berlin Steel as the blueprint "kid". His brother-in-law convinced him to try out, even though his drive to work is over an hour each way. Lucky for us, he liked the job and his fellow co-workers. He's been a Berlin Steel employee for more than 10 years, making him 8th in office seniority. And, he still drives the long drive each day from Central Village to Berlin. From the blueprint room, Myles worked his way into the Production Control Department. That's where I really got to know him. He is a hard worker who enjoys somefriendly competition during the day. We used to race to see who could input the most drawings into the computer for the shop cutlists. He was one of the key people who helped make the shop transition from Berlin to Natural Bridge go smoothly. After a successful run in Production Control, Myles decided to take a stabat detailing. Lucky for us, he has become a GREAT detailer! I, for one, amproud and envious of him. Detailing comes very easy to Myles. He takes his work very seriously. He is proud of his drawings. He is always looking to improve his skills. On the personal side, I have watched the young "punk" grow into a loving husband and father. Myles was born into a large French family in the Plainfield CT area. Being the sixth of seven kids is probably why he has a good sense of humor and an easy time making friends. After high school, Myles served with the National Guard as a "cable dog". Myles married his high school sweetheart, Karleen, after many years of dating. They have two absolutely beautiful children, Nathan and Hannah. This spring Myles was a Tee-ball coach for his son's team, "Portraits by Karleen at Payless Studio Red Sox" boy, that's a mouthful!! Like most men, Myles enjoys power tools and carpentry projects. He also enjoys classic rock-n-roll and is an awesome bass guitarist. His band "Reality" plays at a variety of functions. Stop by and say "Hi" to Myles the next time you're in the office. He is one of our key "behind-the-scenes" people. And who knows, maybe you'll catch yourself chuckling when you're there. Keep up the great work Big-Guy! Profile by Andrea Parent

PROFILING BOB SMITH

How much is enough? Just a little bit more.

Bob was born in the Forestville section of Bristol, Connecticut and remains to this day a resident there. Bob, and his wife Jill, were in the same high school class, although it wasn¹t until after he graduated with a major in accounting from the Morse School of Business in Hartford and had begun working at Berlin Steel, that they became re-acquainted and married! Clarence Johnson was President, and John Clotz Treasurer of Berlin Steel in 1976. Norman Jacques worked under John and was responsible for hiring Bob as part of the Accounting Department.

Today Berlin Steel strives to be on the cutting edge of technology. Bob knows how far we have come. How far? Bob's memory of the telephone systemin 1976 is a good example. Back then there was a tangle of cords and only one telephone extension in accounting that used a system of rings to indicate the intended recipient John Clotz (1) ring, Norman Jacques (2)rings, and Bob as the new kid on the block (anyone under 55 in those days was a kid Sunder that criteria Bob is still a kid!) (4) rings. In the early days each member of the Accounting Department had to interface with all aspects of the department, cross covering as needed. Bob's accounting background soon expanded into the areas of Workers Compensation Insurance, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Job Costing and Human Resources. Do whatever it takes to get the job done was the guiding principle.

Over the years Bob's family grew to include son Jason, now 18, and daughter Courtney, age 15. He's involved in many of their activities, including soccer coach.

Whenever someone wants to know something about the past or pertaining to Berlin Steel ask Bob Smith! We all appreciate his attention to detail and flexibility, real assets to the Accounting Department of which he is Assistant Treasurer. Under the encouragement of Vice President and Treasurer Don Miller, Bob has become fluent in the Timberline Accounting System and has been assigned to project manage the proposed new addition to Berlin Steel. Another example of Bob doing just a little bit more. Bob's modesty belies his contributions to Berlin Steel. We are grateful to have him on the BSCC team.

Nominated by Doug Bass and Lynne Padilla

PROFILING PAT DIDONNO

If the boat needs rocking, rock it, or risk going down with the ship!

A native of New Britain, Pat graduated from a four-year program at The Moody School of Business. Pat's classes were funded by her part-time employment with Sheet Metal Associates. This experience exposed her to the construction industry and galvanized the direction of her future career.

Pat was hired as Administrative Project Coordinator by Genovese & DiDonno, Inc. in 1971 as an interior systems

ontractor specializing in drywall, acoustical carpentry, and related interior finishes. The job encompassed bidding,

contracts, workers compensation, all monthly insurances, bonding, certified payroll, accounts receivable, and "whatever it took". Pat resigned in 1974 to raise her family of boys, Tim, Shaun and Ryan McCarthy. During those years, in addition to herding three very energetic sons, she taught religious classes for the 1st and 7th grades at St Paul's church in Berlin.

When Pat returned to Genovese and DiDonno in 1979 as an Administrative Project Coordinator, the position had grown to include two project assistants. During her absence, the company had also grown and split into five satellite companies. The ensuing years found Pat involved in jobs with Berlin Steel, U.S. Surgical, North Haven, Quinnipiac University, Richardson Vick Corporation Office (Ed Burke's job!) and Salmon Brook Office Park. This exposure also introduced her to contractors Frank Downes Construction Company, Turner Construction, Gilbane Building Company, CR Klewin, The Fusco Corporation and Abchar Developers.

