New Advanced Surety School Curriculum Debut Hailed As a Success  

The first offering of the Angell – Curtin Advanced Surety School took place the first week of August in Denver, Colorado. The new school was developed by a team of industry experts over the course of the past year. The objective of the curriculum was to provide more seasoned surety professionals with the opportunity to deepen their understanding or their profession.

The courses taught during the school included:

• Advanced Work-in-Process
• Job Cost Systems/Reporting and Financial Controls
• Assessing a Contractor’s Cash Flow
• Credit Modeling/Peer Review/Benchmarking
• Marketing and Sales Strategies
• Advanced Commercial Surety – Large Accounts
• Insurance/Risk Transfer/Risk Management
• Strategic Industry Issues

Interest in the school was outstanding and the school filled up quickly. In fact, long before the first school was held there was a waiting list for the next session! Students came from around the country and from as far away as Guam. Most of the students were graduates of the Level II School and were delighted with the advanced nature of the content offered in the Level III School.

Susan Hecker and NASBP Immediate Past President, Carl Dohn, were instrumental in the development of the curriculum of the school and attended the entire school as observers to provide feedback to the faculty and staff about the first offering.

The outstanding faculty was comprised of subject matter experts from both the agency and company sides of the business:

• Don Appleby, Willis of Colorado
• Erle Benton, Cretcher Heartland
• Liz Bottemiller, The Hartford
• Jeff Broyles, Beecher Carlson Insurance Agency
• Matt Cashion, The Cashion Company
• Tom Durkin, Durkin & Durkin Insurance Agency
• Bud Herndon, CNA Surety
• Jim Lareau, Travelers Bond
• Larry McMahon, Alliant Surety Services
• Fran McGrath, Liberty Mutual
• Tom Padilla, Manuel Lujan Insurance
• Ralph Pulver, Travelers Bond
• Joe Ruch, Liberty Mutual
• Bob Shaw, Skillings Shaw & Associates

Another highlight of the school was a luncheon presentation by Jim Johnson, President and CEO of G.E. Johnson Construction Company. Johnson shared his experiences with both his surety agent, NASBP Past President, Sarah Finn, as well as his experiences working with his surety. He reinforced the message of how critical it is for surety professionals to have a true partnership with their clients and how that has helped his company grow to now having a resume of $6 billion in completed projects.

The Level III School continued the tradition well established in Levels I and II of having the students select a fellow student who significantly contributed to the overall learning experience. The student selected for this honor was Matthew Beernaert, who is a Branch Underwriter with HCC Surety Group in Farmington, Connecticut. Instead of the Surety School tradition of awarding a football, Matt Beernaert was awarded a hardhat that had been signed by all the students and faculty. Thanks to Matt Beernaert for his contributions to the Level III School. NASBP congratulates him on being recognized by his peers.

The Level III School will be offered again in conjunction with the 2014 Summer Surety Schools in San Diego, California.

These and additional highlights from the Level III School are pictured below.