"But at the end of five years, we'dbe larger than Entergy.". You have permission to edit this article. Mobility remains a distinct advantage of our firm today. Jun 9 - 11, 2023. Jim Bernhard. He said board members used their expertise to help negotiate with the two companies and to bring the deal over the finish line. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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? During their short interaction, according to Hampton, Taylor and one other present for the meeting, Richmond acknowledged community concerns over emissions from the plant, operated by the Japanese chemicals company Denka, and described them as a worry. J. M. Bernhard is Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Shaw Group Inc. When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told officers they were afraid of coming forward because In. 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. Bernhard, who founded the company 25 years ago, is expected to leave Shaw when Chicago Bridge buys the company.Sep 20, 2012. Richmond declined to comment on why he missed those votes. Jim received his B.A. What we are fighting for is real. 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. Bernhard was in the running for Energy Secretary under President Barack Obama and has toyed with the idea of running for governor on several occasions. 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. Joseph told officers that Bernhard had told him on one of the calls that police had an arrest warrant out for Davis. All Rights Reserved. Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. Those talks come after the Board of Supervisors voted against its own staff recommendation to launch a public bid process, and to instead negotiate directly with the Bernhard-connected firm and another company. One Richmond staffer, who is not listed on the congressmans website, was convicted of wire fraud before joining the team. Bernhard was appointed to the Board of Supervisors over the summer by Gov. Staff Writer Sam Karlin contributed to this report. Email Andrea Gallo at agallo@theadvocate.com. 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. As the region was experiencing an economic downturn, the company sought new opportunities for growth. 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. They say they can operate LUS more efficiently than the city, invest in improvements and freeze rates until 2021. He had never held an elected office or Democratic party position, The Advertiser reported at the time. The NRC requested an internal review of the Lake Charles facility just seven months after it began producing components for the nuclear plants, Reuters reported. A rising star in the Democratic party, who now co-chairs former vice-president Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign, Richmond is the lone Democrat in Louisianas delegation to Washington. The witness told Segar, who then reported it to police, that she was worried about her safety because of possible threats originating from the family of Mr. Davis. Segar also told police that she believed the Bernhard family had provided a lawyer for one of the witnesses in the case potentially Lewis herself though the names are redacted from the police reports. 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. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these witnesses may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone.. Gov. Because of these principles, the company grew through hard times. At one point, she was punched hard enough to fracture a rib. The company securedno-bid contractsfrom the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA worth more than $200 million to repair the breached levees that flooded much of New Orleans, pump water out of the city and to help with emergency housing and cleanup. She denied that Bernhard had threatened her, and said her contact with him had been minimal. They included Epic Piping, ATC Associates headquartered in Lafayette, Bernhard LLC and Brown and Root. Senator Elizabeth Warren has also placed Reserve at the centre of an ambitious environmental justice pledge in her run for the White House. RELATED: What would Lafayette get for LUS? Jim Bernhard, Founder and Partner at Bernhard Capital Partners, commented: "We are very pleased to congratulate Mark, Catherine, Bryan, Chris and Jason on their well-deserved promotions.Each of . But the police reports make clear that Bernhards wide-reaching influence cast a long shadow over their investigation. At the time, Blanco denied any political favors were involved. An LSU board of supervisors member asked Friday whether the university could explore severing its relationship with Rouses Supermarkets over c, Its been nine years since the Louisiana Ethics Board first took up what its former chairman called the most egregious case to ever come bef, While LSU poured untold resources into the pursuit of national football championships, campus leaders for years ignored warnings that LSU did , Michael Martin has been in charge of universities across the country, but he says hes only worked in one state where the governor has called . In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation. John Bel Edwards but declined the appointment for reasons not yet available. His grandfatherstarted Bernhard Mechanicalin Lafayette in 1919. He earned a bachelor's degree in construction management from LSUin 1976. 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. It's about morality. Ive never watched LSU tennis Im not sure where on campus the team plays and I have barely passed through Tiger Stadiums gates. The US senator and presidential candidate Cory Booker has introduced sweeping legislation, with reference to communities in Cancer Alley, that would bolster federal regulation of clean air and water, and clarifies the legal rights of communities in polluted areas. Former state Sen. Mike Michot of Lafayette, a long-time friend of Robideaux who served in the state legislature with the mayor-president, works at The Picard Group. This innovative type of project delivery is what the industry now calls Design-Build. The process for awarding the contract has been steeped in both secrecy and controversy for several months. Bernhard departed the companywith more than $20 million in cash,$15 million in equity, more than $18 million from a senior executive retirement plan and, according to several sources, use of a private plane for 10 years. Hybrid remote in NYC, free family medical benefits, great pay and company LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handlingof abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. 