But the board rejected the advice. People named Jim Bernhard. When Jim Bernhardstepped down as CEO of The Shaw Group in the wake of the companys 2013 acquisition by CB&I, many wondered what he was going to do. 2600 Citiplace Drive, Suite 500 Baton Rouge leaders urge caution about coronavirus as city reopens, Bernhard Capital Partners acquires Ascension Wastewater; providing $1.5M rebate to customers, Louisiana's new deal with Bernhard, Johnson Controls could lead to widespread energy privatization, Joint venture including Baton Rouge's Jim Bernhard strikes energy privatization deal with Louisiana, 'We are here for you': Hundreds of LSU students protest in wake of sexual assault scandals, Former student who accused Derrius Guice of misconduct to take on LSU in records lawsuit, Should ex-LSU star Derrius Guice's name be redacted from police report? He built the company into The Shaw Group largely by acquiring other companies, the first of which was B.F. Shaw, and by moving into the design,construction and operation of plants and energy companies, including nuclear. Robert Taylor, Mary Hampton and Cedric Richmond in Washington DC. Baton Rouge businessman Jim Bernhard accused of intimidating witnesses in LSU abuse case, "I have not seen the police reports and do not know the identity of the witnesses to whom you refer," Bernhard wrote in an email. Bernhard also claimed he left the nuclear construction business before problems surfaced at the Georgia and South Carolina companies. LSU's cogeneration power plant at the southeast corner of Tiger Stadium, Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2009, he and his wife, Dana, founded Every Kid a King, a foundation to help children have better opportunities for education and healthcare. Davis was arrested in August 2018 due to his abuse of Lewis. In January 2005, Bernhard was elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committeewith Blanco's support. But they only got two minutes. Bernhard was president, CEO and chairman of the board. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these, may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. He backed legislation that experts said would undermine environment reviews for liquefied natural gas infrastructure. Drake Davis, already jailed for domestic abuse and thrown off LSU football team, arrested again, Jim Bernhard one of four new appointees to LSU's board of supervisors by John Bel Edwards, Baton Rouge businessman donates $60,000 to pay for home internet for 1,000 families in town, Videos of nude children found on Drake Davis' cell phone; ex-LSU WR faces more charges, LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against athletes, students, USA Today reports, Who's funding the Baton Rouge mayor-president race? Between 2014 and 2015, Jim Bernhard and Bernhard Capital Partners strategically purchased Bernhard Mechanical, TME, E.P. Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. See Photos. When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told o. Breaux, and TME came together to work on what would be the firms first Energy-as-a-Service project: the Louisiana State University Cogeneration Plant. And after Davis was arrested in August 2018 over his abuse of Lewis to which he later pleaded guilty to two counts of battery and one count of violation of a protective order another witness told police that she was spooked over potential ramifications from Bernhard. He was accompanied by an executive of Shintech, which was planning a $1 billion PVC plant in Louisiana, a construction contract Shaw was interested in winning. The firm, Bracewell LLP, began lobbying for Denka in March 2017. The project was designed to greatly reduce operating energy costs and provide LSU an opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure. Bobby Jindal, announced plans to build at the Port of Lake Charles a $120 million plant to manufacture prefabricated components for the AP1000 nuclear reactor. Three years after leaving The Shaw Group, Jim Bernhard has created a private equity firm that could outgrow the company he sold for $3 billion Jun 8, 2016 | Uncategorized When Jim Bernhard stepped down as CEO of The Shaw Group in the wake of the company's 2013 acquisition by CB&I, many wondered what he was going to do. For hi BERNHARD was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000. The university budgets $30 million annually for utilities, operations and maintenance. Jim Bernhard, a partner in Bernhard Capital, said the ranking is "a testament to the great work of our dedicated team." The company's investments include Ascension Wastewater, the state's. BCPis interested in managing and operating Lafayette's city-owned electrical system, and possibly the sewer and water systems, too. He graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge and was honored as one of the school's Grizzly Greats. Both Mary Hampton and Robert Taylor described their recent interaction with Richmond as another moment they have felt let down by their elected officials. Its just the nature of politics and where you represent, Lee said. The sale was finalized in February 2013. And nearly a year ago, Interim LSU President Tom Galligan noted that "bidding is usually not a bad thing, when he spoke of the energy contract. Bernhard Capital Partners is a service and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm established in 2013 by Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and . Residents: Don't give up management