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Today, we extend our deepest gratitude to Bob Higgins as he concludes his tenure as CEO of Barge. Bob’s leadership has been transformative, shaping our company, our team, and the communities we serve. Thanks to his unwavering belief in Barge, his impact will resonate for years to come. Bob will remain chairman of our board of directors and will forever be part of #TeamBarge.
Exciting Progress at Loudon Utilities' Water Treatment Plant! The Tennessee facility is expanding its capacity from 14 million gallons per day to 32 million, ensuring a reliable water supply for the growing community. Barge is leading all aspects of this project, including process, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, and architectural design. The lead engineer, Luke Burris, PE, was onsite this week to oversee the installation of chemical transfer lines, the startup of high-service pumps, and the setup of our new sedimentation basin equipment. We’re proud to support this critical infrastructure upgrade and contribute to sustainable water solutions.
As part of our 70th-anniversary celebration, Barge is committed to giving back—aiming for 7,000 volunteer hours in 2025! The Birmingham team recently contributed to this goal by packing food at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. During their shift, our team and another volunteer group packed 12,600 pounds of donated food—enough to provide meals for 630 families for a week.
Barge was proud to support this year's American Heart Association Middle Tennessee Heart Gala, which brings together leaders and advocates to advance heart health and fund life-saving research.
Lauren Gaines, associate project manager, has been named to the Auburn Alumni Association Young Alumni Council. We are excited to have Lauren continue fostering the spirit of her alma mater with her valuable years of experience.
Ryman Hospitality Properties has announced a major expansion at its flagship Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, and Barge is proud to play a key role in shaping this iconic property’s next chapter! Our survey and civil engineering groups have provided crucial services on this project, which will bring Gaylord Opryland's total meeting and exhibit space to an impressive 756,000 sq. ft., making it the largest non-gaming hotel for meeting space in the U.S. We’re honored to collaborate with Ryman Hospitality Properties on this exciting development and look forward to seeing its impact on Music City.
Rachel Back, P.E., CFM, has been appointed to the ACEC Middle Tennessee Chapter Board of Directors, succeeding Bob Higgins as he prepares for his retirement as Barge CEO at the end of February. When asked about this new opportunity, Rachel shared: “ACEC plays a vital role in supporting the engineering community. I'm eager to deepen my understanding of the organization and continue advocating for our industry. Representing Barge at ACEC events in a more visible capacity is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to these important conversations.” Join us in wishing Rachel well in her service to ACEC!
Barge CEO Bob Higgins and CEO-Elect Carrie Stokes met with our Knoxville team this week as part of the Next Chapter Road Show! Carrie shared her vision for Barge’s future, outlined key priorities, and inspired employees across the office. These meaningful conversations reflect our commitment to our employee-owned culture and shared success. We’re excited to begin this new chapter with Carrie as our CEO on March 1!
Today's employees face mounting challenges to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, which can lead to burnout. But what if your workplace could be the solution instead of another source of stress? In the article below, Karen Cosentino SPHR, senior vice president and chief people officer, explains why employee wellness programs are no longer just a “nice-to-have” but a business necessity. She shares actionable insights on how strategic wellness programs can transform a workforce and a company’s outlook.
Celebrating 70 Years in 2024! Our founders set out to build a company in 1955 rooted in the strength of its people. Seven decades later, that vision remains the foundation of everything we do as we design impactful, national-scale infrastructure projects. We couldn't have made it here without our clients and, of course, #TeamBarge!