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. In April, Robideaux signed a letter of intent with BCP, allowing the company to review internal information about LUS with the ultimate goal of a proposal to manage the electric division. Their solid relationships and dedication to their customers helped the firm grow quickly. BATON ROUGE, LAThe United States Attorney's Office announced that today JAMES M. BERNHARD, III, age 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Brian A. Jackson to twenty-seven (27) months of imprisonment. See Photos. The project was designed to greatly reduce operating energy costs and provide LSU an opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure. Our Views: LSU scandal is about more than legal or policy violations. 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. Blanco was governor at the time. Since then, the company also isreviewing the water and sewer operations, too. Hampton and Taylor have lost numerous relatives to the disease over decades, and blame the plants emissions of a compound named chloroprene, listed by the US government as a likely carcinogen. Ms. "It appears bad, but it's not unethical.". 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. "Over the next four years, regulatory and internal inspections at Lake Charles would reveal a slew of problems associated with the effort to construct modular parts to fit the new Westinghouse design," Reuters wrote. In 1965, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works added air conditioning to their service offerings and changed their name to Bernhard Mechanical. Former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who had been accused previously of beating his girlfriend, faces additional charges after police found t. Components would be shipped and assembled at the nuclear plant site. Under Blanco's administration in 2004, Louisiana lured a Union Tank Car manufacturing facility away from Texas with a $30 million state subsidy. She told them she was also worried that the Bernhard family had gotten police to target a specific vehicle after one of her friends received a citation for being a minor in possession of alcohol, but the police assured her that was not the case. "They invest money with us and we in turn invest it into companies, as well as businesses like LUS," he said. 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. BERNHARD, James Casper May 5, 1940 - October 17, 2018 Jim's original obituary included much information and many relatives that survived him. Two months before LSU started negotiating with Bernhard and Enwave, Gov. You have permission to edit this article. Both father and son are now members of The Forbes 400. Mr. American Family Insurance Championship. Earlier this year, Bernhard Capital Partners acquired electrical contractor W.A. He graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge and was honored as one of the school's Grizzly Greats. LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against students, including top athletes, according to an investigation by USA Today. 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 agreement calls for the university to pay Enwave $27 million per year over the next three decades. But he has also kept the states Democratic establishment firmly onside. 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. "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. Still, the financial weight of major polluters in Louisiana politics is substantial. According to Mr.(redacted), Ms.(redacted) said that Jim Bernhard had threatened her this past weekend, You won't have a case, the police report reads. In 1958, 60 miles to the southeast of Baton Rouge in Metairie, Louisiana, a similar company operating as Mechanical Construction Company (MCC) of New Orleans formed. There was a problem saving your notification. Witnesses said they worried about losing their anonymity because of Bernhard's influence and facing consequence for reporting Davis' actions, which included seriously injuring Lewis. 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. Instead, board members voted five months ago to conduct a 90-day negotiation period with the two outfits that already have existing cooperative endeavor agreements with LSU. 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. Albaugh said at the time he was not involved in securing the contracts for Shaw. They built their first milestone project, the Louisiana National Bank Tower, in downtown Baton Rouge. (2014), co-authored with her husband, Jim Bernhard; JAMESTOWN: THE NOVEL (2014), THE HOGGS OF TEXAS: LETTERS AND MEMOIRS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY, 1887-1906, (2013), A TALE OF TWO COLONIES: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA AND BERMUDA? Liked by Jim Bernhard Outstanding FULL-TIME opportunity for a Lead IT Support Specialist. 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. Breaux, Bernhard Brothers, and MCC. Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. He backed legislation that experts said would undermine environment reviews for liquefied natural gas infrastructure. When police interviewed her on Aug. 17, 2018, Lewis told them about several times that Davis had attacked her. Jim Bernhard, Chief Executive Officer of Bernhard Capital Partners, talks in his office in downtown Baton Rouge,Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. A charismatic and chisel-jawed politician, he has seen his congressional seat in Washington turn into a Democratic stronghold in the deeply Republican south. Since then its been zero.. . How did LSU HR hear about Les Miles' harassment accusations? Madison, Wisconsin USA. The next day, the witness who was worried about her safety told police that Davis had continued to abuse Lewis after he bonded out of jail. BERNHARD was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000. Pin Oak Stud Sold To Bernhard Family. Bernhard stepped down as CEO of The Shaw Group in the wake of that companys 2013 acquisition by CB&I. "After Fukushima," he said, "we didn't think nuclear would be acceptable to people in the United States.". The second generation of leadership included William Bernhards sons: William Jr., Charlie, and Jimmy. Bernhards influence in Louisiana is undeniable. Got a question? Reached by The Advocate, Bernhard denied that he ever threatened Lewis. He has taken $128,750 from chemical manufacturers, placing him sixth in career donations among current House Democrats. James Bernhard, former chairman and CEO of power-industrial contracting giant Shaw Group Inc., has formed a new energy services holding companycalled Bernhardthat could compete with CB&I,. in Construction Management from Louisiana State University. INDEPENDENT Born into a Baton Rouge-area family with a mechanical contracting company now run by his brother, Bernhard, who is known as Jim, graduated with a degree in construction from. Since the beginning of the year, the six candidates running for Baton Rouge mayor-president have collectively raised more than $1.1 million, w, Much of Baton Rouge may finally be reopening, but medical, government and business leaders are warning residents: The coronavirus isn't gone, , Ascension Wastewater