by Paulick Report Staff | 11.08.2022 . You have permission to edit this article. With an initial vision of helping his family and community, he ultimately started a legacy that would prosper into a new century. Bernhard's ties to Robideaux have raised questions about the motive behind entertaining an offer to enter into a long-term at least 20-30 years contract to manage LUS, which is considered the golden goose of city operations. 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. 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. 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. Since 2015,Bernhard and his new private equity firm, Bernhard Capital Partners, have been gathering investors and acquiring energy-related companies across the country. Bernhard is mentioned by name in seven separate instances in police reports about former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis abuse of LSU tennis player Jade Lewis, who has recently spoken out publicly for the first time. In January 2005, Bernhard was elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committeewith Blanco's support. Deficiencies the Shaw executive listed ranged from the company being unable to separate improperly made parts to incorrectly storing construction materials, Reuters reported. 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. 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 congressman, who declined interview requests, also declined to provide evidence of correspondence related to the plant. That may not be until September or later. 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. Log In. Game Changers. 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. Jim Bernhard. The sale was finalized in February 2013. Blanco's husband, Raymond, in January 2005, stirred controversy when heflew to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on The Shaw Group's private jet. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these, may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. 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. Its simply not on their radar. said Anne Rolfes, executive director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a not-for-profit environmental justice organization. He had previously settled a civil lawsuit that alleged he sold invalid movie tax credits and used the proceeds for his personal gain. BERNARD will also be required to serve . Sitting on the LSU board would have prohibited him from doing business directly with the university. 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. It is through this work that we will achieve our vision and become the leading Energy-as-a-Service provider in North America. Richmond declined to comment on his campaign funding. of abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. His record stands in contrast to the growing call among Democrats in Washington to address environmental justice issues in Richmonds district. When LSU Police investigated allegations in 2018 that a football player was abusing the tennis player he was dating, multiple witnesses told o. The three are working together under the name Louisiana Energy Partners. He was among roughly two dozen Democrats to side with Republicans and vote for the Keystone XL pipeline in 2015. American Family Insurance Championship. Our Views: LSU scandal is about more than legal or policy violations. Privacy Policy Disclaimer. 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. Around 1986 or 1987, he and two friends spent $50,000 to take over the assets of a bankrupt pipe fabricatorwhen Louisiana's oilfield was struggling to recover from a major downturn. Under Blanco's administration in 2004, Louisiana lured a Union Tank Car manufacturing facility away from Texas with a $30 million state subsidy. Bernhard was born in Baton Rouge, but his family moved to Lafayette when he was young. 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. In 2019, he voted to allow oil drillers to explore the Atlantic coast including by using seismic airgun blasting. 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. 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. "Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate thesewitnessesmay have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. "We're not in the utility business," Bernhard said. He was permanently disbarred as a lawyer. Bernhard, at a Lafayette Rotary Club presentation Aug. 23, said of the two cities being eyed for Next Gen's headquarters, he prefers Lafayette, where he has personal ties. 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. 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. 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. "It appears bad, but it's not unethical.". "They invest money with us and we in turn invest it into companies, as well as businesses like LUS," he said. 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. 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. Shaw Group Inc. 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 . Seven of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in America sit in his district, according to EPA data. Bernhard was president, CEO and chairman of the board. Bernhard, who founded the company 25 years ago, is expected to leave Shaw when Chicago Bridge buys the company.Sep 20, 2012. Bernhards influence in Louisiana is undeniable. All Rights Reserved. Ms. Jim was born on November 12, 1944 in Humboldt, SK and was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Theresa (nee Cales). BERNHARD was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000. He graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge and was honored as one of the school's Grizzly Greats. 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.. Chester installs, maintains and repairs underground high voltage electric transmission lines and distribution systems. 