(Monday, May 22, 2006) - Growing up working alongside his father during his summer breaks from St. Joseph 's Preparatory School, Rob Vogelbacher learned a lesson or two about hard work and success.

Now, he's practicing those business lessons. In 2004, at 22, Vogelbacher began Men of Steel, a customized rebar supply company. Now 24, Westampton's Vogelbacher has been named the 2006 Miles Technologies Young Entrepreneur.

"After graduation, I went to work with my dad right away," he said. "He had me on side projects and I became an apprentice with a project manager. We acquired property and did sales, but I also did my share of manual labor."

Conceptualized by Chris Miles, owner of Miles Technologies in Moorestown and a young entrepreneur himself, the Miles Award is presented to a successful business owner under 30 in cooperation with the Entrepreneurs Forum of Southern New Jersey.

Men of Steel is a specialized business which customizes rebar, the steel bars used in reinforcing concrete. With approximately 15 employees, the business recently grew out of its 6,000-square-foot location and moved into a 30,000-square-foot building.

"We're even growing out of this location now," he said.

The rapidly expanding business went from selling 50 to 500 tons of rebar a month since its beginning two years ago.

Vogelbacher attributes his success to the Men of Steel staff and his two mentors -- his father, Ray Vogelbacher, owner of Crossroads Construction in Burlington Township and Dan Carlin, owner of Adelphia Metals Inc. in Cherry Hill.

"They are my full-time consultants," Vogelbacher said. "They are both very successful and helped me get into this business. I'm still learning from them."

He also realizes he could not have achieved this award without his staff, with whom he shares the honor.

"I would not have been able to start and grow without their help."

Reach Katie Grasso at (856) 486-2478 or kgrasso@courierpostonline.com