As a manufacturing consulting and coaching expert, Gene Russell has over 25 years of senior executive strategic planning, operational management, and advising experience with manufacturers in all northern California and in the technology sector.
Personal Story
Gene Russell is President and CEO of Manex. With his extensive knowledge of manufacturing operations, he has developed and implemented key strategic initiatives for companies, allowing them to improve performance and achieve profitable growth. He also has a strong background in sales and business development, and a keen understanding of manufacturing strategies in the global environment. As a manufacturer advisor he brings to your company and team extraordinary experience in solving all the challenges you may face, dramatically improving existing systems, and helping you achieve more robust profits. His personal executive coaching is well known in the manufacturing sector across the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and all northern CA locales. Prior to joining Manex, Mr. Russell led companies within several rapidly changing industries including telecommunications, wireless mobile, consumer electronics, major appliances and most recently the fireplace and home décor segments.
As CEO of Pilgrim Home and Hearth he restructured operations in the U.S. and China, diversified and revamped product lines, expanded distribution channels domestically and internationally, and developed a management team to produce record results.Mr. Russell’s previous experience consists of key leadership roles with a variety of manufacturing and technology firms, including Oregon Scientific, Haier America, SOS Wireless Communications, SDI Technologies, and AT&T. In these executive positions, he was instrumental in developing new business plans, core operational improvements and diversified product plans, as well as launching significant business development and sales initiatives. In start-up firms, he led new ventures with conceptual ideas, and developed them into successful operating entities with industry leadership positions. He has also served as a board advisor and distribution consultant.Mr. Russell holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Q: What would you like to see your team accomplish in 2019?
Our goal is to bring the digital factory to our small and medium-sized manufacturers so they can grow and expand profitably.
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Our goal is to bring the digital factory to our small and medium-sized manufacturers so they can grow and expand profitably.
~ Gene Russell
Q: Who is your role model or hero?
Muhammad Ali as an athlete and civil rights activist.
Q: What is your favorite book?
Grant by Ron Chernow. Grant was considered an average man, even with his West Point education and excellent horsemanship he was frequently derided for his failures in the private sector and his alleged drinking problems. Yet he rose to the occasion and became the winning General Lincoln desperately needed. He was excellent at strategy and a man of action and kept the Union together. His life story is the the story of an average man put to task in America and that’s why I love the book.
Q: Do you use any specific method or system to run daily operations?
I am a big believer in Lists, and of course, we use Time keeping software, CRM software, and Financial Software. I have a great accounting manager who knows exactly what I want to see before and after the close of each month. I am a big believer in knowing your business model in regards to the financial implications.
Q: Looking back - if you could advise a younger version of yourself to do something different - what would it be?
I've been very lucky career wise and started working at a very young age out of necessity. It was hard to find time for enjoyment and the pursuit of nothingness, so I would hope a time machine would allow for that. When I say lucky I mean having great mentors, being given stretch roles, and being trained and coached in an age when that was a big part of corporate budgets. In addition, I always have back up plans to my back up plans which drives both my wife and team members crazy. But it works!
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