Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Marion Counties,
Cell: 813-318-1376

Gene O'Brien was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on September 29th, 1950 and lived there for 16 years after which he moved to Madison, NJ where he attended high school graduating in 1968. After spending a year traveling and living in a commune he majored in humanities at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. After transferring to Drew University in NJ to study music composition he became an activist for political and social change.

While studying at the New York Guitar Institute Gene met Pam Siglain, a school teacher. They married in 1979 and moved to Florida the same year and had two sons Sean and Evan. In 2001 Gene and Pam adopted a two year old girl from China; Chen Yu Guan, now named Kathryn Chen Yu Siglain-O'Brien or "Katie" to most people.

Working for a home improvement company in Palm Harbor Gene met Steve Ashe and a 20 year friendship continues. In 1987 Gene started an export business that shipped products to the Caribbean and Europe. After a chance meeting on the island of St. Kitts Gene became a consultant and advisor for a Chinese M.D. cum politician; Frank Hwang. As a consultant, Gene traveled to the Caribbean, China, Macao, Hong Kong and Washington, D.C. assisting Dr. Hwang in his position as Consul General. In 1996 Gene was appointed "Advisor to the Consul General in Hong Kong", an official appointment lasting one year.

Rethinking a career trajectory that included lots of travel Gene made a commitment to Ashe Industries that has so far resulted in a tenure approaching 10 years. As a sales representative for Ashe, Gene services the Pinellas/Pasco/Hernando counties territory. An unrequited composer/musician, Gene has found fulfillment in his family life and work. His interests continue in music, history, social issues/culture and his family.

Mitch Mells - Account Executive

Polk, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Highlands, and Volusia counties
Cell: 813-310-8952

Mitch Mells, account executive, was born in Tampa 1963 and graduated from Lake Howell High School in 1982. After a stint at a local community college in 1983, he joined the Apopka branch of Ashley Aluminum, running the pan machines. Through the years '84 and '85, moving to Baker Brothers Industries, and later Gorman Company, Mitch sold air conditioning supplies to contractors, and plumbing and pool supplies. Graduating to a manufacturers rep for Ken Prescher and Associates, from the late 1980's up through 1992, Mitch moved up the ranks selling plumbing supplies to wholesalers.

In 1992, Mitch together with his brother Richard, started their own manufacturers' rep office servicing plumbing wholesalers in south and central Florida H&R Sales. After selling the company in 1998, Mitch ventured into the aluminum industry joining Ashe Industries as their outside sales representative for the central Florida territory. That same year, he married his spouse Lynn who herself is a UCF grad, concert pianist, and former Miss Orlando. They have one 8 year old daughter.

Mary Rice - Account Executive

Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie, and Martin Counties
Cell: 813-318-1367

Born in 1962 in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Graduated from Canton South High School and started working for a family planning clinic. Started in the credit department and worked my way to Executive Assistant. Became divorced after 17 years of marriage and started living! Left Ohio and came to Vero Beach, Florida in 2000 and entered the aluminum industry with Ashley Aluminum. There I started in credit and was promoted through various positions: including purchasing, inside sales, office manager and finally Assistant Branch Manager. Ashley was purchased by Town and Country in 2007. The Ft Pierce branch was closed in November, 2008 and joined the Ashe Industries family in January 2009.

My first love is horses. I have owned, trained and shown barrel racing horses my entire life. I started showing horses when I was 5 and have participated in both open shows and rodeos. I recently purchased my little “knight in shining armor” and am in the process of training him to be both a barrel and a reining/cow horse. Let me introduce you to GB Kit Kat, fondly known as Coal. I also own three rotten corgi’s. I love all animals; probably the reason I am a vegetarian.

Stephen Rayburn - Window & Door Specialist

The State of Florida
Cell: 941-321-5964

Born in Dayton Ohio about the same time they invented the wheel or was it fire? Can't remember back that far :-(

Steve has 2 sons whom he is very proud of. Eric, age 19 is a student at Drexel University majoring in physical therpy and David the older son at age 25 is hopefully attending medical school in the fall.

They enjoy playing golf together.

Other than golfing with his sons, Steve?s other pastime is skinny-dipping with his lady Sandy, of 3 years. They live in beautiful River Wilderness in Bradenton. Steve and Sandy also enjoy playing golf and then a fine dinner complemented with the perfect wine. Sandy has a granddaughter that is 6 yrs old and a ton of fun to be with.

In the early 70?s Steve met Gene O Brien at one of Gene's communes??After we had a knock down drag out (he did not fight because he was so heavily sedated and Steve the same)?Steve was on his way to Vietnam because Steve was drafted and Gene was on his way to Woodstock because he got out of the draft??We never did see eye to eye?? But we started to work well together for the past 2 years?..as long as you listen to his music from the 60?s that is. Charleston is a long drive from Tampa...

In the early eighties; Steve owned a small aluminum mfg business on the west coast. It was during that time that the Ashe family who at the time ran and operated Ashley Aluminum. After selling that business; Steve joined a Labeling company as their Regional Sales Mgr. Steve was responsible for converting the 4 person sales force from an old fashioned paper system to state of the art computerized marketing. The software that was somewhat new at the time was called Goldmine. All prospects and clients were on a computer database where all calls and appointments were scheduled and tracked. Under Steve's supervision the average salespersons productivity was doubled from 30 calls per day to over 65 calls per day.

When the owner of this Labeling Company passed away in 1996, and the company was sold, Steve went to work for one of the companies partners, forming a new company as their Sales Manager. In this capacity, Steve developed nursing home sales by establishing telemarketing programs, direct mail programs, trade shows exhibits and presentations. Steve developed and implemented plans to overcome many of the nursing home crises that took place during his tenure. Steve was responsible for taking the nursing home sales for the company from 0 to $600,000 in a 5 years period of time.

In 2006, Steve came to work for Ashe Industries as an outside window salesperson. Also that year, Ashe Industries was looking for a complete line of storm related products. Steve found a company in Ohio that mfg a clear storm panel called Clear Strength. Ashe Industries now inventories this product. As a result of Steve's efforts, Ashe now carries a full line of accordion and roll up shutters, plus a complete line of both clear storm panels and 050 Aluminum panels as well as a full line of accessory extrusions.