Four years ago, Natalie Horyna stepped into a value engineering workshop with a new title and a clear sense of uncertainty. She had recently moved from design into project management within the Aviation & Federal Group of Burns & McDonnell, and the role was still taking shape.
Waiting patiently in the room, Cordell Kirk of Strategic Value Solutions Inc. (SVS) met that moment with clarity and follow-through. Kirk not only showed up prepared but also walked through the process, stayed in close contact in the days that followed and continued outlining how SVS could support the work. A potentially difficult transition became the start of a steady working relationship.
That story helps explain why SVS’s recognition as one of the four 2025 Partners of the Year honorees carries weight. Presented by Burns & McDonnell during its Impactful Partnerships Symposium & Awards, the recognition speaks to what makes strong partnerships possible: aligned teams, consistent delivery and better outcomes for clients.
Based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, SVS is a value consulting firm that helps clients make informed decisions through value engineering, risk management, reviewing and estimating. For well over a decade, Burns & McDonnell teams have partnered with SVS on value engineering studies.
And SVS always delivers.
“You know what you’re going to get every time. They show up prepared, professional and focused on delivering a strong outcome for the client,” says Horyna.
Such confidence goes both ways.
“The thing that stands out to our team is the consistency we see when working with Burns & McDonnell,” Kirk says. “Every person — to the person — is professional, kind, thoughtful, considerate and works diligently to get strong results through the value engineering process.”
The connection is both mutual and foundational.
“Our firms share some of the same core values,” Kirk says. “When both teams are focused on integrity and building lasting relationships, it makes perfect sense that we enjoy working together.”
Over time, that alignment has created new opportunities. Early in the relationship, Burns & McDonnell often introduced SVS to new work. Today, SVS also brings Burns & McDonnell into proposals across the country, including in regions where the firm continues to grow.
That shift shows a partnership that has grown and matured beyond individual projects.
“We say, ‘This job is fun because we get the opportunity to work with our friends,’ ” Kirk says.
A recent federal program illustrates how that relationship shows up in practice. During a value engineering study, Burns & McDonnell and SVS partnered closely to guide a workshop that aligned the full project team. The client response was immediate, requesting the same team for a follow-on effort.
That second study led to a contract modification and an additional design effort, supporting the Air Force and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in evaluating key financial and design decisions. Together, the teams created momentum in a setting where collaboration, not just documentation, moved the work forward.
Such moments are often shaped by details that appear beyond the final deliverable.
“These may seem like little things, but they are big things that matter and allow the team to focus on the task at hand,” Kirk says.
Whether hosting workshops or supporting them, both teams focus on creating an environment where collaboration can succeed. That includes preparation, responsiveness and an understanding that the work reflects on everyone involved.
“They don’t just support the process,” Horyna says. “They engage the full team, ask the right questions and help set everyone up for success. That level of collaboration makes a difference for our clients.”
As the partnership continues to evolve, SVS has expanded its capabilities, creating new ways for the teams to collaborate while reinforcing the foundation that made the relationship strong from the start.
For Kirk, the impact of the partnership is straightforward.
“Having a shared vision and passion for building meaningful relationships has been critical to our collaboration and a catalyst for our continued growth,” he says.
When partners create value through shared values, Horyna says, the opportunity to innovate grows.
“Having a partner who is invested in your success changes how you deliver for clients. We know we can rely on each other, and that shows up in the results.”