The Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Esmark Incorporated (formerly NASDAQ: ESMK), James P. Bouchard (49), sets the vision, picks the team, and oversees purchasing, operations, sales, and partnership activity for the now privately held company. His experience and skill set blends domestic and international sales, operations, and strategic planning experience. In addition, Mr. Bouchard was formerly Chairman and CEO of Wheeling Pittsburgh Corporation (formerly NASDAQ:WPSC) and Esmark Incorporated. Jim, along with his brother Craig Bouchard and the Esmark management team, successfully completed the first reverse hostile merger in the history of the United States with the combination of Wheeling Pitt and Esmark in 2007.

Mr. Bouchard demonstrated his commitment to shareholder value with the successful sale of Esmark to OAO Severstal in August of 2008. Esmark was founded in 2003 at 25 cents per share, an enterprise value of $2 million, and revenue of $4 million. The company was ultimately sold for $19.25 per share, an enterprise value of $1.3 billion, and 2008 revenue run rate of $3 billion.

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 before and 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 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.

Jim served on the Board of Directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington DC and, 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 operations of U.S. Steel in 42 countries. Jim formerly served on the C.D.E. committee for Eurofer in Brussels, Belgium. In addition, he was Chairman of the SSCI and AHAM supplier divisions of AISI-Washington, DC, and Board of Directors: Wheeling-Nisshan Steel Corporation and Ohio Coatings Corporation.

Mr. Bouchard is currently Chairman of the Board of Esmark Inc., the Bouchard Group, FC Pittsburgh, a member of the Board of Trustees at Loyola University-Chicago, serves on the board of directors for the Imani Christian Academy, Quaker Valley Hockey Association, and the J. Kyle Braid Foundation.

Jim graduated from Loyola University - Chicago School of Business and holds United States patent 4,373,955 lightweight insulating concrete.  In the spring of 2005, Jim was nominated and chosen as an Illinois Finalist of the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

On March 26, 2006, the Association of Steel Distributors bestowed their highest honor on Jim as Steel Man of the Year, and is the youngest Inductee into Hinsdale Central Hall of Fame - 2007.  Jim is the 2007-08 recipient of the Loyola University- Chicago Damen Award for distinguished alumni.

Jake is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Duquesne University Division I soccer program. He was named to the post in March 2006, making him the third head coach in the 14-year history of the sport on the Bluff.  He came to Duquesne after seven seasons on the George Washington University men’s soccer coaching staff, including one year as associate head coach.

Ouimet had an impressive head coaching debut, leading the Dukes to an 11-7-2 slate in 2006 and a berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship. His squad boasted an NSCAA All-Region First team choice, a third team All-Region selection, and four Atlantic 10 All Conference honorees.

During his tenure at GW, Ouimet served as recruiting coordinator and was the primary assistant in the day-to-day running of the program. In that capacity, he was also responsible for field coaching, player development, opponent scouting and match preparation.

Twelve Colonials earned all-conference honors while Ouimet was at George Washington and his efforts have also helped produce two Atlantic 10 Championships, including the school’s first in 2002 as well as two NCAA Tournament berths, one in 2002 and more recently in 2004. He has also helped guide the Colonials to four of the past five Atlantic 10 Championships and was instrumental in the Colonials historical win over the University of North Carolina in 2004.

A standout player at the University of Maine from 1992-96, he was the 1992 North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year. Ouimet is the all-time leader in career goals and points at the University of Maine and was a three-time regional All-American. He graduated from Maine in 1996 with a degree in business administration.

As a player in the professional ranks, Ouimet competed for the Worcester Wildfire of the A-League from 1997-98, leading the team in points and goals. He was named to the A-League Team of the Week on July 20, 1997. Ouimet also played for the Cape Cod Crusaders of the USISL from 1998-99 and led the squad in points and goals. He was named the USISL Player of the Week on July 8, 1998.

Ouimet began his coaching career in 1997 as an assistant with the boys varsity soccer team at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA, where he coached for two seasons.

In addition to his collegiate coaching, Ouimet has also been the head coach of the Sterling United Soccer Club, a highly competitive team, ranked in the top three in Virginia. He also holds two diplomas from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) where he received both his national and advanced national diplomas from the organization.