Articles by Joseph Dombrowski

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Employee Spotlight: Jodi Sabara

I began my career at Pennsylvania Steel back in July of 2002. I had previously worked for Penn Pipe Hanger as their Office Manager but the company had closed and as luck would have it PSC was looking for someone to work in their Accounting Department.

I started out as an A/R Clerk and then gradually given more responsibilities that included many different aspects within the Accounting Department.

As my job functions continued to evolve, I welcomed the opportunity to take charge of the planning and organizing of Bensalem’s holiday party. I can honestly say it has been one of the rewarding parts of my job over the past 7 years, and absolutely love doing it.

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My day to day role has become more focused towards Human Resources within the company. I really enjoy this side of the business because it lets me interact with the employees from all our 7 locations and outside resources relating to our employee benefits. This part of my job is always challenging. And by challenging I mean everything from trying to keep up with the ever changing healthcare industry to chasing down employees for their paperwork to be returned to me!

But in all seriousness, I am grateful for the experience I have learned here in my 13 years, as well as the wonderful team that I work alongside.

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Employee Spotlight: Jessica Steed

I started with PA Steel in August of 2005. Fresh out of high school, looking only for supplemental income, I was hired at their entry level receptionist position. Just a few years later, I was promoted to Administrative Assistant of our President, Barry Walsh. In that role, I was fully immersed in the metals industry, helping him oversee and maintain the local MSCI organization, as well as handling the sales needs of our distributor accounts. This introduction into sales helped pave the way for my next big move: Inside Sales.

In 2008, at the height of the market crash, I was promoted to the position of Inside Sales. Joe Dombrowski, Sr. and I had a running joke–anytime he was in the office I would beg and plead for a Southern branch, and insisted if he ever opened one, I needed to be the first person to move.

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As a Florida native, it didn’t matter what I did, just that it was always my goal to return to the south and avoid the harsh winters of the north. Little did I know, 10 years down the road, we’d grow from two branches to seven, one of which would be my future home.

When offered the chance to move and take on a challenging new position, I jumped at the opportunity and haven’t looked back since. As the first Inside Sales Manager for the Richmond location, I am excited to help this branch grow, help the company delve into a new market, as well as make new friends and connections in the process.

I am a Yankee in spirit, southern at heart, and ready to infuse the two to take this branch to the next level!

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Internships Help Students Explore Career Options

Randolph-Macon College students Nicole Zuck ’16 andBashil Singh ’15, both economics/business majors, spent January Term (J-term) putting into practice what they’ve learned in class. Zuck and Singh did internships—arranged through R-MC’s Bassett Internship program—at Pennsylvania Steel in Ashland, Virginia.

Working under the guidance of Chris Keiser, general manager of PA Steel’s Richmond division, Zuck and Singh helped increase the company’s customer base; determined the average amount that customers spend; and tracked the frequency of customers’ purchases. They also used online marketing tools—including social media—to increase the company’s exposure.

Internship Skills = Career Choices

Zuck, from Lovettsville, Virginia, said the internship was a great way to kick-start her future plans. She hopes to have a career in marketing.

“An internship provides networking opportunities that will be valuable for many years,” says Zuck, a member of the Honors program. “Internships are useful for figuring out what you enjoy—or don’t enjoy. My month at PA Steel prepared me for future jobs because it showed me what it’s like to work with a team, manage projects and brainstorm.”

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Singh, an international studies minor from Kathmandu, Nepal, decided to major in business because of the flexibility it offers.

“I will have a wide variety of career choices to choose from,” he says. “My major and minor combined will help me communicate and work together with others in a highly diversified world.” Interning at PA Steel, he says, gave him a glimpse into life after college. “I had the opportunity to see how an organization operates,” he says. “I also learned to be flexible and be ready to handle any sort of task given to me.” Singh, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, plans on working for a year after college and then attending graduate school. No matter where life takes him, he knows he’ll stay connected to Randolph-Macon College.

“I have met so many people in my years at R-MC,” he says. “As an international student, I’m especially thankful that the Randolph-Macon community helped me transition to life in the U.S. and make such great friends.”

Mentorship

Keiser enjoyed mentoring Zuck and Bashil, and says his only regret is that the internships lasted just a month.

“Nicole and Bashil were great to be around,” says Keiser, who told Zuck and Singh that networking and relationships are key components of a successful company. “It was interesting to have two people with little knowledge of our business develop a marketing program for us. It was great to have young, energetic and unbiased minds come into our business and introduce new ideas. Nicole and Bashil demonstrated to me that Randolph-Macon is doing a great job educating its students.”

Under his guidance, Zuck and Singh developed a flyer to increase the company’s exposure and its Facebook followers.

“We also offered Facebook followers a chance to win NASCAR tickets for anyone who ‘liked’ our page,” explains Keiser. “Nicole and Bashil increased our fan base by more than 100 people. There is so much more we could have done, but the clock just ran out. Nicole and Bashil were really becoming part of the team and we enjoyed having them. I am certain they will achieve success in whatever they choose to do.”

January Term

R-MC’s popular J-term offers something for everyone. For some students, that something is a chance to travel to destinations around the world and immerse themselves in other cultures. J-termers have studied evolution and conservation in the Galapagos Islands, Central American culture in Costa Rica, the history of mathematics in England, and have helped build homes in El Salvador.

Other students dedicate the month to internships. R-MC’s Bassett Internship program offers academic credit and connects students with tailor-made internships to explore a wide range of career fields in various geographic locations.

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Pennsylvania Steel Company Scholarship

We at Pennsylvania Steel Company are passionate about contributing to young adults’ continued education. That’s why we created the PA Steel Company Scholarship. Every year we choose a student who has shown exemplary leadership, skill, and dedication to their future career and community.

This year, we are pleased to announce that Anthony Visco has been awarded The Pennsylvania Steel Company, Inc. Scholarship. He will receive $5000 towards his education in Neuroscience at Rutgers University. He is the son of Christina Weiss, an outstanding employee and overall wonderful person from PA Steels’ Bensalem office.

Congratulations to Anthony and his family! We wish him all the luck in his academic career.

Check back next year for more information regarding the Pennsylvania Steel Company Scholarship.

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Glad To Have you Here, Pennsylvania Steel

You don’t need a business degree to know that it’s good news when a company expands, especially a local company.

Fortunately for Gaston County, Pennsylvania Steel Co. decided to stay in the neighborhood when it went looking for larger quarters to accommodate its growing business.

Things were getting too tight at PSC’s Gastonia location, but just the right spot turned up in Stanley. That means the jobs stay nearby for the company’s 50 employees – and more business means the possibility more jobs will be added.

The new location, says General Manager Mike Loveland, will result in a more efficient operation. That’s more good news, – for customers, employees and owners.

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Efficiency helps a company compete and a competitive edge can help bring in more business and secure the future for the company and its employees.

PSC planted its roots in Gaston County nearly three years ago when it acquired Schwartz Steele Service Inc. From the beginning, the company experienced strong growth, so much so it had to lease a second location.

In Stanley, operations will be back under one roof – a roof that covers 80,590 square feet of warehouse and sales office space. As the once mighty textile industry dwindled and jobs disappeared, Gaston County residents had enough shrinking business news to last a lifetime.

It’s encouraging to see the opposite – business growth and expansion for a company that came to Gaston County and decided to stay in Gaston County.

We’re glad to have you here, Pennsylvania Steel Co. Congratulations on your success!

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