Our teams continue to design and create hospitals, classrooms, offices, hotels, and more. However, in the fog of grief, sleep deprivation and illnes Others predicted he would delve into real estate. In 2015, according to records on social media, Richmond hired James M Tres Bernhard III, son of Jim Bernhard, the founder of Louisianas influential Shaw Group and the former chair of the Louisiana Democratic party, who has reportedly considered a bid for governor. 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. This innovative type of project delivery is what the industry now calls Design-Build. "They invest money with us and we in turn invest it into companies, as well as businesses like LUS," he said. RELATED: What would Lafayette get for LUS? 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. Bernhard LLC includes Bernhard Mechanical, the company Jim Bernhard Jr.'s grandfather created nearly 100 years ago,and E.P. LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against students, including top athletes, according to an investigation by USA Today. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of battery and one count of violation of a protective order. 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. Richmond declined to answer whether he supported the Senate bill. 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 By Stephanie Riegel - June 8, 2016 Jim. They included Epic Piping, ATC Associates headquartered in Lafayette, Bernhard LLC and Brown and Root. A Shaw executive wrote in response, "The level and effectiveness of management oversight of daily activities was determined to be inadequate based on the quality of work.". The Memorial Tower sits on Dalrymple Drive on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. 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. Ms (redacted) expressed to Ms. Segar fear over retaliation because Mr. Davis has told her that his legal guardian, Jim Bernhard, would have her deported from the country and kicked out of LSU if she revealed their violent relationship, police recorded from their interview with Segar. Former LSU tennis star says coach 'betrayed' her after reports of football player's abuse, LSU official might have broken federal law after Drake Davis admitted he hit girlfriend. Deficiencies the Shaw executive listed ranged from the company being unable to separate improperly made parts to incorrectly storing construction materials, Reuters reported. But these have happened at the local level, seemingly without intervention or comment from Richmond. Were not making it up. They say they can operate LUS more efficiently than the city, invest in improvements and freeze rates until 2021. He also donated $100,000 to Broomes MoveEBR campaign for new roads, and $100,000 last year to the Louisiana Democratic Party. 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. People named Jim Bernhard. Peggy Elaine Bernhard, age 63, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 26th. She took office in January 2004. Consultants from the firm KPMG, hired by LSU, warned the board in September that LSU was unlikely to get the best possible deal or the best expertise on building and maintaining energy systems without inviting public bids. What should we know about LSU's handling of sexual misconduct cases? The LSU board did not disclose the price of the deal during the meeting, but LSU officials confirmed it afterward. 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. Got a question? How did LSU HR hear about Les Miles' harassment accusations? BCP had fourportfolio companies by June 2016. Were always looking for talented individuals with a passion for creating new ideas and delivering quality service. 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. Established by Fred Estopinal, MCC provided engineered mechanical and plumbing construction services. LSU's cogeneration power plant at the southeast corner of Tiger Stadium, Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. But Bernhard, a major supporter of the governor and political donor to the Democratic Party, turned down the seat without explanation. Senator Elizabeth Warren has also placed Reserve at the centre of an ambitious environmental justice pledge in her run for the White House. 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. During the 2003Louisiana gubernatorial race, Bernhard supported Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub. 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. 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. Jim Bernhard. Segar showed them pictures of bruises around her neck. 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. In the same year, Bernhard opened the first of its integrated offices in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2001, Jim was recognized as U.S. Richmond with Biden in Columbia, South Carolina, in June. It started with a failed quiz, Drake Davis avoids jail time again as judge terminates probation despite second abuse case. Continuing its expansion, MCC opened mechanical construction offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina. There have been letters, he said, according to one of those in the room. Residents: Don't give up management of LUS. We serve customers across the nation, offering in-house expertise and a proven approach backed by more than 100 years of experience. Since the inception of the company over 70 years ago, the original motto of Most Dependable still rings true today. All Rights Reserved. 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. Mr. With the FBI, Treasury Dept and the NCAA sniffing through his financial dealings and ties to the University, is it any wonder LSU is in such a quandary? The Shaw Group sued, alleging the Bernhard group was trying to capitalize on the Shaw name, The Advocate reported. 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. 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. What we are fighting for is real. Sitting on the LSU board would have prohibited him from doing business directly with the university. James Bernhard. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. 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. Shawcashed in. Breaux, Bernhard Brothers, and MCC. 2023 Brown & Root. The agreement calls for Enwave to operate and maintain LSU's energy plants for the next 30 years. BERNHARD. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. When an LSU football player admitted to hitting his girlfriend in a text he sent to executive deputy director of athletics Verge Ausberry, bot. RELATED: Bernhard says LUS management proposal two weeks away. Louisiana Energy Partners will design and build LSU's energy plant and distribution systems. His grandfather started Bernhard Mechanical in Lafayette in 1919. (Denka is appealing against the EPAs independently peer-reviewed classification of chloroprene as a likely carcinogen.) LSU'S trouble's just beginning thanks to Jim Bernhard! As a company with deep roots in Louisiana, we share the Baton Rouge community and its history and future. 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,. Between 2014 and 2015, Jim Bernhard and Bernhard Capital Partners strategically purchased Bernhard Mechanical, TME, E.P. The. The driving force behind Shaw Group becoming a Fortune 500 company and the guy launching another upper deck financial grand slam with Bernar Bernhard says LUS management proposal two weeks away, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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 Bernhard, Chief Executive Officer of Bernhard Capital Partners, talks in his office in downtown Baton Rouge,Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Overall, the project was a success and significantly reduced the LSUs energy footprint. Together, they formed Bernhard, bringing the Energy-as-a-Service vision to light for clients across the nation. Hampton, who has lost her brother, sister-in-law and daughter-in-law to cancer that she blames on the plant, said: Nobody from our local government has made an attempt to help us or show us the way. Game Changers is a documentary series profiling some of the world's most influential, determined, hard-working visionaries who are disrupting their industries. Its simply not on their radar. said Anne Rolfes, executive director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a not-for-profit environmental justice organization. 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 BCP will create a new utility management company, NextGen, to oversee their new acquisitions. Richmond then shifted the conversation away from his own advocacy and urged the residents to vote to remove Donald Trump from office. . 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. Visin general Estatsticas do Curso Resultados . Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Jim Bernhard, partner at Bernhard Capital, . 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. According to The Baton Rouge Business Report, the company raised $1.2 billion in less than a year. LSU board awards massive energy deal after secretive negotiations without public bid. 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. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. 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. 39 11 & family. The Hoggs of Texas: Letters and Memoirs of an Extraordinary Family, 1887-1906 . 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. 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. Founded in 1994 as a small, family-owned, . A football player said something similar in another police interview, telling them he is scared of Jim Bernhards 'power but he has not been threatened by Mr. Bernhard., When police interviewed LSU wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph, they wrote that his phone history showed he had three calls with Bernhard one morning in August. Jim received his B.A. A final proposal with more detail is expected to be presented to Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux in about two weeks. 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. Jim Bernhard. Bernhard Mechanical LLC, then run by Jim Bernhard's brother, Kenneth, contracted with LSU in 2003 to build a cogeneration plant on campus. 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 was a problem saving your notification. Those two outfits were Enwave and Louisiana Energy Partners. He recently turned down a coveted position on the LSU Board of Supervisors, an appointment Gov. Bernhard said the company exited the nuclear field after the Fukushima, Japan, disaster in March 2011. Jim was born on November 12, 1944 in Humboldt, SK and was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Theresa (nee Cales). Louisiana Energy Partners will also have the chance to design, build and finance future building mechanical system upgrades in the future. 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. 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. In 1984, Bernhard Brothers Mechanical Contractors was established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by William Bernhard Jr.s sons: Bill, Barry, and Jude. 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. 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 2019, he voted to allow oil drillers to explore the Atlantic coast including by using seismic airgun blasting. Ms. Peggy was the youngest of four born on Mother's Day on May 12, 1957 to James "Jimmy" and Barbara Bernhard.. In the early years, the company focused on plumbing and custom sheet metal fabrication. 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. The Bernhards live on a sprawling setup behind gates near the Country Club of Louisiana. Earlier this year, Bernhard Capital Partners acquired electrical contractor W.A. And then he left, leaving Hampton and Taylor to hold a 20-minute meeting with an aide from his office. Joseph told officers that Bernhard had told him on one of the calls that police had an arrest warrant out for Davis. He said the project will not affect tuition and student fees. Baton Rouge, LA 70802, 5511 Virginia Way, Unit 310 The sale was finalized in February 2013. It has now surfaced. In 1965, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works added air conditioning to their service offerings and changed their name to Bernhard Mechanical. But he has also kept the states Democratic establishment firmly onside. See Photos. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 5th, 1940 (Cinco de Mayo), he spent his days enjoying his life and friend (aka JimBobBillyRay) Left this world October 17, 2018 after a year long battle with cancer. Les Miles reached a secret settlement with an LSU student, sources say. An affiliate of the company, Bernhard Capital Partners, is a client of lobbyist TyronPicard who owns The Picard Group in Lafayette. If my teammates and my coaches knew I'm giving y'all this information, it's not going to be very good," police recorded him saying. