On January 21-23, team members from Beacon attended the annual ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (FSLC) Midwinter Conference, held this year at the JW Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Attending on behalf of Beacon were President Dennis O’Neill, John Yeung, Kieran O’Connor, Elizabeth Paquet, and Myat Cyn. This year’s conference focused on “Mega Projects,” defined as construction projects exceeding $1 billion in value. As projects of this scale increase in size and complexity, surety bonds play a critically important role in managing and mitigating risk...
Beacon Consulting Group’s Annual Corporate Meeting and Holiday Party was held December 11–13, 2025, in Savannah, GA, at the Andaz Hotel. Please scroll down to view photos from this year’s gathering. Our annual meeting provides a valuable opportunity for Beacon team members to come together from around the country. In addition to reviewing highlights of our operations and lessons learned over the past year, we exchanged new ideas, developed plans to further enhance our service offerings in the year ahead, and enjoyed several fun team-building activities...
This year a number of Beacon team members have kids who are starting their freshman year in college. We just wanted to give a quick shout out and congratulations to all of these young men (and their proud parents). It's always exciting to see the next generation embark on their college careers. Below is a list of the Beacon team members, their freshman students, and what schools they are attending. Best of luck guys!
Rory (son of Beacon President Dennis O'Neill), Ben (son of Beacon Vice President James Bruno), Alex (son of Beacon's Staff Member Cheryl Cooke), Cristopher (son of Beacon Vice President John Yeung), Cameron (son of Beacon Staff Member Elizabeth Paquet). Click below for the full article and to see which schools the guys will be attending...
Beacon’s President, Dennis O’Neill, had the honor of serving as one of three co-chairs of this year’s Pearlman Conference, held in Woodinville, Washington in September. This was the 31st Pearlman Conference, and once again, Beacon Consulting Group participated as a Sustaining Member of the Pearlman Association. In addition, Beacon Project Manager Myat Cyn was a featured panelist during the event. We caught up with Dennis and Myat to learn more about the Pearlman Association and what makes this event so unique and valuable for professionals working in the surety industry. Click below for the article and event photos...
Over the years, my daughter Jackie and I have shared many fun running memories, from local 5Ks to community charity runs. It feels like just yesterday she was a little kid lacing up her running shoes for her first fun run beside me. Time has flown by. Jackie is now 23 and works as a nurse in Boston. While juggling a busy life and a challenging career, she has also managed to take her love of running to an entirely new level...
By Michael Yeung, Surety & Construction Project Consultant
For more than two decades, Beacon Consulting Group, Inc. has been a trusted partner for banks and financial institutions in managing construction loan risk. Our Construction Loan Monitoring services provide lenders with peace of mind, helping ensure that loan proceeds are disbursed appropriately, projects remain on schedule, and potential issues are identified early. Because our team is highly experienced in contract and document review, on-site verification, project communications, and ongoing monitoring, Beacon helps safeguard our clients' investments from project groundbreaking through completion...
By John Richmond, Sr. Consultant, and Marcus Lehner, Project Manager, Beacon Consulting Group, Inc.
Renovation and demolition projects are complex by nature — with layers of risk, shifting timelines, and evolving site conditions. But few surprises halt momentum quite like the unexpected discovery of asbestos. When this hazardous material shows up mid-project, everything from schedules to budgets — and most importantly, safety — is suddenly at stake...
Beacon Consulting Group is often hired by leading insurance companies, building owners, developers, and law firms to investigate the root cause(s) of water intrusion and the resulting damage in buildings, private homes, and other types of structures. After years of assessing issues related to roofs, siding, windows, and other components of a building’s "envelope," Beacon has identified 10 common issues that frequently lead to water intrusion. This article highlights these issues, explains how Beacon approaches construction defect investigations, and discusses the common reasons for water infiltration problems...
Construction projects can become "distressed" for a wide range of issues. Regardless of the root cause, the stakes are high for all parties involved. Surety companies, in particular, must often step in to ensure the project is completed as required under the terms of a surety bond. Successfully turning around a distressed construction project requires expertise, clear communication, and a structured approach. In this article, Beacon's John Yeung shares ten key tips for assessing and managing the turnaround of a troubled construction project...
By John Yeung, Beacon Vice President, Beacon Consulting Group, Inc.
Beacon Consulting Group has long provided Construction Loan monitoring and related services to leading financial institutions in the U.S. Over the past 15 years, Beacon has developed extensive expertise in this area and has built an experienced team and valuable processes which help our lending institution clients to make well-informed decisions and reduce their risks when it comes to offering and managing construction project loans...
