The firm also expanded fabrication capacity by opening a new fabrication facility in south Mississippi. The company will also provide financing for initial improvements to LSU's energy plant and distribution systems, which LSU will pay back later on. 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.". Representative Cedric Richmond is the sole Democrat in Louisianas congressional delegation. Ive been working in his district every year that hes been a congressman, and Ive never seen his face or any of his staff members in the communities working on these [industrial pollution] issues. 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 . 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. Those two outfits were Enwave and Louisiana Energy Partners. Established by Fred Estopinal, MCC provided engineered mechanical and plumbing construction services. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. 2600 Citiplace Drive, Suite 500 See Photos. Born to German immigrant parents in New Orleans, William Bernhard was a self-made man. The second generation of leadership included William Bernhards sons: William Jr., Charlie, and Jimmy. Liked by Jim Bernhard Outstanding FULL-TIME opportunity for a Lead IT Support Specialist. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. 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. 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. And then he left, leaving Hampton and Taylor to hold a 20-minute meeting with an aide from his office. 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? Founded in 1994 as a small, family-owned, . Ive never watched LSU tennis Im not sure where on campus the team plays and I have barely passed through Tiger Stadiums gates. Gov. 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 had never held an elected office or Democratic party position, The Advertiser reported at the time. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee, serves on the Portfolio Committee and is involved in all areas of the Firms investment activities. 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. Components would be shipped and assembled at the nuclear plant site. The company continued to expand in the 1990s, acquiring fabrication and pipe companies, including companies in The Netherlands, Venezuela, the U.K. and Australia, and grew into the construction and engineering areas. 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. Bernhard Capital Partners is a service and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm established in 2013 by Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and . 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 Ms.(redacted)s own words she described threats from Mr. Davis to her they are as follows: if you come forward we'll never be together and my parents will ruin your life if you do this', the report continued. Today, BCP has seven portfolio companies in the energy services sector, according to The Business Report. Born in Trenton, Jim resided in Yardville for most of his life. Madison, Wisconsin USA. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. But his ranking plunged during the campaign season in 2018 to 46% when he missed votes on 15 environment-related bills, nearly half of the 35 votes tracked. Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Receive the latest news and updates from Bernhard, directly to your inbox. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. 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. Two cities Lafayette and one from another state are in the running to host NextGen's headquarters where 1,000 people, most local, would be employed. All Rights Reserved. The LSU board did not disclose the price of the deal during the meeting, but LSU officials confirmed it afterward. The university budgets $30 million annually for utilities, operations and maintenance. Breaux, and MCC helped to grow Louisiana: building the Louisiana Governors Mansion in 1963, opening an office in Lafayette in 1965, and constructing Lafayette General Hospital that same year. 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 an LSU football player admitted to hitting his girlfriend in a text he sent to executive deputy director of athletics Verge Ausberry, bot. Jim Bernhard. 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. (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. In This Article. Still, the financial weight of major polluters in Louisiana politics is substantial. Jun 9 - 11, 2023. The two entities vying for a lucrative, long-term contract to power LSUs energy systems both lack a contractor's license, the Louisiana State. 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. Visin general Estatsticas do Curso Resultados . In September 2011, Shaw announced it would sell its 20 percent share in Westinghouse back to Toshiba. 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. In 1995, Ed Tinsley and Rusty Mullen formed Tinsley-Mullen Engineers (TME) in Little Rock, Arkansas. He said the project will not affect tuition and student fees. He was among roughly two dozen Democrats to side with Republicans and vote for the Keystone XL pipeline in 2015. You have permission to edit this article. Both have voted for the congressman in successive elections. While BCP does not manage any city-owned electric systems, itsmanagement team is experienced in the regulated utility sector, including Cleco and Exelon, Jenkinssaid. Jim Bernhard is best known for founding The Shaw Group, which he sold in 2012 after 25 years in operation. 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. Deficiencies the Shaw executive listed ranged from the company being unable to separate improperly made parts to incorrectly storing construction materials, Reuters reported. Bobby J. The LSU Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to split an $810 million energy deal between two contractors, Enwave Energy Corp. and a joint venture that includes Baton Rouge businessman Jim Bernhard and the national firm Johnson Controls Inc. LSU's cogeneration power plant at the southeast corner of Tiger Stadium, Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. 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. The driving force behind Shaw Group becoming a Fortune 500 company and the guy launching another upper deck financial grand slam with Bernar But Bernhard, a major supporter of the governor and political donor to the Democratic Party, turned down the seat without explanation. We are fighting for our childrens lives., 'Were just waiting to die': the black residents living on top of a toxic landfill site, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Two months before LSU started negotiating with Bernhard and Enwave, Gov. 