Catholic Charities of Fort Worth

John W. (Bill) Baird, Jr., PE, RPLS

Chairman Emeritus | Senior Civil Engineer

John (Bill) Baird has over 50 years of active management, design, estimating, and coordination experience, and is still actively designing and managing projects. He has provided project management and design for many civil engineering projects for various client types, with expertise spanning municipal, industrial, commercial, educational, religious, and institutional projects. His design experience includes extensive site development; streets, roadways, and thoroughfares; bridge and culvert projects; flood control; storm water detention; water distribution and sewage collection; and water and sewage treatment plants.

Bill lives in Burleson with his wife Terresa and enjoys traveling, gardening and, most especially, spending time with his grandchildren.

Project Experience

Catholic Charities of Fort Worth
Fort Worth Country Day Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center
Fort Worth Country Day Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center
Granbury Dental Center
Granbury Resort Conference Center
Early Learning Center
Saint Patrick Cathedral Parish Hall
Texas Wesleyan University Rosedale Renaissance

Les Brown, PE, LEED AP

Founder | Senior Mechanical Engineer

Growing up, Les Brown wanted to be an architect. He later “came to his senses” and went on to receive a mechanical engineering degree from Geneva College in 1979. Les has over 44 years of experience in mechanical systems design and project management. He actively provides design and management for a variety of commercial, institutional, and municipal facilities.

His design experience includes HVAC troubleshooting, equipment replacement, code compliance, energy conservation, thermodynamics, building automation control systems, plumbing systems design, heat transfer, and temperature controls. He is also highly qualified in mechanical systems design for specialized environmental controlled areas, including hospitals, labs, and computer/data processing facilities.

Les is an active member and former chapter president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. He is also a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association. Outside of work, Les enjoys hunting, fishing, and anything that involves outdoor sports. When they’re not spending time with their kids, Les and his wife, Gina, like to travel. His favorite place to visit is Alaska or anywhere up north that has mountains, trees, wildlife and cooler weather.

Project Experience

Arlington Animal Services Center
Catholic Charities of Fort Worth
Weatherford College Professional Services

Merlin Hampton, PE

Founder | Senior Electrical Engineer

As a youngster, Merlin Hampton was intrigued by electricity. His fascination with electricity helped shape his successful career as an electrical engineer. Merlin has over 45 years of experience in design and project management. He is qualified in all aspects of the electrical engineering profession.

His experience includes healthcare, historical renovation, educational, data processing, religious, industrial, institutional, exterior distribution, and emergency power systems. He was also responsible for the electrical engineering of NASA’s Space Station Control Center in Houston. Merlin is a past board member of the City of Fort Worth’s Electrical Board and the North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Codes Coordinating Committee.

When he’s not working or serving as a board member, Merlin loves reading, downhill skiing, and spending time with his family and wife, Margaret. Merlin also serves as a deacon at his church and volunteers with his wife at Christian Friends of Israel – America. As a former President of the Board, Merlin and his wife have traveled to Israel numerous times over the years to help aid and support Jewish terror victims and Holocaust survivors.

Project Experience

Keller ISD Timberview Middle School
Saint Patrick Cathedral Parish Hall

John Margotta, RPLS

Vice President of Land Surveying

John Margotta has been with BHB for over 20 years. Previously, John worked for a company that provided surveying services to BHB. Shortly after BHB added a surveying department, John joined the team and is now the head of the surveying department. He has provided field and office supervision on land surveying projects for public and privately funded projects, including the DFW Airport, City of Fort Worth, TXU Electric, Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., Trinity River Authority, Federal Aviation Administration, TxDOT, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Railtran, and Fort Worth Transportation Authority.

In high school, John held the rank of Master in the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (World Chess Federation). Outside of work, John loves cooking, football and karaoke. If he wasn’t a land surveyor, John would be a chef. “Cooking is very relaxing to me and I feel like I’m creating something good out of raw ingredients that may or may not taste good by themselves.” John’s favorite place to visit is New York City because he loves the different cultures, food, and architecture it has to offer.

John is an active member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. He also volunteers for Skills USA, teaching high school-aged kids, who compete in local, state and national competitions, about land surveying.

John has two kids, a son who who graduated from The University of North Texas with a degree in graphic design, and a daughter who works for Mothers Milk Bank of North Texas, a nonprofit that collects breastmilk from healthy, nursing mothers who have a surplus and is dispensed to premature and fragile infants without access to their mother’s own milk. He also has one granddaughter. John’s favorite quote is from Winston Churchill, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts,” because he believes that one is never finished in life and even if you fail, at least you tried.

Project Experience

Catholic Charities of Fort Worth
Fort Worth Country Day Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center
Fort Worth Country Day Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center
Imperial Construction Office and Shop
Early Learning Center
Meadowview Estates Channel Improvements
Monterra Medical Campus
Park Hill Surgery Center
Presbyterian Night Shelter Morris Foundation Women & Children's Center
Rogers Road Pavilion
Saint Patrick Cathedral Parish Hall
Star-Telegram Building
Tarrant County Downtown Courthouse
Texas Wesleyan University Rosedale Renaissance