As I write this message, I am taking a week off to visit Ireland. My wife Laura and I are visiting with my extended family here, which is always a pleasure. Ireland is such a unique and fun country. If you have never visited, I highly recommend it. From its beautiful countryside, scenic coastline, quaint historic towns, dynamic cities, music, and culture, Ireland really has something for everyone. Most of all, Ireland's people are warm, friendly, and very funny.
One of the highlights of our trip was getting a tour of the historic Leinster House in Dublin, where the Irish government meets, including their Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Éireann (Senate). Irish Senator Mark Daly was a fantastic tour guide (see full article for photos). Mark is currently head of Ireland’s Senate (and is a close friend of my cousin Tomas).
Thanks in part to its well-educated, tech-savvy workforce, Ireland has also become one of the leading business capitals of Europe. Major companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Apple, AirBNB, and PayPal all selected Ireland as the location for their European headquarters. Of course, let's not forget Beacon Consulting Group. We have had a presence here through our strategic partners for more than one year now...
Beacon was retained by a leading surety company to provide construction consulting services related to a high-profile project in New York City. TSX Broadway is a 46-story mixed-use hotel tower being built at 1568 Broadway in Times Square (see rendering). Located in the heart of Times Square, the project included the installation of massive computerized LED Screens / Electronic Billboards which wrap around the lower section of the building, as well as up its side and near the top of the structure. The LED signage system is reportedly the largest and most technologically advanced in all of Times Square, a neighborhood which is world famous for its many gigantic high-tech billboards and signs.
Beacon's staff is always on the go. Whether flying to project sites around the country or traveling to participate in events related to surety claims and construction consulting, you can always find a Beacon staff member getting ready to catch a plane. Below are some photos from recent events and activities around the country, including photos from industry meetings, fundraising events, and other fun get togethers. Click below to learn more and view photos...
Once again, the summer has flown by in the blink of an eye! Last week my wife and I dropped off our 2nd oldest daughter at Syracuse University (SU) for her first year at college. While dropping off a teenager at college can be bittersweet, for me it's always fun and exciting to see the buzz of activity as young people move into their dorms and head into the next phase of their lives. The enthusiasm and excitement of the students stepping out on their own for the first time is energizing. Plus, it's eye-opening to see the incredible, modern facilities that many college campuses have today...
Beacon Consulting Group was retained by a leading surety to provide construction consulting services related to a new, $46-million visitor center being built in Niagara Falls State Park (see photo gallery at bottom of this article). The 28,000 square-foot, multi-floor visitor center is being built directly adjacent to the famously majestic falls, one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York State. Beacon was retained by the surety to monitor progress of the project and assist the general contractor with certain tasks to help expedite the project. More than 9 million people visit Niagara Falls State Park every year. Established in 1885, it is the oldest state park in the U.S. Although Niagara Falls are not the tallest or largest waterfall in the world, they are the most massive set of falls in the U.S. in terms of volume water and overall size...
Earlier this month, this year's ABA Fidelity & Surety Law (FSLC) "Midwinter Meeting" was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nashville, TN. Because of Covid-19, the FSLC's midwinter meeting was postponed until August this year. Beacon's team was very active at this year's meeting. Dennis O'Neill was a featured speaker on a panel discussion entitled "Investigation / Completion Options: Completion Agreement—Technical, Engineering, Legal." The panel focused on the many challenges associated with investigating and finishing up troubled construction projects where the surety company (and its construction consultants) must step in to ensure a project's completion...
I hope your summer is off to a good start. It's hard to believe we are already halfway through 2022 (our 20th year in business). June was a busy, highly productive month for Beacon. Our team members (including myself) spent many days and weeks traveling to construction project sites around the country to help our clients track and manage a wide range of projects. Click below for full message...
It's hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is here already. It's a great time of year, with graduation parties, barbecues, baseball games, and all kinds of outdoor sports and activities. After a long winter in the Northeast, the hot weather seems to come up all at once. The temperature in Boston hit 88F this past weekend and in New York City it topped 90F on Saturday! Wherever you will be this coming holiday weekend, I hope you have great weather and a great time. Click below for full message...
Having worked on assignments across the U.S. for Beacon over the past 11 years, in 2020 Kieran O’Connor welcomed the opportunity to take the lead role in Beacon's new Florida office, where he now serves as Vice President, Southeast U.S. In addition to serving as the lead consultant on many projects, Kieran has extensive experience managing teams of project managers, superintendents, project engineers, and other consultants to complete projects in an efficient, professional, and cost-effective manner. Kieran has also served as an expert witness related to construction claims litigation and has participated on expert panels at industry conferences. Click below for full article...
Happy Spring! I hope you are enjoying the longer days, better weather, and more normal times! March is not only the season of "March Madness," it is also a busy time in the construction industry as exterior site work starts or resumes in colder parts of the U.S. where snow cover and frozen ground slowed or halted outside progress during colder months. Beacon's team members are currently out in the field at many sites, providing construction management, monitoring and other consulting services for a wide range of projects across the U.S. In this month's E-news, we highlight one rooftop emergency generator project which our team is helping a leading Surety to complete in New York City. This month has also meant the resumption of some in-person industry events...
