Barge Appoints Laine Hiera as the Firm’s First Chief Digital Solutions Officer

Barge has named Laine Hiera as its first chief digital solutions officer (CDSO). Hiera brings more than two decades of technology leadership experience to Barge and will lead the firm's digital strategy and transformation initiatives.

Hiera joins Barge from Bridgestone, where she most recently served as global vice president of data and analytics. In that role, she led global teams of more than 200 professionals, drove significant digital transformation across multiple businesses and regions, and delivered initiatives that generated substantial returns on investment. Additional accomplishments include building enterprise data engineering practices from the ground up and creating data literacy programs that empower team members across the business.  

"We are excited to welcome Laine to our leadership team," said Carrie Stokes, CEO and president of Barge. "Her proven track record in digital transformation and data strategy makes her the ideal leader to help us meet the evolving needs of our industry, advance technology-enabled business operations, and continue delivering innovative, high-value solutions for our clients."

Prior to Bridgestone, Laine served as a business and technology consultant for InfoWorks, Inc., where she was responsible for business consulting, technology delivery, and leading programs delivering process improvement and data insights. She also served as an information technology manager at the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, leading cross-functional business and technology initiatives across the city’s departments and agencies.

"I am honored to join Barge at such a pivotal time," said Hiera. "The AEC industry is at an inflection point where digital innovation is transforming how we plan, design, and deliver projects. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Barge to create solutions that reinforce our ability to serve as a trusted partner and deliver consistent value to our clients and strengthen resilient operations for the firm’s continued success."

Hiera is a recognized industry leader in data and analytics, named to CDO Magazine's Global Data Power Women list in 2023. A Nashville native, she is actively involved in the technology community, serving on the programming committee of the Nashville Technology Council (NTC) and as a founding member of NTC’s CDO Data Peer Group. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business economics and finance from Georgetown College.