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December 2004—Volume 3 Issue 1 ODDS & ENDS ALUMNI BIO: BOUCHARD BROTHERS
The founders of Esmark Incorporated are James P. Bouchard (Class of 1979) and Craig T. Bouchard (Class of 1971). Esmark has experienced dramatic growth and visibility in the steel industry. The company is currently the 10th largest privately held steel company in the United States, growing from $5 million dollars of revenue with 25 employees to over $400 million in revenue with pretax earnings of $50 million by the end of 2004 with over 400 employees. This family run business is expected to reach $1 billion dollars of revenue with pre tax income of $100 million per year in the next 18-24 months. The Founders: James P. Bouchard Prior to founding Esmark, Jim was Vice President-Commercial for U.S. Steel in Europe, residing in Kosice, Slovak Republic . He was a member of the executive team that U.S. Steel sent to Kosice after having acquired the Slovakian National Steel Company (VSZ). Jim is widely credited with the successful commercial restructuring, implementation, and subsequent growth strategy of the company's 4 million ton European operation. He was also responsible for the company's global and European sales, marketing, strategic planning, production planning, and customer service initiatives. Today, the Kosice operation is the most profitable steel asset owned by U.S. Steel. Through his 20 years of international and domestic experiences Jim has developed a vast knowledge of the global OEM, service center and trading network. He was ultimately accountable for the commercial business of U.S Steel in 42 countries. Jim graduated from Loyola University of Chicago-School of Business and holds United States patent #4,373,955 lightweight insulating concrete. Jim's efforts are made possible by the support of his wife Carolyn (Keegan)(Class of 1979) Bouchard, and his children Natalie, Clayton and Aubrey. Caroline was a member of the National Honors Society, ranked in the top 10 of her HTHS graduating class, was co-captain of the varsity cheerleading team, and was a winner of the Booster Club and American Legion scholarships. While a student at Central, Jim was a member of the student advisory committee, lettered 5 times in three sports ( football, basketball and baseball ). Jim was the captain and MVP of the football team (still maintains the school record for interceptions in a single game), tri-captain of the varsity basketball team, two time all conference, first team All Area football, and second team all-area selection in baseball.. Jim was voted Class Athlete and recipient of the Carminiani Award for Leadership in Athletics. Craig T. Bouchard: Craig
is the Co-Founder and President of Esmark. His role within Esmark includes
financial strategy, acquisitions, administration, and risk management.
From 1998-2003 Craig was the President and Chief Executive Officer of
NumeriX, a Wall St. software company known as the risk management
gold-standard to global trading institutions. Banks, insurance companies,
accounting firms, and hedge funds that deal in financial derivatives use
NumeriX software. Prior to helping found NumeriX, Craig was a Senior Vice
President at the First National Bank of Chicago, (now Bank One). During
his 20-year career at the bank, Craig was the Global Head of Derivatives
Trading, Head of Institutional Research, and Head of Asia Pacific,
residing in the 1980's in Hong Kong and Tokyo. In the 150-year history of
the bank, with 40,000 employees by the date he retired, Craig was the 2nd
youngest individual ever to rise to the level of Senior Vice President.
Craig holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Illinois State University
and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has been a member of the
Board of Trustees of Boston University and the Foundation of the
University of Montana. Craig is supported in his efforts by his wife
Melissa, and 5 children; sons: Kai, Justin and Patrick (Hinsdale Central
alumni and all-state tennis players)and daughters Shale and Cambelle.
While at Central Craig played varsity baseball and basketball. He was an
all- conference and all-area selection in baseball twice (1970 and 71) and
his team in 1971 was the first Central team ever to win the West Suburban
Conference. |
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