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these, may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. Breaux, Bernhard Brothers, and MCC. 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. Mobility remains a distinct advantage of our firm today. If more upgrades and infrastructure are needed in the future, Enwave will have the chance to finance them. of abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. Reached by The Advocate, Bernhard denied that he ever threatened Lewis. 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? For hi He earned a bachelor's degree in construction management from LSUin 1976. 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. ", LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handling. Bernhard did not explain his reasons for turning down the seat, though LSU has been in discussions with Bernhard Capital about privatizing the school's energy systems. 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. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate thesewitnessesmay have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. Over the next 25 years, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works, E.P. At the time, The Shaw Group employed as a lobbyist Joe Albaugh, a former FEMA director and former national campaign manager for the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign, according toThe Washington Post and Newsweek. BCP's Energy Services Fund closed its initial equity sale in Spring 2016 having raised more than $750 million in capital commitments, SEC filings show. It was like he was trying to brush us off.. Former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who had been accused previously of beating his girlfriend, faces additional charges after police found t. Click "Submit" to let the Reveille's student journalists know. It was an untested process in the United States. 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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. In January 2005, Bernhard was elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committeewith Blanco's support. Davis was arrested in August 2018 due to his abuse of Lewis. Jade Lewis' troubles speak to all parents who send their children to LSU, columnist says, Law firm begins probe of LSU's handlings of sexual misconduct; public report expected in February, In Derrius Guice case, LSU ordered to release unredacted police records to the public, In Drake Davis abuse case, SEC and LSU president were warned two years ago about school's inaction, LSU to pay up to $100,000 for law firm's review of past sexual assault cases, LSU Board hears about sexual assault response, LSU sends 60 files to attorneys overseeing investigation into sexual assault on campus, Another woman alleges LSU inaction after she disclosed Drake Davis abuse: report, LSU athletic official resigns from presidential search committee amid controversy, 'A huge emotional toll': Victims detail LSU's weak punishments for sexual misconduct, 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, LSU under federal investigation for 'safety practices' after sexual assault complaints, Amid LSU sexual assault investigation, law firm invites students to share experiences, LSU board set to approve huge energy deal next week as two companies negotiate to share it, LSU board awards massive energy deal after secretive negotiations without public bid. 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. 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. The company will also provide financing for initial improvements to LSU's energy plant and distribution systems, which LSU will pay back later on. 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. But they only got two minutes. Bernhard is also the former state Democratic Party chairman, and is a major donor and supporter to an array of Democratic candidates in Louisiana, including Edwards and East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. Richmond, the 46-year-old congressman, has represented the residents of Reserve, and most of the people living in a densely polluted area between New Orleans and Baton Rouge referred to as Cancer Alley, for almost a decade. While BCP does not manage any city-owned electric systems, itsmanagement team is experienced in the regulated utility sector, including Cleco and Exelon, Jenkinssaid. You have permission to edit this article. Among the most violent outbursts: in June, she told them that he entered her home one night, punched her in the stomach, wrapped his hands around her neck to strangle her and ripped out one of her earrings. Want to share an anonymous news tip? 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 . He can receive contributions but the bottom line is you have to be accountable to your constituents.. Ingressos. 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. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. 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. Bernhard, who founded the company 25 years ago, is expected to leave Shaw when Chicago Bridge buys the company.Sep 20, 2012. The Bernhard players agreed not to use the Shaw name. Prior to founding Bernhard Capital Partners, Jim started The Shaw Group in 1987 with a small personal investment and grew the company into one of the leading global energy services firms with over $6 billion in revenue and 25,000 employees. He graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge and was honored as one of the school's Grizzly Greats. He had never held an elected office or Democratic party position, The Advertiser reported at the time. Their solid relationships and dedication to their customers helped the firm grow quickly. 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. Richmond declined to comment on his campaign funding. Bernhard Capital Partners is a service and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm established in 2013 by Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and a team of experienced private-equity . He has taken $128,750 from chemical manufacturers, placing him sixth in career donations among current House Democrats. In 2018, Bernhards innovative work saved clients more than $14 million in energy costs. 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.