NASBP Testimony Before Congress Launches NASBP 2012 Advocacy and Industry Outreach Efforts
By now, you have received the announcement that NASBP CEO Mark McCallum testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Subcommittee. This opportunity is unprecedented and has provided NASBP valuable exposure before our legislatures – something that we have worked hard to achieve. This success has come about after years of advocacy and continual follow up by Mark and Larry LeClair. All of us should celebrate the result of these efforts.
A critical part of Mark’s testimony, of course, was our ability to highlight the Security in Bonding Act of 2011, HR 3534, introduced by U.S. Representative Richard Hanna and co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney. As you may recall, both of these members of Congress spoke at our 2011 Fly-in. NASBP staff were able to visit face to face with each of them to explain our position on a number of issues. Our points were obviously well received and the proof of this was their introduction of HB 3534. We are grateful to Congressmen Hanna and Mulvaney for their support, but we must continue to work to identify more members of Congress who will support our industry.
One of the best ways you can help do this is by attending the NASBP Legislative Fly-in Day on June 26. You also have the option to attend the Washington Week held June 24-28. Please take this opportunity to advocate on behalf of your industry and help NASBP build on the momentum we have right now. If this will be your first time to visit your members of Congress, let us know. NASBP staff can guide you and if you are interested, they will try to pair you with other NASBP members, affiliates, or associates who are also planning to meet with their members of Congress that week. Remember, that many members of Congress are interested in meeting from their constituents in 2012 since this is an election year.
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| McCallum (second from left) testified February 9 before the U.S. House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce. For more details, click here. |
As we continue the battle to protect our interests, we have numerous success stories to tell. Some of these could not be accomplished without the strong working relationship we have with the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA). Staff of both organizations have worked together to address the Maryland individual surety legislation and threshold increases in various states. In many cases, we are meeting weekly to address our joint initiatives. Threats to our product will continue to confront us, and I know together the collaboration between our two organizations will no doubt continue to bear fruit. Our joint efforts continue on Capitol Hill as we seek to reform the SBA bond program and to exclude the federal Miller Act from periodic threshold increases for inflation. NASBP and SFAA work together on educational opportunities, as well. For example, no doubt you have seen the announcements of the U.S. DOT Bonding Education Programs (BEPs) scheduled in 14 cities across the country.
NASBP continues to keep NASBP members, affiliates, and associates informed of opportunities, like the BEPs, to give back to the construction industry, especially to small, emerging and minority contractors. These BEP programs are excellent opportunities for surety professionals to build their client base. In fact, NASBP members and affiliates who have participated have found the experience rewarding. These NASBP volunteers have set aside many hours to educate a segment of our industry that needs our help so desperately. If there is one scheduled near you, please consider participating in the BEP Stakeholder meeting and the Workshops. The NASBP.org has a schedule of dates, locations, and the local person to contact if you decide to participate.
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| Previous to the hearing, Mark McCallum (center) and Larry LeClair (right) discuss surety industry issues with Tax and Procurement Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Krystal Brumfield (far left) and WCOE Advocate Ann Sullivan (facing McCallum). |
Outreach to construction industry associations with common interests remains a NASBP focus. Every year at our Winter Surety School, we schedule a NASBP Executive Committee meeting held in conjunction with the School. Mark McCallum reached out to the officers of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), and, as a result, CFMA officers (pictured here with NASBP officers) agreed to join us in Houston for a joint leadership meeting between the two associations. We spent several hours discussing joint opportunities for the future. The recent Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) proposed changes to the accounting standard of revenue recognition created a great deal of discussion between our two organizations, which culminated in a joint virtual seminar on this subject. NASBP and CFMA officers are excited about other joint educational efforts and other areas of common interest including legislative issues.
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Also, NASBP recently reached an agreement to increase our collaboration with the Women Construction Owners & Executives, USA (WCOE). Mark McCallum and Susan Hecker, our Ex Officio Executive Committee member, recently presented to and met with the leadership of WCOE. Once again, this is another industry group with which NASBP has formed an alliance that has many interests in common with NASBP. During WCOE’s Annual Conference, Mark and Susan explained the role of a professional surety producer and our outreach efforts to emerging contractors including women-owned businesses. A byproduct of that was NASBP being able to secure WCOE’s support for HB 3534. Nice job Mark and Susan!
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| Penny Pompei, (left) National Executive Director of WCOE and McCallum (right) signed an agreement representing the new partnership between NASBP and WCOE. |
The last week of January provided members another opportunity to attend our Winter Session of the William J. Angell Surety School in Houston. Again, the demand for the School was robust, as NASBP educated two Level I classes and two Level II classes. NASBP staff, Ann Latham and Cathrine Nelson, did an incredible job, and the faculty as always was second to none. Did you know that some of our faculty members have taught for over twenty years! Some of those dedicated individuals include Matt Cashion, Jim Lareau, Ralph Pulver, and Bob Shaw. We also have numerous volunteer faculty members with over ten years of service to our industry. The NASBP Professional Development staff has been busy since the last issue of Pipeline. In addition to the School, we have offered two virtual seminars this year with over 700 listeners. NASBP has slated 20 more NASBP Virtual Seminars this year. Keep in mind the Summer Session of the School will be offered in Miami in July, the Federal Contracting Workshop in June, the Sales workshop in September, and the Contract and Bond Forms Workshop in October. Put these events on your calendar today and take advantage of these classes.
When Past President Spence Miller passed the Presidency on to me, I had one simple goal and that was to have 50 CPA Associate members in place by the time I vacated my position as NASBP President. So far, NASBP has 34 Associates, many of whom I have met this past year at NASBP regional meetings. The Associates that I visited with in all cases confirmed they have found great value belonging to our association. We now have 34 Associates and this is a good start; however, for this group to be viable, I feel it needs to grow. We still have numerous large metropolitan areas that are not represented by a CPA firm. To jump start this membership category, I am offering to any member, affiliate, or associate over one dozen of my famous JR brats if you can identify and bring in a new Associate. In fact, I will arrange to have these coveted sausages flown to your doorstep. For a short time only, I will also include some of my new brat’n onion brats, although my inventory is dwindling. Just contact Dasha Brock at NASBP at dbrock@nasbp.org or 202-464-1179 and give her the name and location of the new Associate, and I will take it from there.
I must mention that one of my Annual Meeting Program Committee members, Rick Kinnaird, Senior Executive of Surety Operations for Westfield Surety, will retire this month. Rick, who has lead Westfield Surety for many years, will step down shortly so that he may enjoy time at his South Carolina lake home and more importantly, time with Marlene and his grandchildren. Rick has been a strong advocate for the NASBP and the surety industry as a whole. He represented Westfield on the SFAA board, which is a considerable long-term commitment. I met Rick through my involvement with NASBP, and I regard him as a good friend. Rick, on behalf of the NASBP, I wish you and Marlene the best!
In closing, the NASBP Annual Meeting in Orlando is around the corner. As President, I look forward to this final event and want to make sure it is a success. Having strong attendance is always a concern, and I am pleased to report that the hotel block is almost full and registration should be comparable to last year’s very successful Annual meeting that Spence hosted at the Broadmoor. In advance, I thank you all for taking time to join us in Orlando. If you discover that obtaining a room is a problem, please contact Bethany Jones, bjones@naspb.org, at the NASBP office, and she will do her very best to accommodate your requests.
Best Regards,
John M. Rindt
NASBP President
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