“The time and effort that when into making this meeting special really showed. The keynote speakers and the two panels were excellent. All the company parties were great. Very nice event.” — Annual Meeting Attendee

“Terrific overall event made special by the venue choice and 75th Anniversary. Happy to have been a part of it; can’t wait til the 100th.” — Annual Meeting Attendee

About 850 joined NASBP in celebrating its 75th Anniversary during the 2017 NASBP Annual Meeting & Expo at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. See pictures in the lower half of this article. President Lynne W. Cook welcomed everyone at the Welcome Reception held Sunday night. Then, Monday’s General Session began with a skit depicting a reenactment of the Miller Act with each of the Annual Meeting Program Committee members playing a role. The skit was written by Annual Program Meeting Committee Co-chair Matt Cashion. “The opening Miller Act skit was very well done and a great reminder of our beginning and why we are in business,” commented an attendee. The skit was followed by a video of interviews with nearly 20 NASBP Members and Affiliates, including past presidents and retired surety professionals, who related what NASBP has meant to them and how the Association has grown.

Throughout the General Sessions, the “Surety Protection Clock” was displayed on screen and was continually counting up as it added the federal dollars protected by surety from 1942 until today. By the end of the Tuesday Session, the Surety Protection Clock’s final estimated amount of federal dollars protected by surety was: $6,341,781,808.116.

Also, special for the occasion, attendees received a full-color, 60-page commemorative book describing NASBP’s 75-year history with numerous facts and photos of past Members, Affiliates and Associates who contributed to NASBP’s rich past. They also received a copy of the Spring 2017 issue of NASBP’s magazine, Surety Bond Quarterly, which honored the 75th Anniversary with feature articles about the industry’s past, present, and future. Also, displayed throughout the duration of the meeting and to many attendees’ delight, was a six-paneled wall exhibit honoring the Association’s history in terms of growth, leadership, membership, and accomplishments since 1942.

NASBP Awards

During Monday’s General Session, Cook asked Edward Heine of PayneWest Insurance, Inc. to come to the stage to receive the Bruce T. Wallace Award in recognition of Heine’s many outstanding contributions to NASBP and the surety industry throughout his distinguished career.

“In keeping with the theme of my presidency, we chose the person I believe is the ‘thought leader extraordinaire of NASBP’ and one of the smartest people I know,” said Cook. “During his term as NASBP President, Ed held a long-term planning session that resulted in defining strategic objectives for NASBP, most of which we still adhere to today.”

“Ed’s involvement with NASBP spans over 20 years, and he remains a committed NASBP volunteer by teaching at the NASBP Surety School and participating in committees; and when I requested he moderate yet another panel for this Annual Meeting, he accepted the call,” she added.

Cook then asked Susan Hecker to the stage to award Hecker the John J. “Jack” Curtin, Jr. President’s Award.”I present the John ‘Jack’ J. Curtin, Jr. President’s Award for Distinguished Service to Susan Hecker, who has served as the NASBP President from 2015-2016, devoting forty years to the surety industry,” said Cook, “Susan has been a committed and able leader.” “She has been an unwavering advocate for the next generation of bond producers’ participation in the Association and their career growth in the industry, conducting herself as a consummate model of professionalism,” she said. “As a trusted advisor and mentor to me, Susan has furnished indispensable guidance and perspective.”

The crowd enjoyed several presentations that were organized on the theme that Cook had chosen for the commemorative meeting: “Building the Bonds of Surety, Honoring Our Past. Defining Our Future.” See below for a list and pictures of presentations and presenters from the Meeting. Everyone enjoyed Monday evening’s Affiliate entertaining events, which totaled a remarkable 19 events that were held between 4:30 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Final Banquet Dinner

After First Vice President Howard Cowan thanked Lynne W. Cook for serving her term as NASBP President, Cowan gave his acceptance speech for his term indicating it will focus on “Building a Solid Foundation.” During a break in the dancing that evening, Cook gave away a 1.65-carat diamond to the lucky raffle winner, Sean McBride of Ahmann & Martin Co. of Eden Prairie, MN. NASBP thanks all of the tremendous support from the sponsors and supporters of this special commemorative celebration. View the extensive list of 2017 Annual Meeting sponsors.

See the list of 2017 Annual Meeting exhibitors. To see more highlights from the Annual Meeting, view the 2017 NASBP Annual Meeting slideshow.

Monday Sessions:

Inspiration Keynote Address — “The Power of the Present” presented by Chad Hymas, best-selling author and president of Chad Hymas Communications.

“Outlook for the State of the Industry” Panel, which included Moderator: Mark H. McCallum, NASBP Chief Executive Officer, and Panelists: Rick Ciullo, The Hartford; Steve Haney, Chubb Surety; Lawrence McMahon, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.; Timothy Mikolajewski, Liberty Mutual Surety; Robert Minster, International Fidelity Insurance Co..

“Being ‘Present’ in the Claims Process” Panel, which included Moderator: Toby Miclette, Bowen Miclette & Britt Insurance Agency, LLC and Panelists: Mike Ito, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions; Scott Bennett, Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department; Maurice Harley, Crossland Construction Company, Inc.; John Welch, CNA Surety Corporation.

“Paperless Surety is Here – Don’t Let it Pass You By” CE Session, which included Presenters: Corban Enns, Surety Solutions, LLC and Armen Shahinian, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC.

The Surety Innovation Stage

1. XBRL Presentation represented by Michelle Savage, XBRL-US; Robert Coon, Scott Insurance; James Wiedemann, Marcum, LLP; John Gray, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; Julie Morris, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; Eric Crossett, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
2. Liberty Mutual Surety and Insure Vision Technologies Presentation represented by Renee Llewellyn, Liberty Mutual Surety; Jason Doll, Liberty Mutual Surety; Pam Stocks, InSure Vision; Bev Hall, InSure Vision; Nicole Kolter, InSure Vision; David Kairo, InSure Vision.
3. Focus on Innovation, Inc. Presentation represented Cory Cummings, Focus on Innovation, Inc.
4. Insurance Automation Group, Merchants Bonding Company, and Applied Systems Presentation represented by Stacey Curbirth, Insurance Automation Group; Jason Doll, Liberty Mutual Surety; Kathy Hrach, Applied Systems/IVANS; Brad Rasmussen, Merchants Bonding Company; Jenni Waggoner, M.J. Schuetz Insurance Services;
5. NIIT Technologies Presentation represented by Dennis Steckler, NIIT Technologies Ltd.

Tuesday Sessions:
Innovation Keynote Address “Disruptive Innovation: Learning How to See and Surf a Disruption” presented by Chip Conley, Strategic Adviser for Hospitality and Leadership, Airbnb.

“Defining our Future: Paying It Forward” Panel
Moderator: Edward Heine, PayneWest Insurance, Inc. and Panelists: J. William Ernstrom, The Walsh Group; Steve Halverson, The Haskell Company; Susan Hecker, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.; Robert Murray, Zurich Surety; and Robert Raney, Travelers Bond.