Let's Get Surety

On this episode, we are joined by Susan Jordan of Westfield Surety for a discussion on the interesting world of court bonds comprised of judicial bonds and fiduciary bonds, and why you should be interested in them too! Susan walks us through various types of judicial bonds including plaintiff bonds and defendant bonds and the surety and underwriting considerations related to them. Then we dive into the many types of fiduciary bonds and the related surety and underwriting considerations in that arena! Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Nationwide!

On this episode, we are joined by attorney and former construction company executive Bill Ernstrom, of Ernstrom ADR, to discuss use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes to solve construction disputes. Bill discusses various types of ADR and the many advantages of those processes as compared to litigation. Bill also relates the importance of reading and understanding your contract and the importance of considering and including ADR during contract negotiations rather than when a problem arises. You may also want to check out the previous episode that Bill joined us on, “#45 Read (and Understand) Your Contract!” Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Nationwide!

NASBP is excited to continue the 2021 series of Let’s Get Surety episodes focusing on guests and topics selected by the NASBP 5-15 Leadership Committee. This special series is titled Lean into Leadership: Talking Surety with the 5-15 and focuses on current issues and challenges that members of the 5-15 Leadership Committee face as young producers in the industry. In this episode, we are joined by 5-15 committee members Jase Hamilton of Cavignac & Associates and Michael Lischer of IMA Financial Group, Inc., who discuss what they see coming on the road ahead as surety professionals navigate the current pandemic environment and envision the post-pandemic surety world. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

On this episode, we are joined by Isaias “Cy” Alba and Matt Feinberg, partners at the law firm of PilieroMazza PLLC, who discuss the significance of the False Claims Act in relation to construction firms and their surety professionals. Cy and Matt review what the False Claims Act is and why it’s important for contractors, subcontractors, sureties, and bond producers to be well informed by identifying real-world cases of FCA violations. Additionally, Cy and Matt call attention to ways in which the risks of FCA claims and attendant damages can be mitigated. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

On this episode we are joined by Todd Regan, a Partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP and participant on NASBP’s Attorney Advisory Council, to discuss recent case law in which the court held that, if the obligee does not default the subcontractor, then the obligee cannot recover under the bond. We talk through the Arch Insurance Co. v. Graphic Builders case and discuss how the court’s ruling provides an important illustration for surety professionals and contractors to consider. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

On this episode, we are joined by attorney and former construction company executive Bill Ernstrom, of Ernstrom ADR, to discuss elements of risk management and the critical importance of reading and understanding the construction contract. Bill remarks on the surprising revelation that often construction contracts are not read by parties and on why it is so important to both read and continue to reference the construction contract throughout a project. Bill also relates the importance of standardized contracts, like those published by ConsensusDocs, as baselines or starting points for contract negotiations. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

On this episode, we are joined by Mark Munekawa, Senior Vice President of Surety at Woodruff Sawyer, and the NASBP Immediate Past President, for a conversation on SPACs or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies. During our conversation, Mark outlines what SPACs are, describes why SPACs are a growing trend and explains why it is important for surety industry professionals to understand them. Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

On this episode, Todd R. Braggins of Ernstrom & Dreste, LLP joins us to share information about the decision by the surety to finance a defaulting principal. Todd highlights specific red flags that might come into play and discusses important steps to follow as the decision to finance is considered. Todd also describes the important role bond producers can play to make this a better situation for all involved. For more information on this topic, check out Todd’s article in the Summer 2021 issue of Surety Bond Quarterly titled, “Profiles in Character: Two Tales of Financing – The Bond Producers Role” Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored By Old Republic Surety!

NASBP is excited to continue the 2021 series of Let’s Get Surety episodes focusing on guests and topics selected by the NASBP 5-15 Leadership Committee. This special series is titled Lean into Leadership: Talking Surety with the 5-15 and focuses on current issues and challenges that members of the 5-15 Leadership Committee face as young producers in the industry. In this episode, we are joined by 5-15 committee members Brian Ayres, of L A Surety Solutions a division of Alliant Insurance Services and Devin Moore, of Moore Surety Bonds Agency, who discuss the trials and rewards of starting their own agencies. They each offer stories and lessons they learned along the way! Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored By Liberty Mutual Surety!

On this episode, Zach Mendelson of EPIC Brokers and Mike Specht of INSURICA Southwest join us to share information about NASBP Be Guaranteed to Succeed Campaign, specifically the new Producer Communications Toolkit 2.0 that is designed to help bond producers have a conversation about and describe the value of the surety product. They discuss how they have used the Toolkit's many resources to successfully improve their marketing efforts to prospective clients and stakeholders, including project owners, lenders, architects and contractors. For more information, visit the Be Guaranteed to Succeed and check out the recording of, “Be Guaranteed To Succeed: How the New NASBP Producer Communications Toolkit Can Help You Sell More Bonds” for more details on how Zach and Mike have put the NASBP Producer Communications Toolkit 2.0 to work for themselves and their agencies! Hosted by: Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP Sponsored By Liberty Mutual Surety!