Barge Design Solutions launches consulting arm Thrivence

Barge Design Solutions, a Nashville, TN-based engineering and architecture firm, has formally launched management consulting firm Thrivence LLC.

The wholly owned subsidiary will advise clients in the US Southeast on leadership development, strategy and performance, and technology solutions.

Barge – the No. 171 on Engineering News-Record’s 2021 Top 500 Design Firms list – has enlisted entrepreneur and professional negotiator John Lowry to lead the new firm, which will aim to fulfill increasing demand from Barge’s clients for business consulting services.

“John has been a trusted counselor of ours for years and is a huge asset to the community,” said Bob Higgins, CEO of Barge Design Solutions. “Many of our clients and friends asked us for advice on finding robust consulting services. That need inspired the creation of Thrivence, and John was a natural fit to lead this new endeavor.”

Lowry spent the last 15 years running his firm The Lowry Group, a boutique consulting firm providing negotiation coaching services in claims settlement, sales, client management, dispute resolution, and executive leadership. He also previously spent 13 years in senior level admin roles at Lipscomb University, latterly serving as SVP for advancement and leading the school’s largest-ever fundraising campaign. Lowry also launched Spark: Lipscomb’s Idea Center, the school’s cutting-edge corporate learning and innovation center.

Earlier in his career, Lowry was an associate at law firm Strasburger & Price, where he focused on healthcare provider professional liability and disputes.

He has a law degree from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree from Abilene Christian University, and a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University.

“We’ve seen firsthand how business leaders have been dealing with disruptions, whether they’re due to the workforce, supply chain, digital transformations or inflation,” Lowry said. “We want to help our clients get ahead of these disruptions, and we do so by helping them create value, by identifying customized innovative solutions for people – both employees and customers. We look forward to providing these solutions across the Southeast and beyond.”

Thrivence is already serving clients across various industries, including construction, real estate development, healthcare, the public sector, and private equity. In addition to Lowry, the firm has 15 consultants on board and plans to grow by 50% by the end of the year.

Thrivence has also integrated Barge Design Solutions’ information management group under its umbrella of offerings, giving the firm substantial technology consulting resources.

“Our goal is to bring innovation to our clients through a new model of management consulting services,” Lowry added. “Thrivence will help clients create processes and products, help with problem-solving, and ultimately improve our clients’ performance.”

Barge has more than 450 professionals and provides services in engineering, architecture, environmental consulting, geomatics, information management, and planning. The firm has 16 offices across the US Southeast and Midwest.