Dear Surety Friends,
I hope the NASBP membership is “ALL IN” for the 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo that will be held April 14 - 17 at the JW Marriott Austin in downtown Austin, TX.
Chairs Matt Cashion and Mark Duggan and their Program Committee have worked hard to develop content that will inspire our future, but also reflect on the past. Building off the 2023 NASBP Fall Meeting sessions, we continue to educate our members about the Enron loss and the profound impact it had in the early 2000s. Are we certain that the decisions we make today can withstand an economic downturn; and are we, as an industry, being mindful of the credit that is put at risk on bond forms? The 2023 NASBP Fall Meetings featured sessions on Enron that focused on failed leadership ethics and a deep-dive underwriting panel, and now in Austin we will hear from Andrew Fastow, former CFO of Enron, as a keynote speaker to give the final pieces of the Enron puzzle.
We will officially kick the meeting off on Sunday evening with a rooftop welcome reception at the JW Marriott Austin. And this year will feature multiple changes and updates, the most anticipated is a Tuesday afternoon themed entertainment event called “ALL IN Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament" (in lieu of a golf event). There is no entrance fee, as this event will be complimentary for all registered attendees and their registered spouses/guests who wish to participate, and will feature refreshments and snacks, heated competition, and fun prizes.
The Tuesday night final event will be a short walk up the street to the Speakeasy Austin, a truly unique venue, with multiple floors to explore, a rooftop terrace, local bourbon tasting, games, food and custom cocktails. Featuring different options for musical entertainment, you can dance the night away to '80s hits from the Spazmatics or opt for a quieter ambiance to have a conversation with background acoustic music. The venue will truly have something for everyone.
Now is the time to register and secure your hotel accommodations. We’ll keep you informed with periodic updates as we get closer to the event.
Jamie and I are looking forward to seeing you in April!
Best Regards,
Patrick Pribyl, NASBP President