PRESS RELEASE
16 February 2004

For Additional Information Contact:
Dianna Pelchat
Communications Director, Sioux City
Besser Company
P.O. Box 1708
Sioux City, Iowa 51102
Phone: 712.277.8111    
Fax: 712.277.1222
e-mail: dpelchat@besser.com

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Promotions at Besser Company

Besser Company, Alpena, Michigan has announced several sales department promotions.

Luis Arias has been promoted to vice president of international marketing.  Thirty-seven years ago Luis started his employment with Besser as a district manager for the Asia and Pacific region.  He lived in Alpena and traveled extensively through Asia and the Pacific for five years.

In 1971 Luis opened Besser AG in Luzern, Switzerland to serve customers in Europe and the Middle East.  While managing Besser AG, Luis spearheaded the introduction of Besser production systems into the Chinese and Soviet Union markets.  Besser AG decentralized in 1988 and since that time Luis has been the regional manager for Europe and the Middle East.  In 2001 Russia/CIS/Baltic Region were all added to his territory.

Heidi Francis-Rodriguez has been promoted to vice president of China operations.  In this new position she is responsible for manufacturing and sales.

Heidi began her career with Besser in 1995 as an international sales and marketing specialist responsible for sales and administrative support for China, Europe, Latin America and Mexico.  She was promoted to regional manager for China in 1996 and in 1998 was promoted to international sales manager.

Miguel Rodriguez, regional manager for Latin America, will add Mexico to his territory while continuing to lead sales efforts in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.  Miguel began his career with Besser as a sales correspondent in 1983.  His knowledge of the concrete products industry has been cultivated as he traveled around the globe promoting Besser products and attending Blockmakers Workshops.

In 1991 Miguel was promoted to district manager for South Korea, Japan, China, the Philippines and Israel.  A promotion to regional manager followed in 1995, and Latin America was added to his coverage area.  He was reassigned as regional manager for the Caribbean, Central and South America in 1997.

Besser is the leading manufacturer of equipment for the aggregate, block, cement, landscape, pipe, precast, prestressed and ready-mix segments of the concrete industries.

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