Kris Hatchell Receives Inaugural Honey Badger Award

Barge Design Solutions has selected Knoxville-based Project Manager Kris Hatchell as its first recipient of the company’s newest internal recognition – the Honey Badger Spotlight Award.

The employee-nominated award recognizes employees who stay true to Barge values and exhibit characteristics associated with the tenacious honey badger. These characteristics include being fearless and not giving up when faced with adversity during a competitive proposal or challenging project. In addition, employees are resourceful, innovative when challenges arise, and persistent in their efforts to be the firm selected when it matters most.

Kris, the inaugural recipient, joined Barge in 2013 and quickly proved his commitment and fearless spirit in his professional life and the example he sets outside the office. Kris recently demonstrated a resourceful and persistent approach to pursuing and delivering a project opportunity with existing client Loudon Utilities (Tennessee). The project included a significant upgrade and capacity expansion to the municipality’s water treatment facility.

On January 23, CEO Bob Higgins presented Kris with the Honey Badger Spotlight Award at a recent companywide live stream.

Barge, an engineering and architecture firm with diverse in-house multidisciplinary practice areas, serves clients nationwide from various U.S. locations. Barge is ranked No. 171 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) 2022 Top 500 Design Firms list and No. 205 on Architectural Record’s 2022 Top 300 Architecture Firms list. The employee-owned company is 400+ people strong and has been certified for five consecutive years as a Great Place to Work®. Learn more at bargedesign.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for timely updates from across the company.