(METAIRIE, La) – The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), in partnership with Greater New Orleans Inc. and the Jefferson Parish Council & Administration, is pleased to welcome the corporate headquarters of one of the largest privately-owned engineering, mechanical and electrical contractors in America. Bernhard announced that it will combine its Greater New Orleans offices and establish its national corporate headquarters in Jefferson Parish, effective in 2020. The firm will be based in The Galleria, which is owned and managed by The Feil Organization, located at One Galleria Blvd. in Metairie. Bernhard will employ approximately 250 local team members at its headquarters with expectations for continued job creation and growth.

“Jefferson Parish is proud to welcome Bernhard’s corporate headquarters and investment,” said JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna.  “Bernhard is an innovator in its industry, renowned throughout the US for its focus on sustainability. This decision will bring prestige and global interest to our community and is further affirmation that Jefferson Parish, with its connectivity and business-friendly environment, is a premier destination for national and international headquarters.”

Established in 1919, Bernhard is composed of four companies with distinct service offerings, including Bernhard Energy, Bernhard MCC, E.P. Breaux and Bernhard TME. These companies intersect to form an innovative engineering, construction and energy solutions firm focused on providing sustainable futures to its clients and traditional markets through an “Energy-as-a-Service” platform. Collectively, Bernhard employs more than 2,000 team members in 25 locations throughout the U.S., with more than 1,000 employees based in Louisiana.

“This is an exciting growth period for Bernhard,” said Bernhard Chief Executive Officer Ed Tinsley. “For more than 100 years, Bernhard has called Louisiana home. This move will help us continue building the next 100 years of Bernhard in Louisiana as we advance our historical lines of business and simultaneously invest in the future of energy technology, efficiency and related services.”

“New Orleans meets the criteria we sought for our new headquarters, both in access and convenience for our team,” said Bernhard MCC President Philip Catanzaro. “This move will consolidate our growing New Orleans area workforce in one location to allow for greater collaboration and innovation and serve as an essential asset for our continued recruiting efforts and ever-expanding team.”

“We are delighted that Bernhard selected our Galleria building for their national corporate headquarters and look forward to having them as a tenant long term,” said The Feil Organization Regional Director of Asset Management Colette Wharton.

Greater New Orleans Inc. estimates the approximate 250 direct jobs in Bernhard’s new Metairie headquarters will help drive another 328 indirect and induced jobs in the energy and technology sectors, totaling more than $42 million in annual salaries and contributing nearly $60 million annually to the Greater New Orleans economy.

“Bernhard’s decision to locate its national headquarters in Metairie is exciting and continues the tremendous growth we have seen in recent years in our energy, technology and service sectors,” said President and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. Michael Hecht. “This is a partnership that will support hundreds of jobs and generate economic impact for years to come. We are excited to support Bernhard’s global growth from Greater New Orleans.”