All parties denied Blanco influenced the selection of Shaw, according to published reports. 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. In 2015, according to records on social media, Richmond hired James M "Tres" Bernhard III, son of Jim Bernhard, the founder of Louisiana's influential Shaw Group and the former chair of the. Jim Bernhard. There was a problem saving your notification. of abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. Today, BCP has seven portfolio companies in the energy services sector, according to The Business 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. The university budgets $30 million annually for utilities, operations and maintenance. 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. Offering workers . He is survived and lovingly remembered by his children: daughter Shannon and sons Dean . 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. The consultants said they had already reached out to several companies that expressed interest in bidding on the project. 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. Sign Up. She told them Davis threw Lewis against a wall. or. Instead, multiple witnesses told police they were worried about their identities becoming known because of Bernhards broad influence. 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. LUS is not regulated by the Public Service Commission because it is owned by the city. MCCs innovative approach aligned with Freds vision of not necessarily being the biggest, but being the best.. 400 Convention Street, 10th Floor LSU board awards massive energy deal after secretive negotiations without public bid. And Bernhard's companies have done plenty of work for LSU and other state offices in the past. And then he left, leaving Hampton and Taylor to hold a 20-minute meeting with an aide from his office. Under Blanco's administration in 2004, Louisiana lured a Union Tank Car manufacturing facility away from Texas with a $30 million state subsidy. All Rights Reserved. The athletes on his payroll opting out for fear of being implicated in . 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 the early 2000s, Bernhard Mechanical, under the leadership of Kenny Bernhard, E.P. 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. Sitting on the LSU board would have prohibited him from doing business directly with the university. 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. 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. (redacted) was very adamant that his name stayed out of this report because he feared team ramifications and repercussions from Jim Bernhard.. The company manages several billion dollars, making it the largest private equity firm in Louisiana, Bernhard said. The firm also expanded fabrication capacity by opening a new fabrication facility in south Mississippi. Email Andrea Gallo at agallo@theadvocate.com. How did LSU HR hear about Les Miles' harassment accusations? 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. 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 . JAMES BERNHARD OBITUARY. 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. Since then its been zero.. 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. Bernhard was born in Baton Rouge, but his family moved to Lafayette when he was young. 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. Despite a two year non-compete agreement with CB&I,they formed two venture capital businesses in Delaware:Shaw Capital LLC and Shaw Capital LP. It is through this work that we will achieve our vision and become the leading Energy-as-a-Service provider in North America. Mr. James Michell "Jimmy" Bernhard, age 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 25, 2020, at his home in Lafayette, Louisiana. Peggy was the youngest of four born on Mother's Day on May 12, 1957 to James "Jimmy" and Barbara Bernhard.. This is exactly the way its supposed to work, said Robert Dampf, the LSU board chairman during the meeting. The cogeneration plant led to a major lawsuit between LSU and Bernhard Mechanical Contractors, Inc. In the early years, the company focused on plumbing and custom sheet metal fabrication. 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. Between 2014 and 2015, Jim Bernhard and Bernhard Capital Partners strategically purchased Bernhard Mechanical, TME, E.P. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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 LSU board did not disclose the price of the deal during the meeting, but LSU officials confirmed it afterward. A spokeswoman for the EPA said the agency had also received no correspondence from Richmonds office on the issue. Shaw entered the nuclear power business in 2000 when it acquired Stone & Webster, an engineering, procurement and construction company. Each company brought an expertise and culture that complemented one another. As he was leaving, the congressman was asked: How about writing them [Denka] a letter?. 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. The three are working together under the name Louisiana Energy Partners. 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? Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Our long-standing relationship with LSU gives our team deep insight into the universitys facilities and their energy systems, said Bernhards CEO, Ed Tinsley, in a news release. Hybrid remote in NYC, free family medical benefits, great pay and company The founder of the Shaw Group, Jim Bernhard, owed about $45,846 for his Highland Road estate. Shawcashed in. 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 . Robert Taylor, Mary Hampton and Cedric Richmond in Washington DC. Jim was born on November 12, 1944 in Humboldt, SK and was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Theresa (nee Cales). 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. Its simply not on their radar. said Anne Rolfes, executive director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a not-for-profit environmental justice organization. His second. 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 . When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told o. There have been signs of tentative progress in Reserve in the past six months. Chief Executive Jim Bernhard will walk away with more than $36 million in severance payments if the company's proposed $3 billion sale Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. goes through early next year as planned. You have permission to edit this article. 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. 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. Others thought he might get into real estate. While BCP does not manage any city-owned electric systems, itsmanagement team is experienced in the regulated utility sector, including Cleco and Exelon, Jenkinssaid. 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. 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. MCC mobilized and began to expand outside of the state to serve clients across the Gulf South. Components would be shipped and assembled at the nuclear plant site. 