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. (aka JimBobBillyRay) Left this world October 17, 2018 after a year long battle with cancer. Hybrid remote in NYC, free family medical benefits, great pay and company 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. Ms. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. The company securedno-bid contractsfrom the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA worth more than $200 million to repair the breached levees that flooded much of New Orleans, pump water out of the city and to help with emergency housing and cleanup. RELATED: Bernhard says LUS management proposal two weeks away. 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. The two entities vying for a lucrative, long-term contract to power LSUs energy systems both lack a contractor's license, the Louisiana State. But they only got two minutes. Bernhard was appointed to the Board of Supervisors over the summer by Gov. In the early 1980s, New Orleans saw a spike in construction activity centered around the Worlds Fair. Police documents refer to Bernhard as a "legal guardian" and "dad" to Davis, although there is no official documentation of adoption. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of battery and one count of violation of a protective order. 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. 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. James. 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. Jim Bernhard, Founder and Partner at Bernhard Capital Partners, commented: "We are very pleased to congratulate Mark, Catherine, Bryan, Chris and Jason on their well-deserved promotions.Each of . At one point, she was punched hard enough to fracture a rib. An examination of congressional records, suggests he has not spoken about the issue in Congress. 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. 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. The LSU board did not disclose the price of the deal during the meeting, but LSU officials confirmed it afterward. The Bernhards live on a sprawling setup behind gates near the Country Club of Louisiana. 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? Jim Bernhard is a Founder and Partner of Bernhard Capital Partners. Over the next 25 years, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works, E.P. The firms grew and expanded as the needs of Louisiana grew and expanded. 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 . (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. Richmond declined to answer whether he supported the Senate bill. We are fighting for our lives. 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. 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. Hiswife and his wife's parents are from Lafayette and his father previously lived here. Enwave runs the energy systems for LSU Health Sciences in New Orleans. Reserve, a majority African American working-class neighbourhood, is the centre of a year-long Guardian series, Cancer Town, examining local residents fight for environmental justice in an area where the risk of cancer is 50 times the national average, according to the EPA. You have permission to edit this article. The agreement calls for the university to pay Enwave $27 million per year over the next three decades. 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. LSU board members billed the agreement as an important cost-savings measure for LSU going forward. The Shaw Group, Bernhard said, was an aggressive company and he wouldn't apologize for that. 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. 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. Baton Rouge, LA 70802, 5511 Virginia Way, Unit 310 But the police reports make clear that Bernhards wide-reaching influence cast a long shadow over their investigation. 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. The licensing board's executive director said last month the joint venture between Bernhard and Johnson Control also lacked a contractor's license "in accordance with its legal entity name.. Ingressos. It started with a failed quiz, Drake Davis avoids jail time again as judge terminates probation despite second abuse case. W.A. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. In LSU's Drake Davis case, witnesses said they feared wealthy businessman's retaliation. The driving force behind Shaw Group becoming a Fortune 500 company and the guy launching another upper deck financial grand slam with Bernar 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. See Photos. In 1945, Ernest P. Breaux, Bernhards electrical construction division, was founded in New Iberia, Louisiana. Kathleen Blanco's transition team, Bernhardbuilt a pipe fabrication business intoa $3 billioncompany awarded hundreds of millions in Defense Department contracts and no-bid contracts after Hurricane Katrina. In 1995, Ed Tinsley and Rusty Mullen formed Tinsley-Mullen Engineers (TME) in Little Rock, Arkansas. With heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of James ("Jim") Nicholas Bernhard on February 20, 2023 at the age of 78. Shawcashed in. INDEPENDENT Born into a Baton Rouge-area family with a mechanical contracting company now run by his brother, Bernhard, who is known as Jim, graduated with a degree in construction from. The firm, Bracewell LLP, began lobbying for Denka in March 2017. Notwithstanding what the police reports indicate these witnesses may have said, I did not discourage Jade Lewis from reporting nor threaten retaliation against anyone.. This innovative type of project delivery is what the industry now calls Design-Build. RELATED: What would Lafayette get for LUS? Jim Bernhard is best known for founding The Shaw Group, which he sold in 2012 after 25 years in operation. During their short interaction, according to Hampton, Taylor and one other present for the meeting, Richmond acknowledged community concerns over emissions from the plant, operated by the Japanese chemicals company Denka, and described them as a worry. But the references to Bernhard in the police reports about Davis do not concern the wide receivers upbringing. Bernhard said the company exited the nuclear field after the Fukushima, Japan, disaster in March 2011. Born to German immigrant parents in New Orleans, William Bernhard was a self-made man. Shortly after receiving the Guardians questions, Richmonds communications director, Jalina Porter, blocked both authors of this article on social media. LSU commissioned Husch Blackwell law firm to investigate past handlingof abuse and sexual assault cases at the University. Pin Oak Stud Sold To Bernhard Family. Gov. He sits atop Bernhard Capital Partners, which oversees a sprawling network of companies, including Epic Piping and Brown & Root Industrial Services, and the firm often seeks to land no-bid government contracts. 