Bernhard Capital Finalizes Acquisition of Louisiana's Largest Private Les Miles reached a secret settlement with an LSU student, sources say. His grandfather started Bernhard Mechanical in Lafayette in 1919. Acquiring Stone & Webster gave The Shaw Group the credibility it lacked in the nuclear power construction business. The plant has been operating in Reserve, belching out chloroprene emissions sometimes hundreds of times above the EPAs suggested exposure limit, since 1968, spanning four Democratic presidencies and six Republican. Former LSU football player Drake Davis, who recently pleaded guilty to a series of domestic violence charges, was arrested early Sunday after . Jim Bernhard | Bernhard Capital Partners Jim Bernhard, Chief Executive Officer of Bernhard Capital Partners, in his office overlooking the 'new' Mississippi River bridge in downtown Baton Rouge,Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. 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. Jim Bernhard the King of Baton Rouge & LSU'S nightmare! With an initial vision of helping his family and community, he ultimately started a legacy that would prosper into a new century. Ingressos. Robideaux, in a November 2015 news release announcing his transition team, said neither Michot nor The Picard Group would be awarded any contracts with Lafayette Consolidated Government. 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 . 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. 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. If more upgrades and infrastructure are needed in the future, Enwave will have the chance to finance them. Richmond often sides with Democrats on environment issues, with some exceptions involving the oil and gas industry which is politically critical in Louisiana. The process for awarding the contract has been steeped in both secrecy and controversy for several months. 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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Now Bernhard and a team of executives who followed him from The Shaw Group plan to invest $15 billionbuying and managing municipal utilities in the Southeast, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. He was permanently disbarred as a lawyer. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee, serves on the Portfolio Committee and is involved in all areas of the Firms investment activities. Louisiana Energy Partners will design and build LSU's energy plant and distribution systems. In 2019, Bernhard achieved a major milestone with the passing of its 100th year in the engineering and contracting business. Residents: Don't give up management of LUS. Our teams continue to design and create hospitals, classrooms, offices, hotels, and more. 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. 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. Who is Jim Bernhard and why does his company want LUS? Though buildings, communities, and cities change around us, one thing remains constant: Bernhard is a trusted partner, working together to build our future. Jim was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and then retired as a lineman for Verizon after 35 years of service. Components would be shipped and assembled at the nuclear plant site. 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. We serve customers across the nation, offering in-house expertise and a proven approach backed by more than 100 years of experience. However, in the fog of grief, sleep deprivation and illnes When police interviewed her on Aug. 17, 2018, Lewis told them about several times that Davis had attacked her. What we are fighting for is real. They own BR.and control all things LSU! 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. One football player, whose name is redacted in the police report, said Lewis told him Bernhard had warned her directly against coming forward. According to The Baton Rouge Business Report, the company raised $1.2 billion in less than a year. 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. 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. For over 25 years, Jim led the growth of The Shaw Group as the CEO, President and Chairman of the Board. Judge hears arguments, LSU tennis star's parents 'astonished' by inaction after reports of football player's abuse. Bernhard, who founded the company 25 years ago, is expected to leave Shaw when Chicago Bridge buys the company.Sep 20, 2012. At a time when there were limited opportunities in Louisiana, the brothers took a leap of faith to open a mechanical and plumbing business. In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. The congressman, who declined interview requests, also declined to provide evidence of correspondence related to the plant. Baton Rouge businessman donates $60,000 to pay for home internet for BCPis interested in managing and operating Lafayette's city-owned electrical system, and possibly the sewer and water systems, too. Lynnhaven Racing Goes to $1 Million for War Front Colt 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. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. 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. In several reports regarding Davis' abuse of Lewis, who spoke out publicly for the first time over social media on Wednesday, witnesses mentioned being intimidated by Bernhard because of his personal relationship with Davis and his standing in Louisiana politics, the Advocate reported. Although Richmonds district, now 62% African American, has traditionally been associated with centrist Democrats, redistricting in 2014 has made it a Democratic stronghold. Two months before LSU started negotiating with Bernhard and Enwave, Gov. He had never held an elected office or Democratic party position, The Advertiser reported at the time. It started with a failed quiz, Drake Davis avoids jail time again as judge terminates probation despite second abuse case. God bless Jim Bernhard for having some serious chutzpah. Based in Baton Rouge, La., Jim Bernhard is the founder and partner of Bernhard Capital Partners, which manages . Still, the financial weight of major polluters in Louisiana politics is substantial. The company will also provide financing for initial improvements to LSU's energy plant and distribution systems, which LSU will pay back later on. Hiswife and his wife's parents are from Lafayette and his father previously lived here. He attended Edgar Martin Middle School andgraduated from Cathedral Carmel High School. 