Page 17 - Indulge August/September 2016
P. 17
ROCK SOLID: family bonds
THREE GENERATIONS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
By Linda Doell
AB Natural Stone in South Whitehall Township has build Shirlene and John Zuber, left, stand with Loreen Bittenmaster in one of
their business on the rock of family. Literally. AB Natural Stone’s display areas.
And much like a family, the company has grown and other months. Any maintenance or work done to the trucks
evolved over the years. needs to be done after the day’s work and deliveries are done.
“It’s not the easiest thing all the time, but doing this so “You probably wouldn’t work those hours if you were
many years, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” says Shirlene working for anyone besides yourself,” Shirlene says. “Since
Zuber. “With family, they’re the people you can count on.” it is a family-run business, our business is a priority, but we
still put family first. We fill in for each other.”
Shirlene’s father, William Sell, started the business
around 1969 as an excavating company, eventually growing “You do what you need to do to make it work,” she says.
the business to 30 employees and 90 pieces of equipment. Over the years the company has supported the
community with different things — helping Eagle Scouts with
In 1980, Shirlene’s husband, John Zuber, started projects and badges and other community projects. Shirlene
working at the company while still in high school, eventually says one project that stands out in her mind is donating
becoming a mechanic and then running the equipment. materials for an installation at Parkland High School.
“You meet so many different people being in business,”
Shirlene, herself, began her career there several years out she says. “They all have stories to tell, too. They make your
of high school because her parents needed help in the office. days interesting.”
Today, they are joined by her sister, Loreen Bittenmaster
and son, Jarett Zuber.
“We all have our jobs and we all know what to do to
make it work,” she says. “We can all rely on each other.”
What is now AB Natural Stone underwent a major
evolution in the mid 1990s when the family chose to take
the company in an entirely new direction — switching from
providing services like excavation and snow removal to a
retail business.
“That’s how we got into the stone business,” Shirlene
says, adding the company added pavers, wall systems, mulch,
stairs, decorative stones and construction stones. “It’s such a
totally different business. People come to us now.”
The family puts in long hours, even working seven days
a week in April, May and June and six days a week many
Photos by Sarah Evans AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 • INDULGE | 17
THREE GENERATIONS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
By Linda Doell
AB Natural Stone in South Whitehall Township has build Shirlene and John Zuber, left, stand with Loreen Bittenmaster in one of
their business on the rock of family. Literally. AB Natural Stone’s display areas.
And much like a family, the company has grown and other months. Any maintenance or work done to the trucks
evolved over the years. needs to be done after the day’s work and deliveries are done.
“It’s not the easiest thing all the time, but doing this so “You probably wouldn’t work those hours if you were
many years, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” says Shirlene working for anyone besides yourself,” Shirlene says. “Since
Zuber. “With family, they’re the people you can count on.” it is a family-run business, our business is a priority, but we
still put family first. We fill in for each other.”
Shirlene’s father, William Sell, started the business
around 1969 as an excavating company, eventually growing “You do what you need to do to make it work,” she says.
the business to 30 employees and 90 pieces of equipment. Over the years the company has supported the
community with different things — helping Eagle Scouts with
In 1980, Shirlene’s husband, John Zuber, started projects and badges and other community projects. Shirlene
working at the company while still in high school, eventually says one project that stands out in her mind is donating
becoming a mechanic and then running the equipment. materials for an installation at Parkland High School.
“You meet so many different people being in business,”
Shirlene, herself, began her career there several years out she says. “They all have stories to tell, too. They make your
of high school because her parents needed help in the office. days interesting.”
Today, they are joined by her sister, Loreen Bittenmaster
and son, Jarett Zuber.
“We all have our jobs and we all know what to do to
make it work,” she says. “We can all rely on each other.”
What is now AB Natural Stone underwent a major
evolution in the mid 1990s when the family chose to take
the company in an entirely new direction — switching from
providing services like excavation and snow removal to a
retail business.
“That’s how we got into the stone business,” Shirlene
says, adding the company added pavers, wall systems, mulch,
stairs, decorative stones and construction stones. “It’s such a
totally different business. People come to us now.”
The family puts in long hours, even working seven days
a week in April, May and June and six days a week many
Photos by Sarah Evans AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 • INDULGE | 17
