2022-2023 NASBP President Nick Newton presented the NASBP Bruce T. Wallace Award and the John “Jack” J. Curtin, Jr. President’s Award at the 2023 NASBP Annual Meeting & Expo. The Surety Industry Awards were also announced at the Meeting.

NASBP Awards

The Bruce T. Wallace Award was established in 1990 in memory of the Association’s first executive vice president, who served for over 29 years, and is awarded by the Executive Committee to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself through years of exceptional service to NASBP and to the surety industry. The recipient is an individual who has performed throughout his or her career in accordance with the highest ethical standards and demonstrated a service characterized by commitment, consistency, intensity, and impact.

This year’s winner is Howard Cowan of Acrisure, LLC dba Cowan-Hill Bond Agency.

The John “Jack” J. Curtin, Jr. President’s Award honors an individual who is chosen by the NASBP President for his or her outstanding service contributions during the President’s term to the Association and to the surety industry. The award was first presented in 2007 to John “Jack” J. Curtin, Jr., for whom the award is named. This year there were three winners:

Dedi Belis of Nielson Hoover Group

Matthew K. Cashion, Jr. of The Cashion Company Insurance and Bonding, LLC

Jennifer L. Salm of Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC

Surety Industry Awards

The NASBP & SFAA Surety Industry Awards recognize surety professionals and local surety associations for promoting the value and protections of contract surety bonds in construction to non-surety audiences and for advocating on behalf of the surety industry to obligees and legislators.

Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Advocacy awards were recognized at the 2023 NASBP Annual Meeting & Expo and the 2023 SFAA Annual Meeting.

The Gold Award is given to Local Surety Associations (LSAs) that conduct at least ten public relations and educational activities in a calendar year that promote the use of contract surety bonds in construction to non-surety, non-insurance, or non-lawyer audiences. Two LSAs were honored this year:

Florida Surety Association made educational presentations to government officials and contractors, covering topics such as the process and benefits of bonding, subcontractor prequalification, growing bonding capacity, bonding requirements to work with county governments, and more.

The Surety Association of Ohio (SAO) held several multi-week educational programs for minority contractors. SAO members also presented webinars and joined a podcast about the importance of bonding for other contractor groups.

The Silver Award is given to LSAs that conduct at least five public relations and educational activities in a calendar year that promote the use of contract surety bonds in construction to non-surety, non-insurance, or non-lawyer audiences. One LSA was honored this year:

Surety Association of Arizona made educational presentations to contractors and students about the benefits of bonding and qualifying for surety credit.

The Advocacy Award recognizes LSAs that conduct significant activities advocating for suretyship, other than public relations or educational activities, such as fighting legislative efforts to waive bonds or increase bond thresholds or advocating for reasonable bond forms. One LSA was honored this year:

Florida Surety Association contacted state legislative offices, city government departments, and a private owner regarding member concerns, such as onerous language in bond forms, extended bonded obligations, Florida statute of repose, A.M. Best rating requirements, and more.