NEW ORLEANS, LA — Freese and Nichols, Inc., hires Lewis Bernard, PE, an experienced Mechanical Engineer, to lead stormwater pump station projects and help expand the flood protection solutions for clients along the Gulf Coast and Southeastern United States.

Bernard has led diverse design teams on multi-million-dollar projects involving stormwater, wastewater, and raw water pump stations over the past 14 years. His expertise covers a wide range of pump station mechanical system elements, and he has experience with permitting from federal, state, and local agencies.

Bernard, a Tulane University graduate, started his career working on projects to help the New Orleans region recover from Hurricane Katrina’s devastating flooding. He has handled projects for multiple public entities, including Louisiana parish governments, local agencies, and the Flood Protection Authority-East, which covers Orleans, East Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes.

“Hurricane Harvey and other recent storms along the Gulf Coast have shown the extent to which communities and facilities need stronger flood protections and tools to prevent stormwater damage,” said Alan Hutson, Freese and Nichols’ Group Manager for Transmission and Utilities in Southeast Texas. “Lewis brings a strong understanding of every aspect of stormwater pump stations and the experience to lead projects involving the kinds of big pumps and motors required to clear massive amounts of water during major storms.”

Bernard, who is based in the New Orleans office, is licensed as a Mechanical Professional Engineer in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.