James Bruno, Vice President, Celebrates 21 Years with Beacon
On February 17, James Bruno marked his 21st anniversary with Beacon Consulting Group. Jim joined Beacon in 2005 and, after successfully leading a wide range of construction consulting assignments, was appointed Vice President in 2015.
Throughout his career at Beacon, Jim has managed and consulted on projects ranging in size from $5 million to more than $420 million in contract value. His experience spans complex infrastructure, institutional, commercial, and public sector assignments, many of which required strategic oversight, financial analysis, and hands-on project leadership.
To recognize this milestone, we recently spoke with Jim about his time at Beacon and asked him to share insights for young professionals entering the construction management and consulting field.
Q&A with Jim Bruno
Q: Looking back on your 21 years at Beacon, are there any favorite memories that stand out?
Jim: Getting together with the entire Beacon Team, most recently in Savannah, taking a bike tour to the local bars with the Team was fun.
Q: Are there particular projects you are most proud of or found especially interesting?
Jim: The ICA, “Institute of Contemporary Art” in Boston on the waterfront. The building cantilevers over the water and had many other unique architectural features that made it very interesting. The HVAC system was complex because the Museum had tight specifications for temperature and humidity (necessary for housing art from different time periods). This project was the start of the new look for the Seaport area of Boston. This was the biggest change in Metropolitan Boston in half a century (see ICA image below).
Q: What advice would you give to young professionals starting out in construction management or consulting, particularly those helping clients turn around distressed projects?
Jim: Talk to all the stakeholders, understand the dynamics and needs of the different parties. There will be problems, bring attention to them and force resolution.
Full Bio
Jim was appointed Vice President in 2015 and plays a leadership role in the operations of Beacon Consulting Group’s Massachusetts office. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and is a certified Project Management Professional.
Prior to joining Beacon, Jim served as a senior project manager on one of the largest infrastructure projects in U.S. history, Boston’s “Big Dig” tunnel project. In that role, he helped complete several major sections of this complex and high-profile undertaking.
Professional Experience
Jim is an experienced construction consultant whose expertise includes:
- Construction Project Management
- On-Site Project Supervision and Monitoring
- Surety Consulting
- Funds Control
- Claims Review
- Construction Estimating
- Pre-Construction Planning
- Cost-to-Complete Analyses
- Construction Defects Evaluation
- Expert Witness and Litigation Support
- Construction Loan Monitoring
During his 21 years with Beacon, Jim’s primary focus has been advising leading surety companies on complex bond default matters, including:
- Financial Assessments of Construction Projects
- Construction Project Relets
- Managing Construction Completion
- Construction Claims Analyses
As an engineer and certified Project Management Professional, Jim brings strong technical, analytical, and process-driven expertise to every assignment. He has provided expert testimony in construction-related mediations and litigation and has led numerous construction defect assessments for major insurance carriers.
In addition to serving as a senior consultant on some of Beacon’s largest and most complex assignments, Jim plays an important role in managing Beacon’s Massachusetts project team.
Professional Accreditations
- LEED Accredited Professional
- Project Management Professional
- Licensed Construction Supervisor, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official
Project Experience
Jim has managed and consulted on a broad range of commercial, residential, public, and institutional projects, including:
- Bridges
- Dams
- Museums
- Schools and Universities
- Rapid Transit Facilities
- Roadways and Tunnels
- Healthcare Facilities
- Government Buildings
- Parks and Recreation Facilities
- High-End Residential Projects
- Public Housing Developments
- Historic Preservation and Renovation
- Public Infrastructure, including water and utilities
- Mixed-Portfolio Developments
- Interests and Community
Jim grew up playing competitive sports and, in recent years, enjoyed participating on Beacon’s after-work softball team, “The Beacon Bears.” His love of sports has influenced his role as a father and coach. Jim and his wife, Susan, raised three sons who played football, hockey, track and field, and other team sports over the years.
