Happy Holidays!

The year-end holiday season is one of my favorites. Having just completed a much-needed Thanksgiving break by escaping from the cold and snow of Minnesota and Wisconsin to a warmer latitude, this is the time I look back on the year from both a personal and professional perspective. In tune with the meaning of the holiday, I usually start with personal things for which I am thankful, such as my health (ignoring the inexorable march of time and the effects of aging), my family, and the life with which God blessed me. That in turn leads to the professional things, starting and ending with the amazing career and opportunities the surety industry has provided to me, including being able to serve as NASBP President.

I am thankful for the opportunity this past month to preside over our Mid-Year Board of Directors Meeting at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. It is always inspiring to see the Passion and Purpose of our dedicated NASBP Committee members and leaders, Directors-At-Large, Regional Directors, and NASBP Past Presidents, who take time away from family and job to help guide and form the many initiatives of the Association. Of course, as this is a relationship-based industry, these meetings become a great time spent with friends, often resulting in friendships that last a lifetime. All of you who attended or participated virtually—I am so thankful, and I appreciate, not only your service to our industry and Association, but also your love and friendship as well. We are accomplishing great things this year! And doing it all with our best friends!

Up next is a new year filled with much hope and promise for our industry and the stakeholders we serve. I am excited about continuing the momentum with our partnerships with other associations, like SFAA, which just released its independent study performed by EY, showing the tangible financial benefits of surety bonds in construction projects. What an amazing message we will be able to deliver this spring at our in-person Legislative Fly-in that will be held March 29-30! It is my goal that we have record attendance from both bond producers and affiliates. We have never been so well-equipped to promote the advantages of surety bonds!

In closing, allow me to return to the topic of this being the “most wonderful time of the year.” No matter your chosen faith, this is a magical time. As a Christian, I love Christmas and the reason for the season. I also love and cherish the time with family and friends, and I hope you are all able to experience it as well this holiday. Unfortunately, this time of year may be bittersweet for some who have experienced a loss of a loved one. If you did lose someone, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope that you find comfort from those around you and from memories you shared with that person.

On behalf of NASBP, my wife, Jenny, and our sons, Danny and Ryan, I wish all of you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! May God bless all of you.

Nick Newton is Senior Vice President-Surety, AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC, St. Paul, MN. He can be reached at nicholas.newton@assuredpartners.com or 651.369.9946.