Brost recognized for 45 years with Melvin Companies

Mark Brost was recognized recently for 45 years of continuous service to Melvin Companies.

Brost was recognized by owner Jim Melvin during the company’s recent Christmas Party.

According to Melvin, company history shows that Brost started working for the company on May 22, 1979. He is the youngest employee to reach 45 years of employment with the company. He was only 17 when he was hired and began working in the shop and around the yard at the present downtown Medford facility. Brost also had an opportunity to occasionally work on the street crew on curb and gutter and paving projects.

He hauled some concrete in the days when all the ready mix trucks were rear discharge and also drove dump truck on many occasions. In the early 1980s Brost settled into the position of full-time mechanic. He was a natural at his position. If it moved on tracks or tires or could be pushed or pulled, Brost could fix it. He worked on all of the company equipment, from dump trucks and front discharge ready mix trucks to backhoes, bulldozers, endloaders and much more. “Mark was a TRUE mechanic, not just a parts changer!” Melvin said.

Brost worked several years as mechanic, and then maintenance manager trainee, until 2005 when he took over the position of Maintenance Manager which he holds today. Brost’s daily job is to keep well over 150 pieces of equipment and trucks the company owns running.

“That’s the easy part, the hard part is trying to keep the 35 employees who drive and operate that equipment happy,” Melvin said describing Brost as being dependable and always willing to do whatever is needed.

“When we’re short-handed in the shop, like this year, Mark moved equipment and did repair work on our trucks and equipment when necessary. He kept our trucks and equipment going whenever possible, because he knew we needed them. His experience and knowledge in so many areas of our business have been a big asset to the company,” Melvin said.