Get Ready! NASBP is Gearing Up for 2024 Events

Legislative Fly-in Is Always Rewarding to Everyone Who Attends 

The upcoming NASBP and SFAA Legislative Fly-in is already on my mind, and I hope you put the dates for it on your calendar: February 28-29, 2024. Those who have already attended a Fly-in will tell you it’s an interesting and fun opportunity to speak with your elected representatives and their staff and acquaint them with surety bonding. The 2023 Fly-in was a success, with attendees meeting with nearly 90 federal offices, and it was held in-person for the first time in over three years. In addition, our 5–15 group had outstanding participation, significantly bolstering the event.

The 2024 Fly-in will offer something new preceding the Legislative Fly-in. You’ll want to attend to see this exciting new program, an insightful “Washington Program,” where Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report, a well-known DC insider and frequent political pundit on NBC’s Meet the Press and the PBS NewsHour, will offer her political observations about the upcoming 2024 elections. Walter’s presentation will be followed by a moderated panel discussion with three senior surety company executives, Mike Ito of Amerisure, Rick Ciullo of Hartford, and Bob Murray of Zurich, providing their timely insights and addressing current surety market conditions and issues. After the “Washington Program,” Fly-in attendees are invited to a cocktail reception and orientation. The Hill appointments of attendees will be secured and coordinated by an outside consultant, simplifying the process of securing congressional meetings for all Fly-in participants. We urge all NASBP bond producers and all SFAA underwriters to come to Washington, DC, to attend both days. And, for the first time, Fly-in registration and all associated events are free for NASBP members and affiliates, so everyone can be “all in.”

Let’s make the 2024 Legislative Fly-in one that will break all the attendance records. Check back in a few weeks to learn more and to find out how to register for the Fly-in at nasbp.org. 

Enron Presentations at NASBP Fall Meetings Spark Interest in 2024 NASBP Annual Meeting Programs

As we move towards our 2024 NASBP Annual Meeting being held April 14-17, I wanted to remind folks of the efforts to date to educate our Association about the Enron loss and the profound impact it had back in the early 2000s. We, as an Association, are certainly not trying to highlight in any way what kind of bonds the surety industry should or shouldn’t support, but to be reflective that with any bond approvals come certain financial risks. We have been blessed with an incredibly profitable industry for a number of years. Are we certain, however, 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, some of which read more and more like the onerous bond forms that supported the Enron financial schemes? This is a cautionary tale worth remembering by surety professionals and is especially remembered by a President who has seen his fair share of hard markets.  

I was very proud of the content at both the NASBP East and West Fall Meetings. We are doing everything we can to obtain greater Member attendance in conjunction with the record attendance from our NASBP Affiliates and Associates. Our next NASBP Annual Meeting venue, Austin, Texas, is on track to be the largest NASBP Annual Meeting yet and your Co-Chairs, Matt Cashion and Mark Duggan, along with their Annual Meeting Planning Committee members, are working hard to make sure it will exceed your expectations. Be sure to practice your Texas Hold’em skills now, as this themed event at the 2024 NASBP Annual Meeting promises to be fun and exciting and will be in lieu of our traditional golf tournament.   

Let’s not forget to say thanks to Martha Perkins for planning and coordinating the awesome Enron Panel discussions and to Bethany Jones for all the planning efforts for the NASBP East and West Meetings and the Mid-year Board Meeting. Plus, thanks to all NASBP staff for their hand in making this year so amazing for Jamie and me! I cannot wait for what we have planned in 2024!

#AllIn4NASBP #AllIn4Surety