Steel Town Pride…Pittsburgh area native Blache in Who's Who spotlight

Born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was known for its steel mills and blue collar workforce, Ernest J. Blachè, Jr., broke tradition and decided on a career in accounting.

An excellent student, he was a natural with numbers and graduated Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting. In 1977, with his steel town pride and work ethic, he began working as an assistant accountant for AK Steel’s predecessor company, Armco.

Blachè recalls starting with the company at its Baltimore Works, stating, “The reason I went to interview with AK Steel was because I felt like I grew up as a part of the industry.”

Early in his career, Blachè also worked as an accountant at the company’s West Virginia coal operation. He later transferred to the company’s Mineral Resources Division, which was responsible for mining iron ore, limestone and other raw materials that are required in the steelmaking process. As an internal auditor working with risk management, he moved to the Financial Services Division, which consisted of insurance companies and finance leasing operations that were being sold or liquidated.

With an AK Steel career that spans 36 years, Blachè has held several leadership positions within the company, including: vice president and chief financial officer of Risk Consultants, Inc.; director, Armco Financial Services Group; president, Armco Asset Management; president and chief financial officer, Armco Financial Services and president, AFSG and Northwestern National Insurance Company.

AK Steel’s heritage spans more than 100 years, beginning in 1899 when the company’s predecessor, Armco, was incorporated in Middletown, Ohio. Today, the FORTUNE 500 steelmaker is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, and is a world-leader in the production of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company operates seven steel plants and two tube manufacturing plants across four states and has strategic investments in iron ore and metallurgical coal operations.

Mr. Blachè is a Certified Public Accountant and would like to use his financial background to work with a nonprofit organization that gives back to the community. He enjoys coaching youth soccer, playing golf and is a jazz aficionado. He also enjoys cooking, and has plans to become a grill master and gourmet chef. He and his wife, Kenni, are proud parents of three wonderful sons.

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