Bernhard’s executive leadership team is comprised of expert professionals with diverse and extensive experience in the industry. These individuals provide strategic leadership and direction to the organization and leverage the talents of our workforce to empower our customers and promote a sustainable future.
Rob Guthrie
Chief Executive Officer
In June 2024, Rob transitioned into the role of Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Ed Tinsley, who had successfully led the company for the previous six years. Rob joined the firm in 2018 as Vice President of Development and was promoted to Chief Development Officer and incoming CEO in 2021. Rob has been instrumental in steering Bernhard towards its long-term vision, growing Bernhard’s EaaS portfolio, and leveraging more than 100 years of energy and infrastructure project experience. His leadership is expected to continue Bernhard’s legacy of innovation and sustainability.
With an impressive career spanning two decades in the industry, Rob is a proven leader in assisting clients to achieve long-term operational savings, realize decarbonization objectives, and bolster facility resiliency. He holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and an undergraduate degree from The University of the South (Sewanee). Rob’s academic background and professional sales experience equip him with a unique and valuable skill set in the energy services business.
Philip Catanzaro
Chief Operating Officer
Philip has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial construction industry, where he has held various positions. He began his career at Bernhard in 1997, and quickly rose to increasing positions of leadership, through and including his most recent role serving as the Company’s President of Delivery. As COO, he will oversee all day-to-day operations of Bernhard, including the program management of Energy-as-a-Service projects, implementation of strategic initiatives, and continued advancement of internal processes. Throughout his tenure, Philip has relentlessly focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and enhancing operational execution.
Lewis Derbes
Chief Financial Officer
Lewis (Lew) Derbes is a proven executive with expertise in financial management and administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting. Lew’s experience in project financing and structuring is integral to the shaping the development and financing strategies of Bernhard’s Energy-as-a-Service projects.
Melissa Samuel
Chief Legal Officer
Melissa has over 20 years of employment law and human resources experience. As Chief Legal Officer, Melissa’s primary mission will be to leverage the many leadership positions she has held for Bernhard to ensure that culture, compliance and communication are the company’s top priorities. She also provides strategic leadership to Human Resources.
Jeff Swann
Chief Development Officer
Jeff Swann is the Chief Development Officer at Bernhard, overseeing strategic growth with a focus on expanding the EaaS portfolio. Previously, as Executive Vice President of the Development Segment, he played a key role in securing EaaS partnerships and financing strategies. In 2023, Jeff helped close eight EaaS partnerships, totaling $415 million in infrastructure improvements. Jeff holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mississippi.
Alyssa Jaksich Hidalgo
Chief of Staff and EVP
Alyssa currently serves as Executive Vice President of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Chief of Staff, where she oversees the development, implementation, and reporting of Bernhard’s ESG strategies and initiatives. In her role as Chief of Staff, she acts as a critical and trusted advisor to the CEO, helping to lead and initiate new business processes and providing strategic and tactical support to implement ideas. This role also serves as the primary liaison between the CEO, leadership team, board of directors, and DIF Bernhard’s majority owner.
Previously, Alyssa served as VP of EaaS Implementation, where she led a team focused on increasing efficiencies within the development division, particularly related to EaaS projects. She was a key driver in the development of Bernhard’s industry-leading measurement and verification services and was heavily involved in the development of numerous EaaS projects.
Amir Hadzic
President – Delivery
Amir has more than 20 years of experience in energy project execution across global markets. Prior to re-joining Bernhard in 2023, Amir held a variety of progressively senior roles within the energy industry. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Project Delivery & Supply Chain, for a major energy infrastructure developer and operator in North America, where he was responsible for executive and tactical leadership of all supply chain functions including Strategy and Governance, Procurement, Category Management, Contractor Excellence and Inventory Management for all projects and operations within that company’s footprint.
He also led all Project Management, Project Services, Project Governance Assurance, Project Capabilities Development and Construction & Commissioning functions in support of projects executed by his previous employer. His role provided direct and advisory functions for project execution for five major business units to ensure the company’s strategy, contracting and business decisions were competitive and aligned with customers’ needs.
Michael Cooper
President – Sustainability
Michael is the President of Bernhard’s Sustainability division. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Michael is a proven leader with hands-on experience in construction, service, and maintenance. Michael is a registered Professional Engineer and LEED Accredited Professional. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Michael established, grew, and led Bernhard’s mechanical service department, now the Sustainability division. Sustainability encompasses mechanical service, operations and maintenance, and asset management. Michael provides executive leadership to the team as they support customers through the lifecycle of their facility, ensuring on-going efficiency and energy savings.
Dwayne Hammer
President – Mechanical
Dwayne is President of Bernhard’s Mechanical division which is responsible for mechanical contracting services for clients across the nation. Dwayne has over 38 years of experience in the construction industry. Dwayne has been with Bernhard for 17 years and has worked on a range of projects in hospitality, healthcare, education, and commercial sectors. He is a graduate of the New Orleans Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program and has completed specialized training in leadership, project management, scheduling, estimating, safety, and code compliance. Dwayne brings proven, hands-on experience to his role as President.
Dwayne is responsible for leading the mechanical division and directing the overall strategy to align with Bernhard’s business goals.
David Bell
President – Electrical
David Bell has more than 35 years of experience in the contracting industry. David joined Ernest P. Breaux (now Bernhard’s Electrical division) early in his career, serving as a Project Manager in the commercial division. Because of his technical expertise and exemplary leadership, David was later promoted to the role of President of the E.P. Breaux’s Commercial construction division, which he held for over 10 years. He has managed and led projects across various market sectors, ensuring quality work and customer satisfaction
As President of Bernhard’s Electrical division, David works closely with other executives to develop and carry out major plans and coordinates operations of all divisions to complement company goals. David’s 35 years of expertise, knowledge and leadership in the construction industry helps Bernhard provide solutions to projects and has earned him the respect of clients and colleagues.