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. Jim played a leading role in every major decision of the company from its founding until its sale. 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. But these have happened at the local level, seemingly without intervention or comment from Richmond. 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. Born to German immigrant parents in New Orleans, William Bernhard was a self-made man. "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. 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. However, the contractor's license issue did not end up sidelining either candidate from receiving the LSU deal. James Thomas Bernhard WRIGHTSTOWN - James Thomas Bernhard, 61, of Wrightstown, passed away Monday in Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton. 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. Enwave will pay Louisiana Energy Partners the name of the joint venture between Bernhard LLC and Johnson Controls directly, instead of LSU paying both entities, Ballard said. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. 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. 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. Jenkins is now co-founderof Bernhard Capital Partners, the company interested in LUS. Alexandra Reyes thought she had an airtight case of sexual misconduct for LSU to investigate. RELATED: Bernhard says LUS management proposal two weeks away. Local na rede Internet. 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. Madison, Wisconsin USA. Former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who had been accused previously of beating his girlfriend, faces additional charges after police found t. Brown & Root Takes Top Honors at GBRIAs 15th Annual Craft Workforce Development Awards Banquet, Brown & Root Expands Support of Life House Through Foundation, Brown & Root Leaders Announce Strengthened Safety and Giving Goals at Annual Summit, Brown & Root Wins ABC 2019 National Excellence in Construction Eagle Award, 2019 ABC National Excellence in Safety Award. Bernhard said the company exited the nuclear field after the Fukushima, Japan, disaster in March 2011. Log In. Shaw continued to grow through the 2000s, entering joint ventures with construction companies in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Louisiana Energy Partners will also have the chance to design, build and finance future building mechanical system upgrades in the future. A former chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee who served on Gov. He has taken $128,750 from chemical manufacturers, placing him sixth in career donations among current House Democrats. In 2008, The Shaw Group and Westinghouse, alongside Gov. "They invest money with us and we in turn invest it into companies, as well as businesses like LUS," he said. 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? Bernhard denied that he ever threatened Lewis when the Advocate reached out to him. 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. When you get up higher up [in politics], theres very few people that are interested in our story and our plight. Bobby J. 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. Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. The firm, Bracewell LLP, began lobbying for Denka in March 2017. 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. Ms. 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. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Joseph told officers that Bernhard had told him on one of the calls that police had an arrest warrant out for Davis. Judge hears arguments, LSU tennis star's parents 'astonished' by inaction after reports of football player's abuse. 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. He also declined to answer a list of detailed questions despite multiple requested deadline extensions. Were not making it up. LSU'S trouble's just beginning thanks to Jim Bernhard! Since the inception of the company over 70 years ago, the original motto of Most Dependable still rings true today. It was spun out in a 2017 IPO, and its stock has been in the fast lane. The agreement calls for Enwave to operate and maintain LSU's energy plants for the next 30 years. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. . Although Richmonds district, now 62% African American, has traditionally been associated with centrist Democrats, redistricting in 2014 has made it a Democratic stronghold. The company took one of its companies, Charah Solutions, public on the New York Stock Exchange in June. God bless Jim Bernhard for having some serious chutzpah. See Photos. Game Changers. He attended Edgar Martin Middle School andgraduated from Cathedral Carmel High School. Founded in 1994 as a small, family-owned, . 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. (Denka is appealing against the EPAs independently peer-reviewed classification of chloroprene as a likely carcinogen.) 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. In 2000, Shaw ventured into the utility industry, partnering with Entergy to createEntergyShaw to build power plants. 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. But they only got two minutes. Mr. Jim Bernhard. Chester installs, maintains and repairs underground high voltage electric transmission lines and distribution systems. Hiswife and his wife's parents are from Lafayette and his father previously lived here. Looking at his face, it didnt really seem like he was interested, Hampton recalled. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. 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. 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. 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. Jim Bernhard. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In This Article. 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. 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. In 2018, Bernhards innovative work saved clients more than $14 million in energy costs. Richmonds office confirmed Bernhards employment and declined to comment on his background. 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. People named Jim Bernhard. You have permission to edit this article. The mission of the company was not only to see how things were, but also how things could be. Louisiana Energy Partners will design and build LSU's energy plant and distribution systems. Police documents refer to Bernhard as a "legal guardian" and "dad" to Davis, although there is no official documentation of adoption. 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.. 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. With an initial vision of helping his family and community, he ultimately started a legacy that would prosper into a new century. Bernhard Mechanical LLC, then run by Jim Bernhard's brother, Kenneth, contracted with LSU in 2003 to build a cogeneration plant on campus.