As We Move Forward, NASBP Will Be Present With You

At this time of the year, columns like this one usually take a fond look back at the past 12 months. I think this year is a good one to break from that tradition. Certainly, we did accomplish much under very difficult circumstances. The NASBP staff and volunteer members went above and beyond to “stay present” when in-person meetings were not possible. Our NASBP Virtual Event Series, Podcasts Episodes, Virtual Seminars, Pipeline and NASBP SmartBrief newsletters, and Surety Bond Quarterly magazine issues kept all of you and our entire industry connected, engaged, and educated. Our advocacy efforts continued as we worked on behalf of our industry and our clients.

But more importantly, this is a time to look forward. As we head into some uncertainty in 2021, the valuable benefits of a strong surety relationship will be critical to the success of business organizations across industries and geographies. We came into 2020 in great shape. When the pandemic hit, the stability of the surety markets and the value of a professional surety advisor were more evident and appreciated than ever. As we move forward, the NASBP will be present with you. We’ll start the beginning of the 2021 with more virtual offerings (our next initiative will be announced soon), and we will be planning the resumption of in-person meetings as soon as it is safe and smart for attendees.

We are planning our first joint virtual legislative fly-in with the SFAA , which will be free and held March 25, 2021. We know that infrastructure spending will be a critical part of the discussion about reinvigorating our economy. Our advocacy efforts are key to ensuring that our industry has a seat at the table and that the proper use of surety bonding is part of any infrastructure spending package.

One key advocacy initiative in the coming year will be our efforts to have surety bonds included as a security option for the build-out of rural broadband networks. We are all well aware of the power and necessity of a high-speed internet connection. In urban areas, this is a given, other than our usual complaint of “why does my internet connection only go down when I’m hosting a Zoom call!?” Howard Cowan, the NASBP SuretyPAC Chairman, shared a recent article about the FCC’s $9.2 billion spend in  what was described as “the biggest-ever U.S. step to extend high-speed internet service.” Here, surety bonds should be an option for rural broadband providers. NASBP advocacy efforts, led by NASBP CEO Mark McCallum and Director of Government Relations Larry LeClair, will focus on including  surety bonds as needed protection of taxpayer dollars and a smart security option for rural broadband providers to ensure completion of these critical projects. In order to be successful, we need significant membership involvement as well.

As you put down this article and your thoughts drift toward the upcoming holiday season, I want to wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday. It will be different this year, but it will not dampen the true spirit of the holidays. I sincerely look forward to seeing all of you (in person) in 2021.

Mark Munekawa is Senior Vice President – Surety of Woodruff Sawyer in San Francisco, CA. He can be reached at mmunekawa@woodruffsawyer.com and 415.399.6482.