CEO at Cotney Consulting Group

John Kenney is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Cotney Consulting Group, a leading advisory firm supporting growth, efficiency and operational excellence across the construction industry. With over 45 years of experience, John began his career as an apprentice in a family-run construction business in the Northeast. He steadily advanced through the ranks — from laborer to foreman, estimator, executive leadership and eventually COO of a significant commercial contracting firm.

John has led successful construction operations across diverse markets, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. His career spans managing large-scale commercial projects, overseeing field operations, refining estimating systems and building high-performance teams. His leadership roles have included responsibility for company-wide operations, project delivery, financial performance and client satisfaction.

A Florida-licensed contractor, John brings field experience and executive insight to his consulting work. He serves on multiple national and international technical committees and construction associations, including leadership roles in organizations dedicated to advancing education, innovation and workforce development in the built environment. He also sits on the Board of Directors for RT3 (Roofing Technology Think Tank) and is an active member of National Women in Roofing’s Membership Committee.

John is based in Florida with his wife of 39 years and enjoys construction history, classic muscle cars, reading and writing.

Latest Spanish Content

El estimado no termina cuando se entrega la propuesta

Por John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group, traducido por Alberto Torres Un estimado no está realmente terminado hasta que se hace la revisión final del proyecto y las lecciones aprendidas se aplican al siguiente trabajo. Uno de los errores más comunes en nuestra industria es pensar que el trabajo del estimador ...
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¡Gana tu pase para la Western Roofing Expo 2026!

Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Alberto Torres. Participa para tener la oportunidad de acceder a sesiones educativas de primer nivel, eventos para establecer contactos, almuerzos y una de las exposiciones comerciales más importantes de la industria. RoofersCoffeeShop® se ha unido a Western Colloid para enviar a cinco profesionales a la ...
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La guía del roofer para WRE 2026

Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Jessica Bravo. Descubre los eventos, seminarios y expositores que formarán parte del Western Roofing Expo 2026. Mantenerse al día en la industria del roofing puede ser todo un desafío. Ya sea enfrentando tormentas cada vez más intensas en el campo o lidiando con la ...
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Latest International Content

The hidden cost of a poor project handover

By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. One of the most expensive mistakes a roofing contractor can make often happens before the project even reaches site. It happens during the handover. A project may have been estimated carefully, priced competitively and secured on acceptable terms. Still, if the information gathered ...
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Why the most successful roofing contractors plan further ahead

By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. The strongest roofing contractors are the ones who see the problems coming and prepare accordingly. After more than 45 years in the roofing industry, I have learned that many project failures do not begin on site. They begin weeks earlier, when a decision ...
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Latest Podcasts

John Kenney - Contractor Compliance Updates

In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with John Kenney, from Cotney Consulting Group, to break down the legal, safety and compliance changes affecting contractors and outdoor construction projects. From labor laws and licensing requirements to insurance, liability, environmental rules and local zoning restrictions, they ...
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What Should a Roof Estimate Include?

In this AskARoofer™ Minisode, Megan Ellsworth sits down with John Kenney to answer a common question from home and building owners: how do you compare roof replacement estimates before signing a contract? John shares what homeowners should look for in a complete roofing proposal, why the lowest price may not ...
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John Kenney - Winning Construction Disputes Without the Courtroom

In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group to break down one of the most expensive and stressful realities contractors face: construction claims and disputes. From payment conflicts and scope creep to documentation breakdowns and stalled projects, disputes can ...
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Latest Webinars

Building a Culture of Accountability and Performance - February 11

Great roofing companies don’t rely on luck—they’re built on accountability, clear expectations and performance systems that work from the top down. This session dives into the leadership habits and structural tools that create consistent team execution. We’ll explore: • Defining accountability at every organizational level—from office staff to crews. • ...
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Affinity Webinar - Passing the Torch: Succession Planning

RoofersCoffeeShop is hosting an essential Affinity Webinar featuring industry expert John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group in a candid discussion on succession planning for roofing companies. Hosted by Heidi J. Ellsworth and Megan Ellsworth, this session will guide contractors through the process of preparing for leadership transitions, whether passing the ...
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3D Printing Innovations for Roofing

In this session, we explore the game-changing potential of 3D printing for roofing applications. Discover how 3D printing enables the creation of custom-fit roofing components, reduces waste by precisely using materials and accelerates project timelines. Register or join R-Club today!
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Read Listen Watch - Educational Content

The Construction Coatings Outlook

In this CoatingsTalk™, Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group to examine the economic forces shaping the construction coatings industry. From roofing and waterproofing to protective, industrial and specialty coatings, they explore current demand, construction spending, restoration activity, material costs and project backlogs. John also shares ...
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Scaling up With BI: Business Strategies for Roofing Companies

In this RoofersCoffeeShop RLW, Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with experts in customer service, estimating, service, safety, regulations and legal issues. Eugene Zukowski of Jobba, John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group and Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese join the conversation to share their 2023 insights on how business intelligence ...
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Latest Videos

The Weekly Blend - Episode 220

Join us every week to learn the latest news in the roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living industry. The 220th episode of The Weekly Blend is live! Join The Coffee Shops’ President Heidi Ellsworth and COO Karen Edwards for the latest episode of this Coffee Shop original web series. Tune in to ...
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The Weekly Blend - Episode 219

Join us every week to learn the latest news in the roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living industry. The 219th episode of The Weekly Blend is live! Join The Coffee Shops’ COO Karen Edwards and Multimedia Manager Megan Ellsworth for the latest episode of this Coffee Shop original web series. Tune in ...
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The Weekly Blend - Episode 218

Join us every week to learn the latest news in the roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living industry. The 218th episode of The Weekly Blend is live! Join The Coffee Shops’ Multimedia Manager Megan Ellsworth and R-Club Coordinator Alex Tolle for the latest episode of this Coffee Shop original web series. Tune ...
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