Mr. Higgins is a leader in the AEC industry, having served for 16 years as President and CEO of Barge Design Solutions, an employee-owned, multidisciplinary civil engineering consulting firm founded in 1955 in Nashville, TN. He started his career at Barge as an intern and progressed through a variety of roles, including project engineer and project manager. During his time as CEO, from 2009 to 2026, he guided the firm through a period of change and steady growth.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Higgins served in the 5th Mobile Combat Communications Group during Desert Shield/Storm, overseeing mission-critical communication systems. He was later recognized with the Nashville Business Journal Veterans Award for his contributions to both the military and business communities.

Mr. Higgins serves on the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Nashville Chapter, and is involved with both the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Mr. Higgins has also been recognized as the TSPE Nashville Chapter Engineer of the Year and was named one of Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs several times.