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. For hi In August and September of 2005, tragedy struck Louisiana in the form of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. However, the contractor's license issue did not end up sidelining either candidate from receiving the LSU deal. He attended Edgar Martin Middle School andgraduated from Cathedral Carmel High School. 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? 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. 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, James Casper May 5, 1940 - October 17, 2018 Jim's original obituary included much information and many relatives that survived him. It was an untested process in the United States. In 1919, William Bernhard founded Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It's about morality. Together, they formed Bernhard, bringing the Energy-as-a-Service vision to light for clients across the nation. 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. William, Charlie, and Jimmy Bernhard, 1974, Bank of America Tower in Charlotte, NC built 1992, UALR Unveils Bernhard Student Club HQ in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Bernhard Announces 25-year Energy Partnership with the University of New Orleans to Improve Campus Infrastructure, Bernhard Promotes Lauren Skeen to Vice President of Marketing and Communications. 2023 Brown & Root. Our Views: LSU scandal is about more than legal or policy violations. It has now surfaced. Were always looking for talented individuals with a passion for creating new ideas and delivering quality service. He also donated $100,000 to Broomes MoveEBR campaign for new roads, and $100,000 last year to the Louisiana Democratic Party. The Louisiana state environment agency, LDEQ, has moved towards legal action against Denka, the Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, has commissioned a health study in the area. The company at the time of the sale, he added, "was saddled by a portfolio of money-losing nuclear contracts.". There have been letters, he said, according to one of those in the room. The company employs about 100 people in Lafayette and 2,500 across the country. How did LSU HR hear about Les Miles' harassment accusations? The Bernhard players agreed not to use the Shaw name. John Bel Edwards appointed Wednesday four new members to the LSU Board of Supervisors replacing members selected by former Gov. Les Miles reached a secret settlement with an LSU student, sources say. In the same year, Bernhard opened the first of its integrated offices in Nashville, Tennessee. A spokeswoman for the EPA said the agency had also received no correspondence from Richmonds office on the issue. Jimmy was born on December 4, 1925 in Baton Rouge, LA, to William and Christabell Bernhard. Here's each candidate's top donors, 'Put on a mask!' Click "Submit" to let the Reveille's student journalists know. Bernhardt served as director of football research under head coach Bill O'Brien from 2014 through 2017. Game Changers. James. Bernhard Capital Partners ("Bernhard Capital") is a services-focused private equity management firm established in 2013 by Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and a team of experienced private-equity . The company awarded TheShaw Groupthe contract to designand buildthefacility, drawing criticism from Shaw competitors who weren't allowed to 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. Bernhard was born in Baton Rouge, but. (2011), A DURABLE FIRE . Ms. Joseph told officers that Bernhard had told him on one of the calls that police had an arrest warrant out for Davis. 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. Hiswife and his wife's parents are from Lafayette and his father previously lived here. BCP had fourportfolio companies by June 2016. 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. RELATED: What would Lafayette get for LUS? 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. John Bel Edwards offered Jim Bernhard an appointment to the LSU Board of Supervisors. Judge hears arguments, LSU tennis star's parents 'astonished' by inaction after reports of football player's abuse. In 2015, he founded Bernhard Capital Partners, a private equity firm that acquires. During the negotiation process, Bernhard's companies filed a complaint against Enwave with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, alleging Enwave did not have a contractor's license. ", LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handling. The congressman, who declined interview requests, also declined to provide evidence of correspondence related to the plant. Since July, Bernhard and Jenkins have been meeting with movers and shakers in town, including at least two meetings with OneAcadiana leaders. With an initial vision of helping his family and community, he ultimately started a legacy that would prosper into a new century. The Gray Insurance Company is a family-owned, relationship-based, and service- focused insurance company admitted in 50 states. 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. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 5th, 1940 (Cinco de Mayo), he spent his days enjoying his life and friend But he has also kept the states Democratic establishment firmly onside. But these have happened at the local level, seemingly without intervention or comment from Richmond. 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. Richmond with Biden in Columbia, South Carolina, in June. He has taken $128,750 from chemical manufacturers, placing him sixth in career donations among current House Democrats. He has won successive elections here campaigning on healthcare expansion, voting rights and criminal justice reform. Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. BERNHARD was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000. When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told o. The Shaw Group sued, alleging the Bernhard group was trying to capitalize on the Shaw name, The Advocate reported. In 1984, Bernhard Brothers Mechanical Contractors was established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by William Bernhard Jr.s sons: Bill, Barry, and Jude. Bernhards influence in Louisiana is undeniable. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. 