Bob Higgins and Carrie Stokes
Barge Design Solutions, an engineering and architecture firm, today announced that Carrie Stokes, chief of staff, has been appointed chief executive officer. Bob Higgins will be stepping down as CEO effective Feb. 28, 2025. Mr. Higgins will stay on as chairman of the board and remain focused on key client engagements and the firm's innovation strategy.
Officials said, "Mr. Higgins joined Barge as an intern in 1996 and was appointed president and CEO in 2009. Under his leadership, the firm achieved growth in Georgia and Florida, successfully expanding into competitive markets that had been strategic priorities for years.
Barge also transformed its operations, building a culture of collaboration across teams, and more than tripled its revenue, a remarkable milestone for an employee-owned company. Additionally, Mr. Higgins spearheaded a strategic collaboration with Vanderbilt University, leading to the creation of 'Generative AI for Leaders,' the first course on the Coursera platform that speaks to an executive audience about Generative AI."
"It has been an honor and privilege of a lifetime to have spent my professional career at Barge. For nearly 30 years, I've witnessed firsthand the unparalleled impact that Barge has had on communities across the country," said Mr. Higgins. "It is with great pride that I now have the opportunity to welcome Carrie Stokes as Barge's CEO, and I'm confident in her abilities and determination to uphold Barge's values and usher us all into its next chapter."
Ms. Stokes began her career at Barge as an intern and steadily rose through the ranks, holding several leadership positions over the last 28 years. "As the firm's inaugural chief of staff, she spearheaded the creation and execution of strategic initiatives to address national infrastructure opportunities while cultivating the workforce and culture to support this vision," officials said.
A member of the board of directors since 2015, Ms. Stokes has been recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal.
"It's been a privilege to work with Bob for nearly three decades. His contributions to Barge have been transformative and are unmatched in impact. I look forward to continuing to build upon the exceptional foundation he has helped establish," said Ms. Stokes. "Barge is poised for continued growth and success, and I'm honored to lead the company into its next phase ensuring our contributions are meaningful and lasting for the people and places we serve."
Officials said, "With extensive experience across all areas of the organization, including leading the firm's largest division, Ms. Stokes played a pivotal role in developing Barge's five-year strategic growth plan and is committed to its purposeful execution. As she steps into the CEO role, her primary focus will be on preparing the staff and the firm for sustained growth by strengthening enterprise systems and expanding leadership development opportunities, while also nurturing innovation and enhancing the employee-owned culture."
Ms. Stokes will commence her role as CEO on March 1, 2025.