of LUS. In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation. We look forward to bringing the same success weve seen in New Orleans to this project and continuing to create benefits for the state, said Enwave president and CEO Doug Castleberry in a news release Tuesday. The two had travelled 1,000 miles from Reserve, a town in southern Louisiana where, according to US government science, the risk of cancer is the highest in the country due to airborne toxins emitted by a nearby chemical plant. Jim is regarded as an expert in the energy services industry and has testified before the U.S. Senates Energy Subcommittee to discuss pending energy issues in the United States and across the globe. "They invest money with us and we in turn invest it into companies, as well as businesses like LUS," he said. When Ieyoub failed to make the run-off, Bernhard and his family donated at least $35,000 to Kathleen Blanco, and the Lafayette Democrat won. RELATED: What would Lafayette get for LUS? This innovative type of project delivery is what the industry now calls Design-Build. The projects encountered many problems, including Westinghouse's design, Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and required design changes, even with the soil at the Georgia site. In the early 1980s, New Orleans saw a spike in construction activity centered around the Worlds Fair. After that, Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and a handful of other top executives from The Shaw Group founded BCP, a private equity firm that promised to invest in companies that operate in the energy services industry. After a tumultuous year on LSUs campus, an effort to modernize the energy systems that the university pays $32 million a year to power has be, The two entities vying for a lucrative, long-term contract to power LSUs energy systems both lack a contractor's license, the Louisiana State, LSU is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education over how the university reports and investigates crimes on campus, a probe open, An outside law firm probing LSU's handling of sexual assault and domestic violence cases has invited students to meet with them and to share t, The LSU Board of Supervisors will determine the fate next week of a lucrative energy contract that multiple board members say is likely to be , The LSU Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to split an $810 million energy deal between two contractors, Enwave Energy Corp. and a joint ventu, Former LSU head football coach Les Miles reached a settlement with a former student who accused him of harassment several years ago, and the s, When head football coach Les Miles was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation in 2013 at LSU, the universitys former human resource, Former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis was released from probation Monday morning in a 2018 domestic battery case, receiving a stern warning fro. What should we know about LSU's handling of sexual misconduct cases? BERNHARD. Jim Bernhard, the grandson of William Bernhard, and his business partner Jeff Jenkins took this Energy-as-a-Service concept and created a new business opportunity. The Shaw Group became an industry leader in the power industry, a top environmental services provider and the global leader in nuclear power services, in particular. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. (Denka is appealing against the EPAs independently peer-reviewed classification of chloroprene as a likely carcinogen.) Bernhard and its affiliates donated at least $7,500 to Robideaux's campaign since 2015, according to campaign finance filings with the Louisiana Ethics Administration. They haven't attended a council meeting, where they would have to answer questions in public, and Robideaux said last week it was decided it would be best to present to the council when the final proposal is complete. Long-time LUS Director Terry Huval, upon his retirement in July, questioned the wisdom of selling, leasing or outsourcing management of the city-owned utility. According to FEC filings reviewed by the Guardian, Richmond has also taken two donations, one in February 2015 for $1,500 the other for $1,000 in May 2017, from the affiliated Pac of a legal firm representing Denkas lobbying efforts at the EPA. "It appears bad, but it's not unethical.". And then he left, leaving Hampton and Taylor to hold a 20-minute meeting with an aide from his office. Two months before LSU started negotiating with Bernhard and Enwave, Gov. Others predicted he would delve into real estate. As the region was experiencing an economic downturn, the company sought new opportunities for growth. He was permanently disbarred as a lawyer. When news leaked in July about the possible sale or management of LUS, it caused a stir in the city and among City-Parish Council members, who were left out of the conversation. Reserve, a majority African American working-class neighbourhood, is the centre of a year-long Guardian series, Cancer Town, examining local residents fight for environmental justice in an area where the risk of cancer is 50 times the national average, according to the EPA. In 1995, Ed Tinsley and Rusty Mullen formed Tinsley-Mullen Engineers (TME) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Email Andrea Gallo at agallo@theadvocate.com. Since then its been zero.. But the congressman, one of the highest recipients of donations from the oil, gas and chemicals industries in