NASBP is offering a special discount for a limited time on NASBP’s entire selection of 2012 Virtual Seminars. Instead of buying each NASBP Virtual Seminar individually, now members, affiliates and associates have the option to buy their registration for all 2012 NASBP Virtual Seminars in advance and at one time for a discounted price of $995, a savings of $385. To receive this discount, however, purchase of the NASBP Virtual Seminar Subscription Series must be completed by Dec. 30. The subscription series offers many conveniences, including that a subscriber receives one call-in phone number and one ID number to access all of the 2012 NASBP Virtual Seminars. Also, subscribers who are unable to call in to participate in a Virtual Seminar will automatically be sent a link to the audio presentation a few days after the event, and subscribers will receive monthly emails reminding them of the confirmed upcoming Virtual Seminars. To purchase the Subscription Series for 2012, visit nasbp.org.

NASBP chooses the topics for the NASBP Virtual Seminars based on the needs and issues facing the NASBP membership. Recently, the NASBP Professional Development Committee assembled an Editorial Board of experienced surety professionals to set the direction and topics of the NASBP Virtual Seminars with the goal of providing the membership information on issues that surety professionals face daily. In addition, the board will identify presenters with ideas that can help surety professionals run their businesses, improve their professional skills, and educate their staff and clients.

The NASBP Virtual Seminar Editorial Board includes, Chair Dedi Belis, Matt Cashion, Matt Curran, Ed Heine, Susan Hecker, George James, Todd Loehnert, Steve Nelson, and Ralph Pulver.

NASBP is pleased to announce these Virtual Seminar Topics for the Remainder of 2011. Registration is now open for all of these remaining Virtual Seminars in 2011 which will be held at 2 p.m. ET on the dates indicated below.

Click here to register.

Nov 15
2012 AEC Industry Outlook and Economic Trends
Mark “Rusty” Sherwood of McGraw-Hill Construction
“Slow going…but some are growing”. How is it some AEC firms (and those who provide project bonding) continue to grow in spite of “slow going” market conditions? Seeking out “opportunity pockets” across the US, going deeper with existing relationships and wider in new markets, while adapting to strategic trends shaping US construction are at the center of what’s driving today’s successful firms. Backed by McGraw-Hill Construction’s 40 years of research experience, Rusty Sherwood’s webinar will deliver perspective on where US construction is heading in 2012, what’s changing in the way of project attributes, productivity, project financing and firm characteristics, and what this all means to finding & winning work, and exceeding customer (and firm) expectations.

Nov 29
“Pay If Paid – What You Really Need to Know”
James E. Rudnik, Esq. of Cashin Spinelli & Ferretti, LLC
Gain key insights on the history of “Pay if Paid” and its relationship to Pay-when-paid. Participants will grasp the concept of who bears the risk of Owner Insolvency contrasted with Change Orders, the current state of the rule, where to find these clauses in subcontract agreements, the implications to the subcontractor/bond principal for collecting their payment applications, the implications to the principal and the surety when there is a claim involving the clause, and, of course, what the agent can do to advise and assist its customer/principal.

Dec 13
12 Action Items to Make 2012 an Extraordinary Year
Chris Carlson of Anthony Cole Training Group and Larry McMahon of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
Get a headstart on starting the New Year off right. Let sales guru Chris Carlson and NASBP Second Vice President Larry McMahon help you set action items that will catapult you into a year of success. Carlson has over 27 years of sales, sales management, and sales development experience. His front line experiences allow him to strongly relate to his clients and deliver a message that resonates with all levels in the sales organization. Carlson specializes in working with presidents, CEOs and sales leaders who are committed to achieving extraordinary results. McMahon is a lead presenter during the highly-evaluated NASBP Sales Workshop.

Schedule change: Please make note that a December Virtual Seminar providing a government relations town hall meeting update that was previously announced in the August/September Pipeline has been cancelled.

Available to purchase and download:

Audio Recordings of NASBP Virtual Seminars

Soon to be available to download are:

• October 11 – “Understanding the Risks and Opportunities In Underwriting ESOP Companies.” This Virtual Seminar addresses unique considerations of bonding and underwriting employee stock ownership plan companies (ESOPs), which is presented by Mary Josephs, founder and executive managing director of Verit Advisors, and her colleagues John Solimine and Neal Hawkins. They share their perspectives from decades of structuring, advising and underwriting ESOPs in the Consulting & Engineering (C&E) space. Among the topics the presenters address are “red flags” for underwriting ESOP companies, aspects of an ESOP company’s balance sheet and analysis of free cash flow, including ESOP expense and repurchase obligations in ESOP companies. Also, Bill Waters, vice president of contract-surety underwriting for CNA Surety, presents the perspective of the experienced surety.
• October 25 – “Hazards with the Federal Set-Aside Programs” The presenter, Stephen Rae, Chief Counsel for Liberty Mutual Surety in the Claims Department, describes the potential risks that can arise when a large business enterprise works with or becomes involved with a small business enterprise performing work under these Programs. The current status of our economy and revisions to the Small Business Administration’s regulations make this a topic you’ll benefit from hearing about!

To order the recordings of other NASBP Virtual Seminars, click here.

By December 2011, the NASBP Virtual Seminar program will conclude its third successful year of presenting Virtual Seminars — 21 in 2011 and 56 since its inception in 2009. By the end of 2011 all NASBP Virtual Seminars will have attracted approximately 8,000 listeners.

These NASBP Virtual Seminars are a quick, economical, and effective way to help members, associates, and affiliates obtain current information on issues critical to their business success. They offer the membership an opportunity to bring their office staff together to hear an expert deliver a presentation, to ask questions, and to discuss a topic of immediate relevance to the industry. The typical format includes fifty minutes of information followed by five to ten minutes of questions and answers, at $69 per call-in line. NASBP occasionally provides complimentary seminars to the membership. An entire office can listen with a speakerphone in the same room. Recordings may be purchased by NASBP members, affiliates and associates.

For more information about these Virtual Seminars, click here. For questions or suggestions about NASBP Virtual Seminars, contact Cathrine Nelson at cnelson@nasbp.org or 202-686-3700.