Let's Get Surety

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by Nathan Wonder of CAC Specialty who shares perspectives and updates on alternative energy bonding. We discuss the growth and changes in the Solar and Wind power industries and the need to standardize the bond forms in the alternative energy space. Nathan also touches on bonding opportunities on the horizon in the burgeoning hydrogen and carbon sequestration and geothermal energy industries. Check out Nathan's past presentations, “Future Opportunities in Surety: Navigating Changing Landscapes” which was part of the NASBP April 2021 Virtual Event as well as the Virtual Seminar titled “Shedding Light on Surety in the World of Solar Power” and the Surety Bond Quarterly article he authored with the same title. With special guest: Nathan Wonder, Vice President, Surety - Natural Resources, CAC Specialty Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by federal executives John Miller of the Office of Capital Access and Jermaine Perry of the Office of Surety Guarantees at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), who share perspectives and information regarding SBA’s capital access lending and bond guarantee programs, which benefit and strengthen small businesses by giving them the capital and credit needed to progress and thrive. Find out more about these federal programs available to small construction businesses nationwide at https://www.sba.gov. With special guests: John Miller, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Capital Access at U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Jermaine Perry, Director, Office of Surety Guarantees, Office of Capital Access, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by Cash McMillen of The Cashion Company and Brianna Stephenson of Parrot Surety Services to discuss their surety careers. They share how they found their careers in surety, what their roles and tasks are during a typical day on the job, and how they knew that they had found much more than a job with their surety careers. Both Cash and Brianna share advice for those looking for a career and encourage them to consider a career in surety.  With special guests: Cash McMillen, CIC, Partner, Executive Vice President – Operations-Insurance and Bonding, The Cashion Company, Inc. and Brianna Stephenson, Surety Bond Specialist & Marketing Manager, Parrot Surety Services Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic!  

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by Government Relations staff Larry LeClair of NASBP and Mike Oscar of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) to discuss current federal legislative initiatives that NASBP and ASA are working together on and significant recent wins! They discuss efforts to amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to ensure performance and payment protections are in place on WIFIA funded projects, as well as pursuing proposed legislation on bonding federal P3 projects, and introduction of H.R. 2726 the Small Business Payment and Performance Act, which will remedy situations in which small construction businesses are forced to finance federal contracting agency unilateral change orders. Get more information from NASBP about advocacy efforts by signing up for NASBP’s Focal Point, an electronic legislative/regulatory bulletin, and find out more about ASA’s advocacy work on their website and in their magazine Contractor’s Compass. With special guests: Lawrence LeClair, Director, Government Relations, NASBP and Michael Oscar, Director of Government Relations, American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic!

Are you curious how blockchain technology is changing the surety industry? On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by Greg Davenport of Liberty Mutual Surety and Sandy Hampel of The Institutes RiskSteam Collaborative to discuss the substantial strides a broad industry effort facilitated by The Institutes RiskSteam Collaborative has made exploring blockchain technology to digitize surety processes. Davenport and Hampel discuss how blockchain technology can generate greater efficiency in processes by, for example, allowing faster verification and authentication of bonds. They relate the impressive work now being accomplished with surety and technology partners, including the ability to provide demonstrations of proofs of concept at NASBP’s recent 2023 Annual Meeting, and the plans for 2024. Check out Greg’s past episode that touched on the earlier days of this process titled, “Blockchain Technology in Surety” and visit The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative online to get more information. With special guests: Greg Davenport, Sr. Vice President, Global Risks, Liberty Mutual Surety and Sandy Hampel, Director Life & Annuity and Commercial Lines Products, The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by three women executives from Liberty Mutual Surety, Patty Catanese, Renee Llewellyn, and Cissie Scoggin-Saslaw, who stepped away from the excitement and networking at NASBP’s 2023 Annual Meeting to chat with us. We learn about their career paths, how they have grown their careers in a male-dominated industry, how the makeup of the surety industry has grown and become more diverse, and some of the exciting programs that Liberty Mutual Surety has put in place to attract, retain, and provide a path to leadership for women in surety, such as their Women’s Resource Network. With special guests: Patty Catanese, Northeast Regional Vice President – Surety Field Operations, Liberty Mutual Surety Renee Llewellyn, Senior Vice President, Surety Plus, Liberty Mutual Surety Cissie Scoggin-Saslaw, Southeast Regional Vice President - Surety Field Operations, Liberty Mutual Surety Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode, we are joined by NASBP President Patrick Pribyl of Lockton Companies, who shares information on the many exciting events in store during his presidential term. Patrick also shares stories regarding his journey as an NASBP member and volunteer and how his experiences lead him to his theme “All In.” You can follow these links to get information on how you can be All In with NASBP through the many opportunities that Patrick mentions during the episode: attending the NASBP Fall Meetings, attending the NASBP 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo, attending future NASBP Surety Schools and other Educational events, and joining an NASBP Committee. With special guest: Patrick Pribyl, National Surety Team Leader - Senior Vice President, Lockton Companies Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by economist Dr. Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group, just minutes before he stepped on the stage at NASBP’s 2023 Annual Meeting to share his keynote presentation. Anirban shares his thoughts on some of the major factors shaping economic outcomes today and offers insights into what’s to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter. With special guest: Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group, Inc. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by renowned keynote speaker Ross Bernstein, best-selling sportswriter and author, just minutes after stepping off the stage at NASBP's 2023 Annual Meeting. Ross shares his thoughts, insights, and stories on how passionate people can become champions in life and in careers. With special guest: Ross Bernstein, Best-Selling Sportswriter and Author Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode of Let’s Get Surety®, we are joined by Carmen Duarte of Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions to talk about building a more diverse and inclusive industry. We discuss the changing demographics of today’s world at work and how we can move forward to expand profitability and success through building a more diverse workforce! We also discuss some of the challenges we face in attracting new people to the surety industry and Carmen shares ideas of tactics to overcome these hurdles as well as the progress that she has seen on this front in her role at Intact. You can hear more from Carmen at NASBP’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Marco Island, FL where she joins other panelists for a presentation titled, The Rapidly Changing World of Employee Onboarding, Retention and Management” Hope to see you there! With special guest: Carmen Duarte, VP Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact, Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!