Mr. Connors has over 10 years of consulting experience in the construction and engineering industry, specializing in the analysis of construction claims and disputes that arise due to schedule delays, cost overruns, and labor productivity issues. He has developed project schedules, performed detailed CPM schedule analyses and has also prepared and analyzed as-built schedules to determine entitlement and allocate project delays. In addition, he has experience calculating delay damages through the quantification of direct costs, extended performance and loss of labor productivity.
Mr. Connors has prepared and evaluated claims for owners, contractors, subcontractors, and designers. He has presented his findings during negotiations and has participated in various alternative dispute resolution forums ranging from mediations, DRB hearings, arbitrations, and mini-trials.
Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Connors provided construction consulting and litigation services as a Managing Consultant at Riedinger Consulting in Sausalito, CA, and at Navigant Consulting as a Senior Consultant in its New York City office. Mr. Connors began his career as an environmental engineer at Pennoni Associates in Philadelphia, PA.
Industrial Power Plant—Developed a Request for an Equitable Adjustment including a Time Extension and Labor Inefficiency Claim for an electrical contractor of a multi-prime project for a 250-megawatt combined cycle facility in California.
Steel Mill—Analyzed and defended against multiple contractor claims related to the construction of a $465 million hot rolled steel mini-mill on behalf of the owner, a multinational joint venture steel company.
Power Plant—Developed an as-built schedule analysis for the EPC Contractor of a coal-fired 440-MW circulating fluidized bed power plant.
Oil Processing Facilities—Interacted extensively with the EPC Contractor to develop a strategic presentation to negotiate a fee entitlement dispute associated with the Prime Service Agreement and the Continuing Services Engineering Agreements. The scope of the EPC Contractor was to provide project engineering and procurement services for an onshore processing facility and a wellsite as well as construction management services for the onshore facilities.
Paper Mill—Prepared a cost analysis for a general contractor working on a recovery boiler upgrade at a paper mill located in Canada.
Co-generation Plant—Evaluated a property damage claim and business interruption claim related to a silo collapse at a co-generation plant located in Pennsylvania.
Infrastructure Rail—Prepared labor inefficiency claims for two second-tier design firms working on the development of new rail track and stations providing a direct transit link from a major city to an airport in California. Assessed design firms’ cost overruns due to extended performance, delays, labor inefficiencies and rework and subsequently allocated owner responsibility for costs due to scope changes, coordination issues and late submittal reviews.
Airport—Provided an entitlement assessment and schedule analysis on behalf of an architecture firm on an airport facilities project. Demonstrated architecture firm’s entitlement to additional costs for extended construction support services due to construction delays. The architect was responsible for the design of an airport concourse, two parking garages, and the rental car and quick turnaround facilities.
Maritime—Conducted a performance audit of a $600 million capital improvement program that consisted of two marine terminals, new roads, a Joint Intermodal Terminal and a park. The goal of the audit was to assess the performance of the program in terms of schedule, budget, and overall administration. Reviewed and submitted an audit report for individual projects as well as for the overall program management which included an evaluation of program-wide topics such as staffing, organization, change order process, OCIP, program budget and costs, program coordination and reporting, training and development, and construction administration procedures.
Bridge—Developed a schedule analysis and damages claim for an abatement and painting subcontractor for a seismic retrofit of a span consisting of two suspension bridges.
Pipeline—Created an as-built schedule of the construction of a reclaimed water system expansion program on behalf of the owner in response to a business interruption claim submitted by a local merchant in Southern California.
Commercial / Hotels / Institutional Casino Hotel—Assisted the owner in the preparation of a business interruption claim by evaluating the economic losses as a result of delays to construction and the opening date related to Hurricane Georges. The project was located in Biloxi, MS.
Institutional—Provided project management services and evaluated construction claims for an owner. The project was a seismic retrofit (base isolation) and historic renovation of an un-reinforced masonry building located less than 800 feet from the Hayward Fault. Conducted reviews of time extension requests and wrote monthly schedule update reviews. Subsequently analyzed the general contractor’s and its subcontractors’ claims for additional time and costs on behalf of the owner. Performed a detailed CPM schedule analysis to identify and allocate any impacts and associated delays.
Commercial—Evaluated construction damages and a business interruption claim as a result of environmental conditions discovered during construction, on behalf of an insurance company. The project scope consisted of a redevelopment of a former Brownfields site into a mixed-use development including retail space, a cinema, restaurants, and townhomes. The site was also a former location of the largest Native American shellmound in Northern California.
Commercial—Prepared a termination for default claim due to lack of performance on behalf of the developer / construction manager for an arbitration. The project consisted of construction of a 152-unit condominium complex that included 10 main residential buildings, 30 garages, a fitness center, and a clubhouse. The claim included a damages analysis and a schedule and manpower analysis including a detailed review of the inspection process.
Commercial—Assisted an insurance company in quantifying its potential liability for project delay and associated costs resulting from the termination of an Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP). The project scope consisted of construction of 116 town home units with underground parking, a six-story office building, and a four-level parking garage.
Commercial—Provided a cost and labor analysis on behalf of the owner for a re-construction of the building shell and tenant improvements of a restaurant, a coffee shop, and three apartments.
Institutional—Prepared a mini-trial presentation as part of a Revised Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA) on behalf of the general contractor of a ten-story federal office building with judge’s chambers, detention cells, and underground parking.
Institutional—Evaluated a damages claim submitted by an abatement contractor working on a seismic retrofit of a historical county building.