Bernhard is excited to announce that Lewis (Lew) Derbes has joined the company as Bernhard’s new Chief Financial Officer. A CPA with more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting, Lew is a proven executive with expertise in financial management and administration.

Lew joins the Bernhard team after six years in the role of CFO at HRI Properties, a New Orleans-based real estate development firm with a portfolio of 25 mixed-use, and retail properties across 12 cities. During this time, he helped to expand the firm’s portfolio to eight new cities while improving internal controls and leading implementation of a new enterprise resource management software. Prior to this role, Lew served as CFO and Treasurer of Stewart Enterprises, the second largest publicly traded death care company in the United States, until its acquisition in late 2013. Lew’s experience in project financing and structuring will be valuable in shaping the development and financing of Bernhard’s Energy-as-a-Service projects.

Lew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and is a dedicated alumnus. He is an active member of the New Orleans community, holding leadership positions for multiple not-for-profit and social organizations. Lew is also a member of the New Orleans Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Lew will be based in Bernhard’s headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.