General Magnaplate, a global leader in engineered coatings technology, has announced that Ashley Saunders Russo has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Russo has been responsible for consolidating Magnaplate's operations through the merging of the Linden, New Jersey and the Arlington, Texas facilities and will continue to oversee ongoing business operations. Candi Aversenti will retain her position as CEO and Edmund Aversenti will stay on as President.

“Ashley brings an excellent energy to the company,” says Aversenti. “She is no stranger to running a successful business, with numerous accomplishments in the field of journalism and media production for over twenty years. Her ambitious and generous spirit will continue and refine the 70-year-old, three-generation legacy we have built at General Magnaplate as a technology leader in the field of engineered coatings.”

The consolidation of General Magnaplate's New Jersey and Texas facility began in July of 2019. The move combined all engineered coating processes under a single roof to maximize efficiency, improving lead times for clients and strengthening focus on customer satisfaction through innovation, performance, product quality and experience. Freeing up over 8,500 square feet, the upgraded Texas facility plans on completing the transition by the end of 2019 under Russo's guidance.

A born entrepreneur, Russo has produced content for many national publications, including Women’s Day, Prevention Magazine, and Cooks Illustrated. She has also served as a producer for the Weather Channel, NBC’s Today Show, and Bloomberg L.P. before building her own company, the Emmy® award winning ASR Media Productions, which quickly became one of the leading television companies in the greater Eastern PA area.

Russo herself has been honored with a number of awards, including the Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year from Women United, and the Excellence in Business - Women in Business award from Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Deeply dedicated to her community, Russo serves on numerous charity boards, including the United Way, and supports many charitable communities, including the American Heart Association and the NCC Foundation. She lives in Bethlehem, PA with her husband and two children.