NASBP Presents Awards at April 2021 NASBP Virtual Annual Meeting Event – MayJune2021

On Wednesday, April 28, NASBP held its 2021 NASBP Virtual Annual Meeting Event, “Present Through the Unprecedented: A Positive Look Towards Our Future!” Then NASBP President Mark Munekawa presented the following awards: the NASBP Bruce T. Wallace Award and the the John “Jack” J. Curtin, Jr. President’s Award. NASBP also announced the NASBP and SFAA Surety Industry Awards.

The slide show during the break of the 2021 NASBP Virtual Annual Meeting Event announced these winners. To watch it, access the recording of the April 28 Virtual Event here and click on the “MESSAGES FROM SPONSORS” tab. Remember that you will need to “register” so that you are logged in and able to access the recording. Also, watch the “Better Together” slideshow, where Tracy Tucker makes his speech as the new NASBP President.

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 Kevin Garrity of Rose and Kiernan, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NFP, East Greenbush, NY.

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 two winners: (1) Zach Mendelson of EPIC | Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, Pittsburgh, PA; and (2) Mike Specht of INSURICA Southwest, Phoenix, AZ.

Surety Industry Awards

Among the Surety Industry Awards presented were the Tiger Trust Award, Platinum Award, Silver Award, and Advocacy Award. The NASBP and SFAA Surety Industry Awards recognize surety professionals for their promotion of contract surety bonds in construction. By promoting the value and benefits of surety bonds, members help establish positive awareness of the surety product. The judges commended the award winners for undertaking these activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tiger Trust Award is given to an individual who persuades private owners or lenders to require contract surety bonds on their projects. This year’s winner is Deborah Anderson of INSURICA Southwest. Anderson succeeded in persuading the equity investors/developers of a new industrial warehouse development project to move forward with bonding the approximately 38 million dollar construction contract, relating the advantages to the project of bonds, including that a filed payment bond would avert the imposition of mechanics’ liens against the property.

The Platinum Award is given to an individual whose efforts to promote contract surety bonds have had a significant impact on the surety industry. The award is not based on volume of activities, but on the successful outcome of the individual’s actions in promoting the value and benefits of contract surety bonds. This year’s winner is Michael Specht of INSURICA Southwest. Specht presented on topics including the NASBP Producer Communications Toolkit 2.0, “Finance in Construction,” and “Financial Analysis” to multiple contractors and associations. He also used social media to promote the NASBP “Be Guaranteed To Succeed” Campaign.

The Silver Award is given to Local Surety Associations (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. Two LSAs were honored this year:

Florida Surety Association made presentations about the value of surety bonds to contractors and multiple small business development centers, including those at the University of North Florida, SBD Jacksonville, Hillsborough County SBD, and St. Petersburg SBD Center.

San Diego Surety Association offered educational presentations to contractors, subcontractors, and students. Presentations included “Bonding 101,” “Becoming a Good Surety Risk,” and “How to Maximize Your Surety Bond Program.”

The Advocacy Award is given to LSAs that conduct significant activities advocating for suretyship, other than public relations or education activities. This could include fighting legislative efforts to waive bonds or increase bond thresholds and advocating for reasonable bond forms. Two were honored this year:

Florida Surety Association met with multiple legislators on Legislative Day in January 2020 and wrote many letters to government entities regarding member concerns.

Surety Association of Georgia contacted multiple counties and cities regarding member concerns, including an E-Bonding Initiative to accept emailed bids, waiving notary requirements, and accepting electronic bonds.