Treatment, the state's largest private sewer provider, has been acquired by Baton Rouge private equity firm Bernhard Capi, Louisiana is moving toward entering a complex deal with a company controlled partly by Baton Rouge-based Bernhard Energy Solutions that could , Louisiana will enter into a complex agreement that could lead to the widespread privatization of energy systems at state agencies and universi, Hundreds of LSU students marched through campus Friday afternoon, demanding that the university clean house and stop protecting students esp, Last week started with Samantha Brennans image being published in newspapers across the country as she spoke out for the first time, saying L, Over objections from LSU's attorneys, former LSU student Samantha Brennan testified in court Monday that former star football player Derrius G, The parents of former LSU tennis star Jade Lewis said Sunday that they are dismayed by how LSU administrators have responded to reports that L, The tough challenge to LSU and its vaunted athletic department, so important to Louisiana and the university, is about more than whether rules. Judge hears arguments, LSU tennis star's parents 'astonished' by inaction after reports of football player's abuse. All Rights Reserved. 2001 compensation: $2.94 million. But the references to Bernhard in the police reports about Davis do not concern the wide receivers upbringing. Bernhard co-chaired Blanco's transition team and, according to a Jan. 24, 2005, Gambit story, "hired her campaign manager and political protg, attorney Jeff Jenkins" to work at Shaw. 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. There have been letters, he said, according to one of those in the room. 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. 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. When Jim Bernhard retired from The Shaw Group in the wake of his company's 2013 acquisition by CB&I, some speculated he would run for office. When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told officers they were afraid of coming forward because they feared repercussions from influential Baton Rouge businessman and Democratic political donor Jim Bernhard. The mission of the company was not only to see how things were, but also how things could be. Were not making it up. Subscribe to the Bernhard Bulletin today! Some speculated he might dabble in politics. 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. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. 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. WEST FRANKFORT - James "Jim" Bernhard, 73, passed away at 11:44 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at his residence.He was born June 6, 1935, in West Frankfort, to Stephen and Regina (Harr) Bernhard.He marrie The driving force behind Shaw Group becoming a Fortune 500 company and the guy launching another upper deck financial grand slam with Bernar There was a problem saving your notification. Though buildings, communities, and cities change around us, one thing remains constant: Bernhard is a trusted partner, working together to build our future. 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. Born in Trenton, Jim resided in Yardville for most of his life. Lee said the high levels of donations from fossil fuel and chemicals companies are simply a reflection of the industrys importance to the states economy. 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. Bernhard said BCP is the largest builder of power plants in the world andis the largest maintenance contractor from nuclear to coal plants in the United States. Find your friends on Facebook. Nonetheless, Democratic analysts in the region argue Richmond has maintained a strong grassroots base in his district through championing issues in Congress including police violence, investment in housing, infrastructure and education. An affiliate of the company, Bernhard Capital Partners, is a client of lobbyist TyronPicard who owns The Picard Group in Lafayette. With an initial vision of helping his family and community, he ultimately started a legacy that would prosper into a new century. James M. "Tres" Bernhard III pleaded guilty Wednesday in Baton Rouge federal court to one count of wire fraud and admitted that he schemed to divert $453,123 of his former law firm's money to. Some feared they would face consequences for reporting that Davis was abusing his girlfriend in ways that included choking her, punching her hard enough to fracture a rib and more. The same football playerpleaded with police to keep his identity shielded from public view. ", Police wrote that Davis reportedly told his girlfriend he would "take [her] to court because in Louisiana [she'll] never win and in any other state [she] will.". Bobby J. Our teams continue to design and create hospitals, classrooms, offices, hotels, and more. Log In. Segar showed them pictures of bruises around her neck. 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. Chester from Exelon. 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. During an LSU investigation in 2018 regarding football player Drake Davis' abuse of his then-girlfriend, tennis player Jade Lewis, multiple witnesses informed officers they were afraid of coming forward because of potential repercussions from Baton Rouge businessman Jim Bernhard, according to the Advocate. Peggy was the youngest of four born on Mother's Day on May 12, 1957 to James "Jimmy" and Barbara Bernhard.. Bernhard Brothers had a continuous, client-focused mission to make sure when you finished a project the customer had nothing bad to say about you.. Since the inception of the company over 70 years ago, the original motto of Most Dependable still rings true today. or. LSU'S trouble's just beginning thanks to Jim Bernhard! At a time when there were limited opportunities in Louisiana, the brothers took a leap of faith to open a mechanical and plumbing business. Breaux, Bernhard Brothers, and MCC. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. 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. Tres Bernhard, who is a senior aide who directs special projects from Baton Rouge, was in 2013 sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for committing wire fraud and diverting nearly $500,000 from his former law firm to himself. According to a school spokesperson, the shared goal is to "renew UNO's campus energy infrastructure, reduce emissions . She took office in January 2004. He recently turned down a coveted position on the LSU Board of Supervisors, an appointment Gov. In the same year, Bernhard opened the first of its integrated offices in Nashville, Tennessee. The firm also expanded fabrication capacity by opening a new fabrication facility in south Mississippi. Richmond often sides with Democrats on environment issues, with some exceptions involving the oil and gas industry which is politically critical in Louisiana.
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