RELENTLESS PERSISTENCE
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EXHAUSTIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL
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PROACTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
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COMMITMENT TO FULL RESOLUTION
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NO-STONE-UNTURNED EXECUTION MINDSET
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RELENTLESS PERSISTENCE | EXHAUSTIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL | PROACTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING | COMMITMENT TO FULL RESOLUTION | NO-STONE-UNTURNED EXECUTION MINDSET |
bird-dog (verb / noun)
bird-dog (verb):
To pursue a goal, lead, opportunity, or problem with relentless focus and disciplined persistence—tracking every detail and angle until nothing remains unexamined and the objective is fully achieved and resolved.
bird-dog (noun):
One who operates with exceptional tenacity and follow-through; someone who actively hunts down answers, uncovers hidden details, and refuses to let loose ends remain unresolved.
Usage:
Describes an individual or approach defined by obsessive diligence, investigative rigor, and an unwavering commitment to results. A bird-dog does not overlook details or abandon pursuit prematurely, they systematically eliminate uncertainty through sustained effort and comprehensive attention.
Meet Our Core Team
Kenny Young
Principal
Kenny Young is the Founder and Principal of Bird Dog Construction Consulting, bringing more than 15 years of experience helping owners, contractors, sureties, and project stakeholders navigate complex construction challenges. Throughout his career, he has advised on over $3.5 billion in construction projects across the United States, developing a reputation for resolving difficult issues, mitigating risk, and delivering practical solutions that keep projects moving forward.
True to the Bird Dog name, Kenny has a natural ability to relentlessly “bird dog” issues — identifying problems early and driving them to resolution with focus and determination. He is equally known for building strong, positive working relationships that help stakeholders collaborate effectively, even in high-pressure and adversarial situations. This combination of tenacity and relationship-driven leadership consistently leads to better outcomes for all parties involved.
Kenny's expertise spans surety claim investigations, cost-to-complete estimating, project monitoring, distressed project advisory, construction claims, change order resolution, and project risk management. While specializing in vertical construction and complex MEP systems, he has successfully supported projects across transportation, utility infrastructure, healthcare, education, commercial, residential, and specialty asset classes.
Prior to founding Bird Dog, Kenny served as Senior Vice President and Southeast Regional Manager at J.S. Held and previously held consulting and project management roles supporting contractors and sureties nationwide. His blend of hands-on construction management experience, sharp analytical expertise, and collaborative approach enables him to quickly cut through complexity and guide clients toward successful, cost-effective resolutions.
Nicholas Smith
Consultant
Nicholas F. Smith is a Construction Consultant with Bird Dog Construction Consulting, providing project advisory, claim support, estimating, and construction management services for owners, contractors, sureties, and project stakeholders. With a background in civil engineering and hands-on experience across diverse asset classes, Nick helps clients navigate complex construction challenges while protecting project objectives.
His expertise includes surety claim investigations, cost-to-complete estimating, project monitoring, change order management, construction claims, project condition assessments, and project closeout support. Nick combines technical knowledge with practical field experience to identify risks, evaluate project performance, and develop solutions that drive successful outcomes.
Nick has contributed to high-profile projects including the $70 million Solaire mixed-use residential tower in Bethesda, the Capital One Arena Transformation in Washington, D.C., and major transportation infrastructure improvements for WMATA. His experience spans financial and contractual oversight, MEP coordination, project controls, stakeholder reporting, and preconstruction estimating.
Nick earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and brings a collaborative, analytical approach to every engagement.
Robbie Bivens
Senior Consultant
Robbie Bivens is a senior construction executive with more than 25 years of experience leading complex federal, military, commercial, and institutional construction programs nationwide. As a Senior Consultant with Bird Dog Construction Consulting, he advises owners, contractors, sureties, and project stakeholders on high-risk construction matters, distressed projects, federal contracting, and strategic project oversight.
Throughout his career, Robbie has directed hundreds of millions of dollars in construction projects and developed a reputation for solving complex challenges, mitigating risk, and delivering successful outcomes. His expertise spans project execution, contract administration, quality control, safety management, operational leadership, and project recovery.
Prior to joining Bird Dog, Robbie served as Vice President of Federal Operations for LeeBCor Services, overseeing major federal construction programs for agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC, and the U.S. Air Force. His leadership experience also includes project management, contracts management, quality control, and field operations.
Robbie holds advanced degrees from Virginia Tech and James Madison University, numerous industry certifications, and a Top Secret (TS) Clearance. His combination of executive leadership, federal contracting expertise, and hands-on construction experience enables him to quickly identify project risks, develop practical solutions, and guide stakeholders toward successful resolutions.
Adam Wertin
Adam Wertin is a highly regarded scheduling consultant and strategic partner to Bird Dog Construction Consulting. He brings more than a decade of specialized expertise in project controls, CPM scheduling, delay analysis, and construction risk advisory to our team.
With experience supporting contractors on projects exceeding $10 billion in total construction value, Adam helps clients gain clear visibility into project performance, identify emerging risks early, and make informed, data-driven decisions throughout the construction lifecycle. His partnership with Bird Dog strengthens our ability to deliver deep scheduling and project controls expertise on complex matters.
Adam’s core expertise includes CPM schedule development and maintenance, project monitoring and reporting, forensic delay analysis, change order evaluation, earned value management, and robust project controls implementation. He has provided critical schedule oversight and performance analysis on major Department of Defense programs, LNG facilities, power generation projects, transportation infrastructure, and large commercial and multifamily developments.
His background combines practical construction management experience with advanced project controls knowledge, enabling him to translate complex scheduling data into clear, actionable insights for owners, contractors, sureties, and other stakeholders.
Adam holds an MBA from William & Mary and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Scheduling Consultant
