NASBP and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) were pleased that the May 18 “Bonding Across America,” a bonding awareness campaign, was a success.See pictures below.

The educational bonding awareness campaign for small and emerging contractors was first tested last fall as a pilot program and stemmed from a partnership NASBP formed with the SBA to help small and emerging contractors become aware of the bonding process. The programs are designed to be rolled out quickly and introduce such topics as bonding and insurance, banking and finance, federal assistance programs, and local procurement opportunities. In all, over 80 contractors participated in the programs throughout the country; not to be deterred by unusual traffic in Seattle or an unexpected May snow storm in Denver.

Hear what participants had to say:

“I have been both an agent and underwriter during my career. I always find it rewarding to discuss our business with new contractors or those unfamiliar with our product and purpose. It’s important to do these outreach programs to reduce the feeling of bonding being a barrier to their business and rather an asset they can use.”  – Bill Barbour, Denver Director Contract Surety, RLI Insurance

” Excellent! Well done presentation. Like the myth busting format. Thanks for the rapid presentation.” – Attendee on Presenter Cate Taylor, Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center Counsel

“We were thrilled to partner with SBA, utilizing their knowledge of the needs of small businesses to help connect with the contracting community.  Combining both our perspectives has proven to be very valuable to these firms.” – Joshua Etemadi, Assistant Vice President, Construction Bonds, Inc.

The three programs were created with the guidance of the leadership of the NASBP Small and Emerging Business Committee and assistance of dedicated NASBP Members.

Thank you to the SBA staff that made this event possible

• Jennifer Bledsoe, SBA, Office of Surety Guarantees
• Linda Laws, SBA Office of Surety Guarantees
• Tamara Murray, OSG Denver Area Office Marketing Specialist

Thank you to all our Denver speakers:

Don Appleby, Holmes Murphy, Bill Barbour, RLI Insurance Company, David Castillo, Marsh USA Jay Labe, Allen & Curry, P.C., Keith Lightfield, Lightfield Enterprises, Inc., Lucia Lightfield, Lightfield Enterprises, Inc., Michael Lischer, IMA, Kathryn Lobdell, Colorado PTAC Counselor, Bill Tourtillott, CPA, Quest Accounting, Inc., Jennifer Vigil, OSG Denver Area Office Director, Steve White, SBA Lead Lender Relations Specialist, and Bud Withrow, CoWest Insurance Associates

Bill Barbour of RLI Insurance discusses the underwriting

Bill Tourtillot, CPA, Quest Accounting, Inc. discusses construction accounting

Audience

Jay Labe, Attorney at Allen & Curry, P.C. discusses risk management and legal concerns

SBA Denver District Office Staff with NASBP Staff

Bud Withrow, CoWest Insurance Associates with Keith Lightfield, Lightfield Enterprises, Inc.

Steve White, SBA Lead Lender Relations Specialist

Thank you to all our Seattle speakers:

Tymon Berger, Construction Litigation Partner at Ahlers Cressman, PLLC, Travis Crabb, Neptune Marine LLC, Mark Costello, Supervisory Lender Relations Specialist, Jacob Haddock, Propel Insurance, Joel Hertzog, Merchants Bonding, Chris Newman, Managing Member, Newman Town, PLLC, Stuart O’Farrell, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Catharine Powers, OSG Seattle Area Office Director, Janie Sacco, Kitsap Bank, Kara Skinner, Integrity Surety Company, Arnaldo Soto, Carrion, Laffitte & Casellas, Inc./ HUB International CLC, and Cate Taylor, Washington PTAC Counselor

From Left Jacob Haddock of Propel Insurance, Stuart O’Farrell of Arthur J Gallagher, Kara Skinner of Integrity Surety Company, Arnaldo Soto of Carrion, Laffitte & Casellas, Inc./ HUB International CLC, Joel Herzog of Merchants Bonding, and Linda Laws of the SBA Seattle District Office.

Seattle District Office Staff

 Thank you to all our DC speakers:

Lewis Askew, Jr., Partner, Graves, Horton, Askew & Jenkins, LLC, Brandon Blackburn, Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C., Len Briskman, SCORE Mentor, Joanne Brooks, Vice President and Counsel, SFAA, de’Wayne Carter, National Director, Customer Care and Outreach, Office of Small Business Utilization, Marium Eamen, Lender Relations Specialist, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, Joshua A. Etemadi, AVP, Construction Bonds, Inc., Peter Gibbs, Acting Director, Office of Surety Guarantees, Forest Hayes, Senior Advisor, Executive Office of the Mayor, Bud Herndon, Retired, John Hoeveler, Community Advantage Lender, Community Development Transportation Lending Services, Reggie Jarvis, Vice President, Centennial Surety Associates, Jeff Lavore, Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C., and William Manger, Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Capital Access

Joshua Etemadi of Construction Bonds Inc. presents on Bonding and Insurance

DC Audience

Lewis Askew, Jr., Partner, Graves, Horton, Askew & Jenkins, LLC. discusses risk management and legal concerns

Peter Gibbs, Acting Director of the U.S. SBA Office of Surety Guarantees

Reggie Jarvis, Centennial Surety Associates

From Left Peter Gibbs, U.S. SBA Office of Surety Guarantees, Reggie Jarvis, Centennial Surety Associates, Joshua Etemadi, Construction Bonds Inc., and Michael Cox, U.S. SBA Office of Surety Guarantees

Peter Gibbs with Brandon Blackburn and Jeff Lavore of Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C.

Direct questions and inquiries for additional information to Shannon Crawford, NASBP Assistant Director of Government Relations, at scrawford@nasbp.org or 202.464.1170.