It’s Been Fun and a Whirlwind of Events Leading Up to Our Annual Meeting
As we get closer to our 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo, each day passes with increasing speed! This year started with the NASBP Executive Committee meeting in late January in Dallas. At that meeting it occurred to me how it was 12 months ago in January 2023 that we began work on the Association’s strategic plan, NASBP Vision 2028. I want to thank the Executive Committee members for their time and commitment to developing the NASBP Vision 2028. Their dedication will ensure an impactful and meaningful future for surety professionals and NASBP.
The Executive Committee Meeting was held in conjunction with the sold out 2024 NASBP Winter Surety School. I enjoyed speaking again during the Level II ethics session—this time to the Winter Session’s students. The students’ and faculty’s energy is contagious and uplifts and motivates all of us to continue supporting and advocating for our industry.
Then, within a few weeks the NASBP Executive Committee and NASBP CEO Mark McCallum whisked off to Puerto Rico and met with NASBP members of NASBP Region 12. Among those in attendance at a luncheon that NASBP provided were Local Surety Association President, Nancy Cruz, Managing Director of Construction Services, Bond & Specialty Insurance at Travelers, Fort Lauderdale, FL and Alfredo J. del Prado Saliva, Underwriting Director at CNA, Guaynabo, PR. I thank all of the Region 12 members for making us feel so welcome to beautiful Puerto Rico. It was a special treat to visit with local producers.
Speaking of advocacy, we participated in late February in the well-attended joint NASBP and SFAA Legislative Fly-in. For me, it was incredibly satisfying to learn that 117 attended the Fly-in and that 110 meetings were held with members of Congress and their staff. This important event ensures we gain and maintain bi-partisan support from our federal legislators for our industry. I hope we can keep this momentum going for future Fly-ins. (See related article in this issue featuring highlights and photos from the 2024 Legislative Fly-in.)
In early March, Mark McCallum and I traveled to New Orleans, LA to meet with the Board members of the American Subcontractors Association during the ASA national convention, ASA SUBExcel 2024. We discussed several issues of mutual interest, including advocating for subcontractor payment protections in legislation and regulations and educating subcontractors about the benefits of surety bonding. In addition, we were welcomed and invited to speak during the ASA Business Meeting’s government relations report, where I thanked ASA CEO Richard Bright and ASA for agreeing in January to an enhanced strategic alliance with NASBP to strengthen mutual efforts supporting equitable risk environments for the benefit of construction projects and parties. I know this relationship with ASA is going to grow and to continue benefiting both organizations. As you may recall, NASBP is a Gold sponsor of ASA, and I believe the support of ASA is well worth it. This kind of outreach connecting NASBP to other organizations is important to the Association and surety bonding.
Now, we are on the cusp of attending our 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo in Austin, Texas, and I am excited to have everyone experience the fantastic event that my Program Committee has arranged for you. I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone on the Committee, which includes Co-Chair Matt Cashion of The Cashion Company: Co-Chair Mark Duggan of Lockton Companies; Kelly Kimmel of Old Republic Surety; Thomas Padilla of HUB International Insurance Services of Albuquerque, NM; Cissie Scoggin-Saslaw of Liberty Mutual Surety; Michael Seaman of Cory, Tucker & Larrowe, Inc.; Jill Tucker of IUL Bonds (Insurance Underwriters, Ltd.); and Nathan Wonder of CAC Specialty. They have done an amazing job. The Program includes informative sessions relevant to our industry and fun activities to share with colleagues and good friends. (See related article in this issue with more details about the Program.) I hope you will enjoy it. We are fortunate to have a phenomenal industry with so many great people in it. So, let’s celebrate! I look forward to seeing you in Austin!
#AllIn4NASBP #AllIn4Surety