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. 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? Jim Bernhard, Chief Executive Officer of Bernhard Capital Partners, talks in his office in downtown Baton Rouge,Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Founded as a traditional MEP consulting engineering company, the firm quickly added energy service offerings focused on helping clients reduce costs and conserve energy. It was like he was trying to brush us off.. or. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. In 1965, Bernhard Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works added air conditioning to their service offerings and changed their name to Bernhard Mechanical. (redacted) was very adamant that his name stayed out of this report because he feared team ramifications and repercussions from Jim Bernhard.. 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. Based in Baton Rouge, La., Jim Bernhard is the founder and partner of Bernhard Capital Partners, which manages . Bernhard LLC includes Bernhard Mechanical, the company Jim Bernhard Jr.'s grandfather created nearly 100 years ago,and E.P. Our teams continue to design and create hospitals, classrooms, offices, hotels, and more. Although Bernhard lives in Baton Rouge, his parents and siblings call Lafayette home. 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. (2014), co-authored with her husband, Jim Bernhard; JAMESTOWN: THE NOVEL (2014), THE HOGGS OF TEXAS: LETTERS AND MEMOIRS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY, 1887-1906, (2013), A TALE OF TWO COLONIES: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA AND BERMUDA? A spokeswoman for the EPA said the agency had also received no correspondence from Richmonds office on the issue. Bernhard co-chaired Blanco's transition team and, according to a Jan. 24, 2005, Gambit story, "hired her campaign manager and political protg, attorney Jeff Jenkins" to work at Shaw. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Jim was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and then retired as a lineman for Verizon after 35 years of service. Between 2017 and 2018, his company Bernhard LLC donated $130,000 to PACs supporting Edwards. "It's no secret the governor and I have a relationship," Bernhard told the Advertiser at the time. Les Miles reached a secret settlement with an LSU student, sources say. Mr. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 5th, 1940 (Cinco de Mayo), he spent his days enjoying his life and friend LSU will now create a cooperative endeavor agreement including the university, the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation, Enwave and Louisiana Energy Partners over how to modernize aging campus energy systems that heat, cool and power the university. Richmond with Biden in Columbia, South Carolina, in June. 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. Segar showed them pictures of bruises around her neck. 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. 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. Working primarily with healthcare and higher education clients, TME became the most prominent MEP consulting firm in the State of Arkansas. 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. JAMES BERNHARD OBITUARY. Jenkins is now co-founderof Bernhard Capital Partners, the company interested in LUS. Brentwood, TN 37027, 2023 Bernhard Capital Partners. He has taken $128,750 from chemical manufacturers, placing him sixth in career donations among current House Democrats. Since then, the company also isreviewing the water and sewer operations, too. 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. Subscribe to the Bernhard Bulletin today! MCC mobilized and began to expand outside of the state to serve clients across the Gulf South. Earlier this year, Bernhard Capital Partners acquired electrical contractor W.A. For hi 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. A spokesman for Denka said the company had received no correspondence from the congressman. His grandfatherstarted Bernhard Mechanicalin Lafayette in 1919. 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. And Bernhard's companies have done plenty of work for LSU and other state offices in the past. Former LSU wide receiver Drake Davis, who had been accused previously of beating his girlfriend, faces additional charges after police found t. Bernhardt served as director of football research under head coach Bill O'Brien from 2014 through 2017. (Denka is appealing against the EPAs independently peer-reviewed classification of chloroprene as a likely carcinogen.) 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. Their solid relationships and dedication to their customers helped the firm grow quickly. As a result, Shaw a minority owner of Westinghouse won all of Westinghouse's contracts. 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. The cogeneration plant led to a major lawsuit between LSU and Bernhard Mechanical Contractors, Inc. But when the Worlds Fair ended, much of Louisiana went through difficult times.