the Democratic House caucus, has paid little public attention to perhaps the most internationally pressing issue in Louisianas second congressional district the continuing proliferation of polluting petrochemical and fossil fuel plants in the region. She took office in January 2004. Police documents refer to Bernhard as both a legal guardian and dad to Davis, though a search through Baton Rouge courts records did not turn up official paperwork of an adoption. According to The Baton Rouge Business Report, the company raised $1.2 billion in less than a year. The firm completed their first project in North Carolina in 1985, worked on a large-scale gaming expansion in Mississippi in 1990, and constructed the Orlando Airport in 1991. See Photos. In 1919, William Bernhard founded Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On a crisp autumn day in Washington last month, Mary Hampton and Robert Taylor entered Cedric Richmonds office hoping their federal representative would take the time to listen. In 1932, Bernhard was awarded the Louisiana Capitol building. Richmonds stature in the Democratic party has grown during his 10 years in Congress, as he has pushed on traditional civil rights issues, coastal erosion in Louisiana and fought for funding following natural and industrial disasters in the state. Ms. Any promise made to LSU is a promise made to our own family., Perhaps the highest-profile ethics case in Louisiana one the former chairman of the state's Ethics Board called the most egregious case he. Under his stewardship, Shaw became one of the fastest growing companies in the Fortune 500, offering a broad range of engineering, construction, equipment, environmental and manufacturing services across the energy spectrum. Bernhard, the wealthy chief executive officer of Bernhard Capital Partners and former CEO of the Fortune 500 contracting firm known as The Shaw Group, took in Davis when he was growing up and helped raise him. What began as a small, family-owned company is now one of the countrys largest mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering, construction and service firms that provides Energy-as-a-Service solutions. Around 1986 or 1987, he and two friends spent $50,000 to take over the assets of a bankrupt pipe fabricatorwhen Louisiana's oilfield was struggling to recover from a major downturn. In 2018, Bernhards innovative work saved clients more than $14 million in energy costs. 2023 Brown & Root. Photo courtesy of the University of New OrleansNEW ORLEANS Bernhard LLC, Johnson Controls Inc. and the University of New Orleans have announced a 25-year Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) partnership. One of his guys came to our first meeting but he never offered any help. As a new report shines light on LSU's failures to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and Title IX violations, The Advocate | Times-P, I have not seen the police reports and do not know the identity of the witnesses to whom you refer, Bernhard wrote in an email. Founded as a traditional MEP consulting engineering company, the firm quickly added energy service offerings focused on helping clients reduce costs and conserve energy. There was a problem saving your notification. LSU held no public talks with either contractor during their negotiations, and the university also never publicly released its criteria for awarding the contract despite taxpayers and students footing the bill. See Photos. LSU board set to approve huge energy deal next week as two companies negotiate to share it, How an LSU energy contract has spurred licensing complaints, political pressure and more, Both contenders for major LSU energy deal lack contractor's license, board says, In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation, Ending of 10-year-old ethics case sets a new low standard for Louisiana public officials, LSU should consider ending Rouses relationship after Trump rally controversy, Collis Temple says, Why the 'most egregious' ethics case in Louisiana remains open nine years later, LSU's sexual misconduct investigation finds 'failure of leadership,' dozens of problems, Politics and LSU football: The story behind governors, coaches and school leaders caught in between. Both have voted for the congressman in successive elections. American Family Insurance Championship. BROWN & ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES or. The Memorial Tower sits on Dalrymple Drive on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Components would be shipped and assembled at the nuclear plant site. The cogeneration plant led to a major lawsuit between LSU and Bernhard Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Pin Oak Stud Sold To Bernhard Family. A spokesman for Denka said the company had received no correspondence from the congressman. Bernhard and Jenkins now are turning their attention to the electric power sector, with plans to invest $15 billion in coming years to purchase or manage utility companies such as LUS throughout the Southeast. In the same year, Bernhard opened the first of its integrated offices in Nashville, Tennessee. Since then, the company also isreviewing the water and sewer operations, too. Hiswife and his wife's parents are from Lafayette and his father previously lived here. Police documents refer to Bernhard as a "legal guardian" and "dad" to Davis, although there is no official documentation of adoption. Judge hears arguments, LSU tennis star's parents 'astonished' by