Let's Get Surety – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What happens when construction projects go wrong? In this episode, dispute resolution expert Steve Nelson of Markel Surety shares proactive strategies to avoid, manage, and resolve conflicts before they derail a job or result in costly claims, from structuring stronger contracts to deploying standing neutrals before tensions boil over. Discover how surety professionals can spot trouble early, drive better outcomes for clients, and help clients prevent disputes from jeopardizing projects. Glean information with the aim of protecting profitability, preserving relationships, and staying ahead of the risk curve.

With special guest:

Steve Nelson, Executive Vice President/Senior Director, ADR Services, Markel Surety

Hosted by:

Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP

Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

In this episode of Let's Get Surety®, we sit down with Brad Robinson of Ward & Robinson, a CPA who has served on the financial leadership teams of both general contractors and subcontractors. Brad brings a unique, dual-perspective lens to today's most pressing risk-management challenges. Brad shares hard-won lessons from the field, including where prequalification processes often break down, how subs can better position themselves, how General Contractors evaluate risk, and why a strong surety relationship is one of the most valuable differentiators in today's market. Smart, practical, and candid—this is an episode every surety and construction professional should hear.

With special guest:

Brad Robinson, Partner, Ward & Robinson LLC

Hosted by:

Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP

Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

Accounting standards can have quite an impact on surety, but how is the surety industry involved in shaping those standards? Dive into this episode of Let's Get Surety as we talk with David Pesce, Head of Surety with Munich Re Specialty - North America, about the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and its Private Company Council (PCC). Discover how these groups shape financial reporting and why and how surety professionals can get involved. Tune in for insights, examples, and how you can be part of the process!

With special guest:

David Pesce, Head of Surety, Munich Re Specialty - North America

Hosted by:

Kat Shamapande, Director, Professional Development, NASBP and Mark McCallum, CEO, NASBP

Sponsored by Old Republic!

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!