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. All parties denied Blanco influenced the selection of Shaw, according to published reports. His grandfather started Bernhard Mechanical in Lafayette in 1919. 39 11 & family. His grandfatherstarted Bernhard Mechanicalin Lafayette in 1919. What should we know about LSU's handling of sexual misconduct cases? After posing for a quick photograph, where he smiled and placed his hand on Mary Hamptons left shoulder, Richmond began to exit. Motley Fool Blogger Benjamin Ra, in March 2015, called Shaw "a hodgepodge mix of substandard companies clobbered together by an ambitious management." And that Mr. Davis will take me to court for ruining his reputation, deport me from the country, my dad is the king of Louisiana, according to Ms.(redacted) he further said., A nonprofit foundation founded by Jim Bernhard and his wife, Dana, is donating $60,000 to pay for home internet for six months for 1,000 stude, Police also wrote that Davis told his girlfriend he would take you to court because in Louisiana you'll never win and in any other state you will.. The agreement calls for the university to pay Enwave $27 million per year over the next three decades. She told them Davis threw Lewis against a wall. Jim has served on numerous boards of trade and civic organizations and is very active in his community. 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. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these, may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. Jim Bernhard. Hampton and Taylor say they were told that Richmond would sit down with them and hear about the years-long fight for clean air in their hometown. 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. 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. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. 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. Rolfes said Richmond could lobby for stricter regulation and enforcement and push federal agencies to conduct more environmental reviews on new polluting projects, but instead hes missing in action.. J. M. Bernhard is Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Shaw Group Inc. Its just the nature of politics and where you represent, Lee said. As he was leaving, the congressman was asked: How about writing them [Denka] a letter?. Between 2014 and 2015, Jim Bernhard and Bernhard Capital Partners strategically purchased Bernhard Mechanical, TME, E.P. "But at the end of five years, we'dbe larger than Entergy.". 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. 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. 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. He tells The DailyAdvertiser his grandmother grew up in Lafayette. 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.. Earlier this year, Bernhard Capital Partners acquired electrical contractor W.A. Today, fabrication and manufacturing remain a critical component of Bernhards mechanical and plumbing construction solutions. Pin Oak Stud Sold To Bernhard Family. American Family Insurance Championship. The Shaw Group, Bernhard said, was an aggressive company and he wouldn't apologize for that. LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handlingof abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. All Rights Reserved. We serve customers across the nation, offering in-house expertise and a proven approach backed by more than 100 years of experience. In 1945, Ernest P. Breaux, Bernhards electrical construction division, was founded in New Iberia, Louisiana. Segar showed them pictures of bruises around her neck. In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation. With heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of James ("Jim") Nicholas Bernhard on February 20, 2023 at the age of 78. He was permanently disbarred as a lawyer. After building The Shaw Group into a $3 billion company, Bernhard brokered its sale to Chicago Bridge & Iron, a Dutch company. He can receive contributions but the bottom line is you have to be accountable to your constituents.. In the early 2000s, Bernhard Mechanical, under the leadership of Kenny Bernhard, E.P. 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. Leveraging this newly combined expertise, the firm quickly began to implement its Energy-as-a-Service vision with projects at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans; AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas; the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock; and beyond. But they only got two minutes. Founded as a traditional MEP consulting engineering company, the firm quickly added energy service offerings focused on helping clients reduce costs and conserve energy. Bernhard was president, CEO and chairman of the board. Shawcashed in. When police interviewed her on Aug. 17, 2018, Lewis told them about several times that Davis had attacked her. or. Davis was arrested in August 2018 due to his abuse of Lewis. The athletes on his payroll opting out for fear of being implicated in . 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. 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. Since then, the company also isreviewing the water and sewer operations, too. He said board members used their expertise to help negotiate with the two companies and to bring the deal over the finish line. 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. The same football playerpleaded with police to keep his identity shielded from public view. Law firm Husch Blackwell will meet with LSU leadership Wednesday to begin its investigation into the school's handlings of sexual and domestic, LSU has been ordered to make public unredacted police records involving a former student's allegation of video voyeurism against former star r, Two years ago, the NCAA, SEC and LSUs president and top legal counsel were all warned that LSUs athletics department had potentially run afo, LSU has agreed to pay Husch Blackwell up to $100,000 for the law firms review of how the university has handled past sexual violence and assa, Nearly two hours passed in the LSU Board Supervisors' meeting Friday before the first mention was made of the sexual assault scandal on the LS, LSU Interim President Tom Galligan said Monday that the university has sent more than 60 files relating to a smaller number of sexual miscondu, LSU officials investigated in 2018 whether employees of the Athletic Department had properly handled a student's earlier complaint that a foot, LSU executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry has stepped down from LSU's presidential search committee amid allegations that he did n.