inaction after reports of football player's abuse. ichmonds stature in the Democratic party has grown during his 10 years in Congress, as he has pushed on traditional civil rights issues, coastal erosion in Louisiana and fought for funding following natural and industrial disasters in the state. We reached out to him [Richmond] when we first started this fight three years ago, said Taylor, who has lost his mother, sister and nephews to cancer, while his wife is currently fighting the disease, and his daughter battling a rare intestinal disease linked to chloroprene. While BCP does not manage any city-owned electric systems, itsmanagement team is experienced in the regulated utility sector, including Cleco and Exelon, Jenkinssaid. Were not making it up. Jim Bernhard Jr. may not be a household name in Lafayette, but lots of people in Baton Rouge and around the globe know his former company, The Shaw Group, which he founded and grew into a Fortune 500 company. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. The company awarded TheShaw Groupthe contract to designand buildthefacility, drawing criticism from Shaw competitors who weren't allowed to bid. Structural Info Known for movies The Saber 2007 as The Voice The Trust 1993 as Mr. Swenson Source IMDB Michot also served on Robideaux's transition team. He also declined to answer a list of detailed questions despite multiple requested deadline extensions. Each company brought an expertise and culture that complemented one another. Bernhard stepped down as CEO of The Shaw Group in the wake of that companys 2013 acquisition by CB&I. According to a school spokesperson, the shared goal is to "renew UNO's campus energy infrastructure, reduce emissions . Seven of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in America sit in his district, according to EPA data. Other notable projects included the Louisiana Superdome, the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Louisianas State Capitol, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, and many high rise office buildings on Poydras Street, including 800 and 400 Poydras. He had previously settled a civil lawsuit that alleged he sold invalid movie tax credits and used the proceeds for his personal gain. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee, serves on the Portfolio Committee and is involved in all areas of the Firms investment activities. During almost a decade in Congress Richmond has taken over $400,000 in campaign donations from the oil and gas industry and chemical manufacturers, according to an analysis conducted by the non-partisan Centre for Responsive Politics at the request of the Guardian. But the congressman, one of the highest recipients of donations from the oil, gas and chemicals industries in the Democratic House caucus, has paid little public attention to perhaps the most internationally pressing issue in Louisianas second congressional district the continuing proliferation of polluting petrochemical and fossil fuel plants in the region. When LSU Police interviewed Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar, who reported Lewis abuse in police and Title IX reports, Bernhards name came up again. In exchange, the company would give the city a one-time payout of about $246 million and assume more than $200 million of outstanding LUS debt while keeping most of the revenue LUS generates, according to a preliminary proposal. Here's each candidate's top donors, 'Put on a mask!' How much money Enwave makes off the deal will fluctuate annually based on natural gas prices and the price of the energy Enwave produces for LSU, said LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard. His record stands in contrast to the growing call among Democrats in Washington to address environmental justice issues in Richmonds district. Bernhard, who founded the company 25 years ago, is expected to leave Shaw when Chicago Bridge buys the company.Sep 20, 2012. BCP recently raised more than $1 billion in investments after an initial $750 million offering in 2015-16. Click "Submit" to let the Reveille's student journalists know. MCCs innovative approach aligned with Freds vision of not necessarily being the biggest, but being the best.. It started with a failed quiz, Drake Davis avoids jail time again as judge terminates probation despite second abuse case. One football player said Lewis was warned directly by Bernhard to not come forward, and that she "won't have a case," the report read. BERNHARD, James Casper May 5, 1940 - October 17, 2018 Jim's original obituary included much information and many relatives that survived him. The congressman, who declined interview requests, also declined to provide evidence of correspondence related to the plant. Bernhard stepped down as CEO of The Shaw Group in the wake of that companys 2013 acquisition by CB&I. Jim was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and then retired as a lineman for Verizon after 35 years of service. Silas Lee, a Democratic pollster in Louisiana also working with the Biden campaign, argued that the fact that Richmond has been re-elected over five cycles is indicative of delivering for his constituents and responding to the needs of the congressional district. Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Toshiba, selected The Shaw Group in 2008 to build nuclear reactors in Georgia andSouth Carolina. The plant is still operating today, but its construction resulted in a major lawsuit between LSU and Bernhard Mechanical, along with a state Ethics Board scandal. Shaw continued to grow through the 2000s, entering joint ventures with construction companies in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. While a proposed massive expansion of a plastics factory in his district could almost double the amount of toxic air pollution in the parish it will be constructed in. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee, serves on the Portfolio Committee and is involved in all areas of the Firm's investment activities. Richmond then shifted the conversation away from his own advocacy and urged the residents to vote to remove Donald Trump from office. Shaw entered the nuclear power business in 2000 when it acquired Stone & Webster, an engineering, procurement and construction company. The athletes on his payroll opting out for fear of being implicated in . Shortly after receiving the Guardians questions, Richmonds communications director, Jalina Porter, blocked both authors of this article on social media. (aka JimBobBillyRay) Left this world October 17, 2018 after a year long battle with cancer. LSU board awards massive energy deal after secretive negotiations without public bid. LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handlingof abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. Chester installs, maintains and repairs underground high voltage electric transmission lines and distribution systems. The Hoggs of Texas: Letters and Memoirs of an Extraordinary Family, 1887-1906 . Peggy was the youngest of four born on Mother's Day on May 12, 1957 to James "Jimmy" and Barbara Bernhard.. He earned a bachelor's degree in construction management from LSUin 1976. Madison, Wisconsin USA. The Shaw Group, Bernhard said, was an aggressive company and he wouldn't apologize for that. 39 11 & family. Richmond declined to comment on his campaign funding. Breaux Electrical, based in New Iberia, Jenkins said, which has a significant presence in Lafayette, as well. The company's investorsinclude some of the world's largest pension plans, Harvard Endowment, University of Michigan, Mayo Clinic, United Auto Workers and Electronics International. But when the Worlds Fair ended, much of Louisiana went through difficult times. He also donated $100,000 to Broomes MoveEBR campaign for new roads, and $100,000 last year to the Louisiana Democratic Party. Receive the latest news and updates from Bernhard, directly to your inbox. Davis told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2015 that he moved into the Bernhard household in sixth grade and at that point Bernhard and his wife became his permanent guardians. ", LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handling. In the early years, the company focused on plumbing and custom sheet metal fabrication. Looking at his face, it didnt really seem like he was interested, Hampton recalled. When The Advocate sent excerpts of the police reports about Bernhard to Lewis the woman who Davis abused she said she did not want to comment on them. There have been signs of tentative progress in Reserve in the past six months. This was the first of many iconic projects the firm would help construct in the State and solidified Bernhard as a leader in the mechanical and plumbing construction industry. He said board members used their expertise to help negotiate with the two companies and to bring the deal over the finish line. Louisiana Energy Partners will design and build LSU's energy plant and distribution systems. Though buildings, communities, and cities change around us, one thing remains constant: Bernhard is a trusted partner, working together to build our future. When an LSU football player admitted to hitting his girlfriend in a text he sent to executive deputy director of athletics Verge Ausberry, bot. Gov. Former LSU tennis player Jade Lewis is accusing LSU women's tennis coach Julia Sell of looking the other way while multiple people reported in. Earlier this year, Bernhard Capital Partners acquired electrical contractor W.A. The centennial celebration offered an avenue to reflect on the principles and values that have enabled the firms success: hard work, passion, and client-focused solutions. Richmond declined to answer whether he supported the Senate bill. Today, Bernhards mission is to deliver innovative engineering, construction, and energy solutions that empower our clients and promote a sustainable future. Jim played a leading role in every major decision of the company from its founding until its sale. Kathleen Blanco's transition team, Bernhardbuilt a pipe fabrication business intoa $3 billioncompany awarded hundreds of millions in Defense Department contracts and no-bid contracts after Hurricane Katrina. (redacted) explained that Mr. Davis' family was quite powerful in Baton Rouge and that Drake's dad is really powerful which makes her feel uneasy, but added that no threats were made to her, police wrote. An affiliate of the company, Bernhard Capital Partners, is a client of lobbyist TyronPicard who owns The Picard Group in Lafayette. The congressman has partly kept hold of power due to his ability to vastly outspend his rivals, thanks in large part to corporate donations. Baton Rouge, LA 70808. You have permission to edit this article. Privacy Policy Disclaimer. When police interviewed her on Aug. 17, 2018, Lewis told them about several times that Davis had attacked her. John Bel Edwards offered Jim Bernhard an appointment to the LSU Board of Supervisors.