Our Story: From Concept-4 to Ashore Manufacturing

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 Zachary co-founded Ashore Manufacturing Group in May 2025 after spending a decade working in infrastructure investment in New York, most recently at StepStone Group on a $100+ billion AUM global infrastructure private equity strategy. Earlier roles included infrastructure secondary market investments at Ares Management and infrastructure development and public-private partnerships at Tikehau Star Infrastructure Partners. Zachary earned a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University. He brings hands-on experience investing in manufacturing facilities and overseeing pieces of critical United States infrastructure. 

 Chris co-founded Ashore Manufacturing Group and is also Owner and CEO of Tri County Tower, a telecom tower construction firm focused on government contracts in Ohio and across the United States. Prior to Tri County Tower, Chris served as an Intelligence Analyst in the United States Army from 2004 to 2008, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq. He went on to work as an Intelligence Analyst at Northrop Grumman in Reston, Virginia, then as an Operations Analyst at CACI International. Chris earned his BBA from American Public University and coaches high school football with the West Branch Warriors. 

 Michael joined Ashore in December 2007 and completed the State of Ohio machinist and diemaker apprenticeship in 2010 through MCCTC and Ashore, the program established by his father, Mike Pence Sr. He has more than eighteen years on the shop floor and brings deep expertise across CNC milling and programming, die building, surface grinding, and parts inspection. He also handles quoting on machined details and components, and serves as the institutional anchor that ties the shop's craft tradition to its next chapter under Ashore. 

 Jeff first learned the trade as a shop hand at JM Machine during high school, picking up surface grinding and brazing on the floor. He completed vocational machining training at MCCTC and joined Ashore in September 2019, where he completed his apprenticeship. Jeff is proficient in Hurco CNC mill programming, setup, and operation, both Mitsubishi wire EDM systems, surface grinding, all manual machines in the shop, press operation, and die setup. He also handles minor press maintenance and brings hands-on mechanical repair skills to the team. 

 Kevin began his machining career at Primco in Streetsboro, Ohio, running manual and CNC lathes and grinders. He earned his machinist papers through a four-year apprenticeship at Tru-Cut, where he specialized in tool and die work and ran the shop's wire EDM machines. He went on to Quaker Manufacturing, where he expanded into CNC laser, CMM inspection, surface grinding, and press work. Kevin joined Ashore in September 2013 and is the shop's primary wire EDM operator. He also holds a bachelor's degree in management from Kent State University. 

 Brandon graduated from the Precision Machining Technology program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in 2026. He works across manual and CNC machining, including CNC mills and lathes, Mastercam, G-code programming, surface grinding, blueprint reading and GD&T, and inspection with micrometers, dial calipers, and gage pins. He holds Haas CNC Mill and Lathe Operator credentials and a 10-hour OSHA card, and placed second in Ohio for lathe programming through SkillsUSA. Brandon played four years of varsity football at Lowellville and joined Ashore full time after graduating. 

Gwido serves as Ashore's ISO Administrator on a part-time contract basis, leading the company's quality management system efforts as it pursues ISO 9001 and AS9100 certification. A licensed Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional, he is a Senior Lean Consultant at MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, where he leads Lean and operations improvement projects for manufacturers. His earlier career includes industrial engineering and continuous improvement management roles at Textron Automotive and engineering leadership at Johnson Controls. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Cleveland State University.

 Isabella Canzonetta serves as Contracting & Accounts Manager at Ashore Manufacturing, where she leads the company's procurement, government contracting, and client account functions. She joined Ashore through the Ohio Procurement Internship Program, a competitive partnership between the Youngstown State University APEX Accelerator and the Ohio Department of Development that pairs specially trained students with Ohio companies expanding into the government marketplace. In her current role, Isabella oversees contract administration, compliance, and account management while positioning Ashore to capture emerging defense and federal contracting opportunities. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Youngstown State University.