We’re more than what you’d expect from a manufacturer
You don't have to take our word for it.
Here’s what our customers are saying:
-
North Star BlueScope is a complete supplier in every sense—quality, service, delivery, and competitiveness—manifested by a strong management group who takes the time to understand and communicate with customers.
-
North Star BlueScope is the best – they have a consistent product quality delivered on time, month in and month out.
-
North Star BlueScope is our major supplier—they are superior with strengths in uniform quality, surface, gauge control, response time and flexibility.
-
North Star BlueScope is a great brand name backed by a great product.
-
North Star BlueScope is State of the Art – they are so far above all the other carbon suppliers.
-
North Star BlueScope is an excellent supplier—they provide a quality product; on-time delivery is excellent; communication is timely; and their website is the best.
-
A visionary leadership team
Our leaders embody the spirit of our people, collectively contributing to our community-focused culture. With a unique management system focused on the greater good of not just our employees, but on the customers we serve, our team is as strong as the products we make.
-
Laeek Afzal
Vice President of Finance, CFO North Star BlueScopeBachelors of Accounting; Monash University (Australia)
Chartered Financial Analyst
Chartered Accountant (Australia and New Zealand)
Laeek has over 15 years in various international business operations and top tier consulting experience across various strategic finance roles. Laeek is currently on secondment at North Star since September 2019 and he has been with BlueScope since 2015. Laeek has led various M&A and strategy projects across the international portfolio including the acquisition of the 50% ownership of North Star from Cargill as well as helping drive the business case approval process for the current expansion at North Star.Prior to joining BlueScope, Laeek was a Director at PwC in their M&A team having worked across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.
Bachelors of Accounting; Monash University (Australia)
Chartered Financial Analyst
Chartered Accountant (Australia and New Zealand)
Laeek has over 15 years in various international business operations and top tier consulting experience across various strategic finance roles. Laeek is currently on secondment at North Star since September 2019 and he has been with BlueScope since 2015. Laeek has led various M&A and strategy projects across the international portfolio including the acquisition of the 50% ownership of North Star from Cargill as well as helping drive the business case approval process for the current expansion at North Star.Prior to joining BlueScope, Laeek was a Director at PwC in their M&A team having worked across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.
-
Jeff Joldrichsen
Vice President of OperationsB.S. Engineering; University of Toledo
MBA; University of ToledoJeff Joldrichsen has been in the role of Vice President of Operations at North Star BlueScope Steel since 2009, and has been with North Star BlueScope Steel in various operations since November 1995, including a 12-month overseas assignment as a Manufacturing Manager with BlueScope Steel in New Zealand. Jeff started his career with Cargill/North Star Steel as a Management Trainee in the Beaumont, Texas mill. Jeff has also worked as a manufacturing engineer in the float glass industry.
B.S. Engineering; University of Toledo
MBA; University of ToledoJeff Joldrichsen has been in the role of Vice President of Operations at North Star BlueScope Steel since 2009, and has been with North Star BlueScope Steel in various operations since November 1995, including a 12-month overseas assignment as a Manufacturing Manager with BlueScope Steel in New Zealand. Jeff started his career with Cargill/North Star Steel as a Management Trainee in the Beaumont, Texas mill. Jeff has also worked as a manufacturing engineer in the float glass industry.
-
Kristin Malosh, P.E.
Vice President of HR and HSEB.S. Engineering; Michigan State University
Registered Professional Engineer in PennsylvaniaKristin joined the BlueScope team in 2018 as the HSE Manager. She began her career as an environmental consultant and joined the steel industry in 2010 at Vallourec Star in Youngstown, OH. Kristin is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and participates in both the Environmental and Safety Committees of the Steel Manufacturer’s Association.
B.S. Engineering; Michigan State University
Registered Professional Engineer in PennsylvaniaKristin joined the BlueScope team in 2018 as the HSE Manager. She began her career as an environmental consultant and joined the steel industry in 2010 at Vallourec Star in Youngstown, OH. Kristin is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and participates in both the Environmental and Safety Committees of the Steel Manufacturer’s Association.
-
Ashley Kotowski
Vice President of Sales and MarketingB.S. Marketing and MBA; Wayne State University
Ashley joined the BlueScope team in 2021 as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 2006, she began her steel career as a marketing intern at an integrated mill in Dearborn, MI. Ashley has held various positions within the steel industry, notably at Severstal NA, Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), and Big River Steel. She serves on the Executive Board for the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI).
B.S. Marketing and MBA; Wayne State University
Ashley joined the BlueScope team in 2021 as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 2006, she began her steel career as a marketing intern at an integrated mill in Dearborn, MI. Ashley has held various positions within the steel industry, notably at Severstal NA, Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), and Big River Steel. She serves on the Executive Board for the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI).
-
Conrad Winkler
PresidentConrad is an MIT educated mechanical engineer, with an MBA and Master’s in Manufacturing Management from Northwestern University. Conrad was Navy ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corp) in college and a nuclear submariner in the U.S. Navy on board fast attack submarines. Following business school, Conrad joined Booz Allen Hamilton and as a partner there focused on manufacturing intensive industries, operations and strategy.
Prior to coming to North Star, Conrad was President and CEO of Evraz North America, a diversified steel company of over 3 million tons capacity with its main operations in Western Canada and the United States. He has also been CEO of Ardagh Glass Packaging North America, and of Shield T3, a COVID-19 testing company he helped to start up.
Conrad is an MIT educated mechanical engineer, with an MBA and Master’s in Manufacturing Management from Northwestern University. Conrad was Navy ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corp) in college and a nuclear submariner in the U.S. Navy on board fast attack submarines. Following business school, Conrad joined Booz Allen Hamilton and as a partner there focused on manufacturing intensive industries, operations and strategy.
Prior to coming to North Star, Conrad was President and CEO of Evraz North America, a diversified steel company of over 3 million tons capacity with its main operations in Western Canada and the United States. He has also been CEO of Ardagh Glass Packaging North America, and of Shield T3, a COVID-19 testing company he helped to start up.
A Community Stronger Than Steel
We’re not just individuals performing separate jobs, we’re a community working towards a common purpose. By creating smart solutions in steel, we continue to strengthen our communities for the future. Steel may be what brings us together, but like a family each of us looks out for one another and seeks opportunities to lend a helping hand to our neighbors. Our community relations team is dedicated to the stewardship of our charitable contributions as well as coordinating volunteer efforts. We are proud to support over 50 local and national organizations including American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, 1 Matters, Let’s Build Beds, The Open Door, Northwest Ohio Food Bank and many more.
An eco-friendly environment
We’re not your typical steel mill. We minimize pollution as part of our process, frequently exceeding environmental regulations and regularly promoting a clean work environment throughout our facility. By striving to protect the environment we live and work in, we share a company commitment to minimizing our environmental footprint for generations to come.
Restoring Our Wetlands
In 1995, we constructed a 7 acre Wetlands to replace the 3.1 acres of low quality wetlands previously damaged during the construction of the mill facility. Today, it serves as an active site for promoting the environment. Over 200 fourth and fifth graders from surrounding local schools participate in our Biennial Wetlands Day in partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
An industry leader for 20+ years
We’ve been leading the industry since 1997, with a steadfast commitment to the products we make and the customers we serve. We drive businesses forward by manufacturing high-quality products for major industries. We provide the highest level of service to our customers, as evident in consistent ranking as #1 in overall customer satisfaction, according to the Jacobson steel industry survey. Our impact is manifested on a global scale. North Star BlueScope is owned by BlueScope, a leading international supplier of steel products and building solutions found in the global building and construction industry based in Melbourne, Australia.