Mr. Rob Beslanovits was reared in Northampton, graduating from Northampton High School in 1971. During high school, he worked for Northampton Form & Concrete.

Rob recalled, “We had four crews who poured numerous foundations in the Valley. Some weeks we worked 60 hours. I was thrilled when hired for $2.50 an hour.”

Mr. Beslanovits started his cement career when Keystone Cement Company Manager Franklin Silfies hired him in 1985. His grandfather, John Miletics, was an Atlas man. Rob’s father, Robert Sr., and his uncles, Adolph, John and William, were all loyal employees of the famous Coplay Cement Manufacturing Company.

He recalled, “When I worked overtime, a hot meal was brought to the plant for me; it was unbelievable. After working in the quarry, I was assigned to the pack house as a car checker.”

Presently, he is a bulk cement loader working with co-workers Joe Stubits, Tim Pierce and five other employees. The hard-working team’s foreman is Scott Rumfield. As a bulk loader, a major responsibility is to fill trucks and railroad cars with the correct type of cement within strict weight limits.

With a smile, he said, “In my 30 years, I have attempted to learn from everyone, from electricians to millwrights. I enjoy working with truck drivers, dispatchers and customers.” Trucks and railroad cars today are loaded in minutes in a safe and efficient manner.

Rob has a close relationship with Dennis Liberto, union president, and Jonathan Wolfel, former union representative. He remembers the late classmate Luke Banks.

He has served as union recording secretary for 20 years. The employees today are represented by United Steel Workers Local 1000547. The union has a positive relationship with Tony Madrazo, the plant’s human resources manager.

Mr. Beslanovits was a fine student of mine at Northampton. He possesses countless enthusiasm for his job and is appreciative how the cement industry has supported his family and relatives. He is a gregarious gentleman and a truly dedicated cement worker.

He has been married to the former Diane Wagner for 33 years. In his spare time, he follows NASCAR and has been at 17 Kentucky Derbies. The friendly couple resides in Allentown. I wish continued success to Rob and all my friends at Keystone.