Gene Ashe, 72, represents the fourth generation of a family with deep ties to the pump industry. In 1978, Ashe founded Multi-Duti Manufacturing, Inc. with the goal of solving critical issues facing the industry, and he has since pioneered and patented technologies that are still considered the benchmark for reliability.
One of Ashe’s greatest influences is his father, who hugely impacted his approach to work and life. “I watched my father come up with many really great ideas for products and also watched them mostly fail. But the one thing I did observe was his good-hearted response to pick himself back up and try again. I promised myself that this aspect of his story would become a chapter in my story.”
When asked what the best advice he had ever received was, Ashe spoke about the importance of recognizing and taking advantage of the opportunities that are already in front of you. He stressed that not being “flush with cash” should not stop someone from trying to come up with a great idea. As he pointed out, “some of the greatest inventions of all time came out of someone’s garage.”
Ashe is also passionate about bringing manufacturing jobs back to America. He discussed the impact of moving jobs overseas due to lower labor costs. “The result? Generally speaking, manufacturing jobs in the U.S. have evaporated. The intellectual property contained in those manufacturing processes has been disclosed or stolen. The quality of those cheaper offshore products has usually declined. If America is to regain its place as a leader in innovation and manufacturing, it simply must train a new generation to come up with new products and a proprietary or trade secret way to make them.”
Ashe’s nominators spoke about his impact on the industry. “Gene Ashe’s life and career exemplify commitment, creativity and leadership in the pump industry. His contributions have not only advanced technology but also sustained a multigenerational legacy of excellence that continues to grow.”
Outside of the industry, what do you enjoy doing?
Being with my family, reading the Bible and items on just about any other subject, writing science fiction and historical fiction, fixing things with what's on hand, feeding birds off my back deck, enjoying the truly simple for its pathway to the profound and becoming more anonymous.
What has working in the industry meant to you?
It has given me a chance to stand on the shoulders of my forefathers and grow our family's accomplishments in the pump industry.
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