Pat married Bob DiDonno in 1994 and her family grew to include daughter Elaine.

A Berlin Steel classified ad in the Hartford Courant in 1995 prompted Pat to send her resume and in June Bob Smith interviewed and hired her as his assistant with assignments that included overseeing accounts receivable and workers compensation. Norman Jacques retired in 1996 and Don Miller became Vice President of Finance. Pat was named Assistant Secretary of Berlin Steel that same year and became active in the Management Safety Committee and Berlin Steel safety issues. As a natural outgrowth of her involvement in workers compensation cases, she became known to Field employees both as someone who patiently guided them through the maze of paper trails related to injuries and as someone who always went the extra step to help.

Pat is an advocate for the Berlin Steel safety programs. In 1999 Doug Bass invited Pat to join the all-volunteer Field Safety Committee. Pat became an active member and the Corresponding Secretary.

Pat, you are an invaluable member of the Berlin Steel family. Rock On!

Nominated by Doug Bass

PROFILING ANDREA IRY PARENT

RENAISSANCE WOMAN! (A Woman knowledgeable or proficient in more than one field)

If you want something done, give it to a busy person! Andrea joined Berlin Steel in May of 1990 as part of the wave BSCC was fortunate to attract from Thames Valley Steel's downsizing, and ultimate closing of operations.

Andrea had been hired in 1985 by Thames Valley Steel for Production Control before graduating from Grasso-Southeastern Tech in Groton, Connecticut. Always one to streamline work, she recognized early her intense interest

in Construction related subjects and chose to focus on her future career. She entered Grasso-Southeastern, a vocational/technical high school, where she received an award for "Outstanding Blueprint Reading", and a Diploma in Machine and Marine Drafting. To quote Andrea, "Back in the old days, I was taught to draw by hand...in the last month of my senior year we "touched" on the up and coming CAD Detailing!"

Andrea quickly learned Production Control under the old hand system for the Thames Valley Numerical Control Department, programming the Drill Line and Angle Master. Upon entering Production Control for Berlin Steel in May 1990, she rapidly become proficient with "Structural Software", the program then used by Production Control, and today by the Estimating Department. The advances in computer software specific to Production Control found Andrea among the first being sent for training to Lincoln, Nebraska, on Design Data's software "Dosepics". Andrea was promoted to Assistant Production Control Manager in September 1992. In November 1993 she was promoted again to Purchasing Manager, a challenging position, and one for which Vendors still remember her for professionalism and the ability to negotiate the best price without compromising integrity. Andrea left BSCC briefly in March 1998, returned in August 1999 to head the Production Control Department. Duties include utilizing the software package "Steel 2000" by Steel Solutions, programming CNC punch machines, creating cut lists, shipping lists, and maintaining the inventory for FEI. Andrea continued to advance by joining the Drawing Room as a CAD detailer in May of 2000. (Usually among the first to arrive every morning!!!)

In addition to the different departments in which she has served, Andrea has been a member of the I-Power Committee, the Safety Committee, Women in Construction, has submitted articles for the BSN News, is a creative innovator in team building (Andrea personally made the Official Drawing Room Team Shirts), and Fund Raiser. (On September 10, 2000 Andrea served as a Co-Captain in the American Heart Walk raising over $1,500!) She is the official Berlin Steel "Do you need help" person to whom we can turn to and depend on with a thoughtful answer, or referral. She is a friend, colleague and confidant. (In addition, when something delicious appears from nowhere, we know who made it!)

Andrea married Al Parent in September 1998. She is a certified scuba diver, enjoys fishing, swimming, boating, camping, home remodeling, reading, dancing, surfing the Internet, music, baking, crafts and challenging her niece and nephew. Andrea Parent, a.k.a., Berlin Steel's Renaissance Woman!

Profile by Lynne Padilla and Pat DiDonno

PROFILING 20-YEAR BSCC EMPLOYEE
RICKY VOGT
(When they say It Can't Be Done.... call Ricky!)

A native of North Branford CT, Ricky began his career as a saw mill worker. Ricky's Stepfather, an iron worker, suggested that he too consider becoming one as it would afford an opportunity to a better quality of life. After successfully completing his apprenticeship training with the union, Ricky joined Berlin Steel where he was mentored by Al Leavitt, and then spent the next 11 years connecting with Doug Bass.

Ricky earned a reputation for handling all the dirty, hard and heavy work. As a field foreman, Ricky exemplified the Berlin Steel focus on safety by filing only two accident reports and not one personal injury report in 20 years! Ricky is also a member of the Field Safety Committee.

Anyone who knows him, understands that very few work any harder or smarter. Once you get through the tough exterior of the man, you find a heart of gold. When asked what his most challenging project was, Ricky quickly responded, Branford Saybrook College 87 tons of hand iron, all carried pieces, all rigged or pulled with chain falls. This project wasn't all work and no play as he met Chrysanne Conn, a mason on the job and a lady he refers to as a wonderful woman whom he hopes will someday be his wife!

Ricky Thank-you for being a dedicated member of our Erection Department and maintaining a safe job site.

Ricky was nominated by many employees. There was a collective consensus that Ricky's sparkling safety record merited recognition.