39 11 & family. Brentwood, TN 37027, 2023 Bernhard Capital Partners. Louisiana Energy Partners will also have the chance to design, build and finance future building mechanical system upgrades in the future. The firm also expanded fabrication capacity by opening a new fabrication facility in south Mississippi. 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 . Between 2017 and 2018, his company Bernhard LLC donated $130,000 to PACs supporting Edwards. The firm, Bracewell LLP, began lobbying for Denka in March 2017. 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. Looking at his face, it didnt really seem like he was interested, Hampton recalled. The project was designed to greatly reduce operating energy costs and provide LSU an opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure. 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. 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. The company manages several billion dollars, making it the largest private equity firm in Louisiana, Bernhard said. The two entities vying for a lucrative, long-term contract to power LSUs energy systems both lack a contractor's license, the Louisiana State. In 1965, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works added air conditioning to their service offerings and changed their name to Bernhard Mechanical. The Bernhards live on a sprawling setup behind gates near the Country Club of Louisiana. Former lawyer pleads guilty | News | theadvocate.com Between 2014 and 2015, Jim Bernhard and Bernhard Capital Partners strategically purchased Bernhard Mechanical, TME, E.P. It was an untested process in the United States. 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. A spokeswoman for the EPA said the agency had also received no correspondence from Richmonds office on the issue. Game Changers. Three years after leaving The Shaw Group, Jim Bernhard has created a 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. 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. He can receive contributions but the bottom line is you have to be accountable to your constituents.. 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. The company took one of its companies, Charah Solutions, public on the New York Stock Exchange in June. 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. 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. 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. 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. Baton Rouge businessman Jim Bernhard accused of intimidating witnesses 2023 Brown & Root. She told them Davis threw Lewis against a wall. Were always looking for talented individuals with a passion for creating new ideas and delivering quality service. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. Today, BCP has seven portfolio companies in the energy services sector, according to The Business Report. In 1932, Bernhard was awarded the Louisiana Capitol building. (aka JimBobBillyRay) Left this world October 17, 2018 after a year long battle with cancer. The company at the time of the sale, he added, "was saddled by a portfolio of money-losing nuclear contracts.". In January 2005, Bernhard was elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committeewith Blanco's support. 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. The company employs about 100 people in Lafayette and 2,500 across the country. An examination of congressional records, suggests he has not spoken about the issue in Congress. Feb 23, 2021 - 5:10 pm 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. A spokesman for Denka said the company had received no correspondence from the congressman. 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. On a crisp autumn day in Washington last month, Mary Hampton and Robert Taylor entered Cedric Richmonds office hoping their federal representative would take the time to listen. In the last several years weve been investing in energy services companies, heavily on power and environmental and energy service, Jenkins told The Advertiser. In 2015, he founded Bernhard Capital Partners, a private equity firm that acquires. Seven of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in America sit in his district, according to EPA data. Today, Bernhards mission is to deliver innovative engineering, construction, and energy solutions that empower our clients and promote a sustainable future. In addition to declining to comment for this story, Richmonds office refused to share a complete staff list disclosing who works for him in Washington and Louisiana, as well as on his re-election campaign. Because of these principles, the company grew through hard times. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy And then he left, leaving Hampton and Taylor to hold a 20-minute meeting with an aide from his office. But Bernhard, a major supporter of the governor and political donor to the Democratic Party, turned down the seat without explanation. 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.". 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. As the region was experiencing an economic downturn, the company sought new opportunities for growth. Madison, Wisconsin USA. What should we know about LSU's handling of sexual misconduct cases? of abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. Since then, the company also isreviewing the water and sewer operations, too.