Every year before Metallurgist and Miner's Day, Metinvest honours labour dynasties of its enterprises – families in which the profession of metallurgist has become a tradition. This year, the Pavlenko-Dvornichenko dynasty received the Gold Dynasty of Metinvest title. Their family includes five generations of employees and 251 years of combined work experience at Zaporizhstal.
The dynasty originates in the distant year 1931, when Zaporizhstal was being built and its construction plans were being implemented. The dynasty founder, Vasyl Pavlenko, worked in the Railway Office. The enterprise development, commissioning, and first achievements of that time – he saw everything with his own eyes and was proud to be part of the legendary team. In 1941, whilst serving as the head of the depot, he actively participated in the enterprise evacuation, and left for Mahnitohorsk with the last echelon of equipment.
Along with Vasyl Pavlenko, his entire family also went into forced evacuation. There, his son Anatolii joined the metallurgical enterprise. And his young 16-year-old daughter Halyna also helped there, preparing and dispatching shells for the front. Later, Halyna met her future husband Mykhailo Nikin in Mahnitohorsk.
When the war ended, the entire family returned to their beloved city of Zaporizhzhia: they participated in the restoration of Zaporizhstal and worked there. Vasyl Pavlenko managed the railway depot until his retirement in 1968, when his total work experience at the enterprise totalled 37 years. His son Anatolii worked as a duty fitter at a rolling mill in the reduction shop (now the hot rolling shop), his sister Halyna was an engineer in the equipment supply department, and her husband Mykhailo worked as an electrician in the reduction shop as well.
And the dynasty continued unbroken: the third generation of the Pavlenko-Dvornichenko dynasty followed in their parents' footsteps and joined Zaporizhstal – the founder's grandchildren Ivan and Inna. By the way, the young woman, who at that time was a labour management engineer, met her future husband Mykola Vyshniakov at the enterprise, where he worked as an engineer in the occupational safety department.
Now the fourth generation continues the dynasty – the great-granddaugter and current dynasty head, Iryna, an engineer in the hot rolling shop, together with her husband Kostiantyn Dvornichenko, an engineer in the sinter shop.
"Of course, I chose Zaporizhstal not by chance. I heard a lot about the enterprise from my parents and relatives, and listened to their stories, which were always interesting. I also knew that this work was prestigious, stable, and that I would have a future here," recalled Iryna.
The youngest representatives of the large Pavlenko-Dvorichenko family work side-by-side with Iryna and her husband Kostiantyn: great-great-grandson Eduard, who works as an engineer for equipment reliability in the hot rolling shop, together with his wife Olga, an electrical engineer.
"I am proud that our family was recognised. This is recognition of the contribution to the enterprise development made by not only myself but also my ancestors. It is very pleasant and motivates me to keep working and help the enterprise to withstand all challenges. Who knows, maybe my children will continue our glorious dynasty in the future," added Eduard.
The entire family actively participates in social programmes of the enterprise, and enthusiastically takes part in volunteer and environmental activities organised by Zaporizhstal. Eduard, along with Kostiantyn, also systematically donates blood.
But what they are most proud of, says dynasty head Iryna, is that they have passed on their love for the fiery metallurgical profession through the decades, from the plant's foundation to this day.
"Zaporizhstal has long been more than just work for our family. Our family history and our fates are inextricably linked with the enterprise, and it is so pleasant to realise that over the years we have not lost this bond. This unconditional commitment to the enterprise, respect, and deep understanding of the importance of the metallurgical profession and the meaning of this industry for our country are like factory settings in each of us: we do not need this explained to us – we just know it. We are proud of our family and the enterprise," says Iryna.
