As NASBP CEO Mark McCallum stated in his column in this issue of Pipeline, this is the first of several upcoming, consecutive issues of Pipeline that will include an article spotlighting a NASBP committee. This article features the NASBP Industry Relations Committee.
The NASBP Industry Relations Committee's most recent and exciting initiative has been assisting the NASBP leadership in
facilitating the NASBP Public Relations Campaign effort, “Be Guaranteed to Succeed.” The NASBP PR Campaign, which began in 2018, continues today with NASBP Surety Story videos and the NASBP Producer Communications Toolkit 2.0, which are being promoted in NASBP communications and social media.
"I encourage you to have fun being creative with the Toolkit as you promote the surety industry, your agency, and yourself."-- IRC Committee Vice Chair Mike Specht, Vice President, INSURICA Southwest
Throughout the year, NASBP Industry Relations Committee (IRC) members convey the importance of surety bonds and the role of the bond producer to their local surety associations and other industry groups, often through presentations and articles. In addition, IRC Committee members engage in activities that revolve around the Committee's six Task Groups described below.
"The IRC is a committee through which you actually get to reach out and engage with the organizations and our clients that are active in them. We reach out and get involved with the AGC, ABC, ASA and other trade associations that our clients support. Being part of the Industry Relations Committee is a very fulfilling endeavor."-- IRC Committee Member Lawrence F. McMahon, AFSB, Executive Vice President, Surety Manager, Construction Services Group, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
NASBP Industry Relations Committee Leadership
Chair: Zach Mendelson, EPIC
Vice Chair: Mike Specht, INSURICA Southwest
Incoming Vice Chair: Jill Tucker, Insurance Underwriters
Industry Relations Committee Mission:
The Industry Relations Committee increases the Association’s outreach to and presence with construction industry associations, focusing specifically on organizations whose membership includes those that require, purchase, or are the beneficiaries of surety bonds. The Committee seeks opportunities to convey the importance of surety bonds and the role of the bond producer through various means, including speaking engagements and the dissemination and placement of articles and other materials.
- Task Group 1 - Help NASBP Choose Topics and Find Authors for NASBP Articles and Blogs
- Task Group 2 - Help NASBP Make Members Aware of the NASBP PR Campaign’s Producer Communications Toolkit 2.0 (login required to access the Toolkit 2.0 pdf)
- Task Group 3 - Help NASBP with PR Campaign Videos
- Task Group 4 - Help NASBP Create Messages for Social Media Posts About the Surety Product
- Task Group 5 - Volunteer to Speak About the Surety Product to Industry Organizations
- Task Group 6 - Volunteer to Provide a Quote or Soundbite for NASBP's and Other Publications
The IRC maintains ongoing liaisons with many construction associations and other groups. NASBP involvement with these groups is as varied as the groups are. These groups include, but are not limited to, the following: American Arbitration Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, American Institute of Architects, Associated General Contractors of America, Construction Financial Management Association, Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, ConsensusDocs, Design Build Institute of America, Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee, Risk Management in Underground Construction Course, U.S. Small Business Administration, and many others.
Interested in joining the Industry Relations Committee? Please contact the Committee staff liaison Kathy Hoffman, Director of Communications, at
khoffman@nasbp.org. Fill out the
Committee Interest Form. Learn about all of the NASBP Committees
here.