NASBP New Sales Workshop for Surety Bond Professionals

NASBP will launch its first sales workshop designed by and for surety bond producers September 22-23, 2010 at the Lumiere Place Hotel & Casino, St. Louis, Missouri.

Facilitated by a Fortune 500 sales coach and top bond producers, the curriculum will introduce participants to a formal sales process that is tailored to the surety agency environment. Instructors will teach how different personal styles can be leveraged and how to use tools and techniques to improve client relationships, expand circles of influence, and increase production leads.

This sales workshop will be offered in a one and half day session leading up to the Regions 4,5,6, & 7 Annual Meeting and at the same hotel. Those planning to attend this Regional Meeting can take advantage of attending both of these important events in a single trip to St. Louis.

Registration for this event is limited to 40 participants. To register, click here. For more information about the sales workshop, contact Cathrine Nelson at cnelson@nasbp.org.

NASBP Risk Workshop scheduled for October 12-14 in San Diego, California

The 2010 offering of NASBP’s Risk Workshop: “Analyzing Risk and Understanding the Bid Process” will be held October 12-14 at the Loew’s Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California. This interactive workshop is scheduled three days immediately preceding the Region 1, 2, & 3 Annual Meeting at the same hotel. Those planning on attending the Regional Meeting in San Diego can arrive early and participate in both events in one convenient trip.

The Risk Workshop is designed to familiarize surety professionals with the contractor bidding process and all of the inherent risks. Participants will roll up there sleeves, roll out their blueprints, and put themselves in the demanding, time-sensitive, and overwhelming role of a general contractor, who is preparing a bid and must assess the contractual risk that may follow. This Workshop has been approved for continuing education credit.

The faculty is a line up of five esteemed industry experts including David A. Castillo, J. William Ernstrom, Mark H. McCallum, Leslie Shiner, and Brian Wasserman. David A. Castillo is with Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. where he oversees the construction practice for both surety and property/casualty in the firm’s Las Vegas, Nevada office. In his positions in banking and insurance, he has consulted with many construction companies helping them to secure financing and bonding. He is Chairman of the NASBP Professional Development & Education Committee and has been a faculty member of the NASBP William J. Angell Surety School since 2001.

J. William Ernstrom is Vice President for Major Strategic Projects for The Walsh Group, an ENR Top 15 National Construction Contractor. Formerly, Ernstrom was the General Counsel of Alberici Corporation. He was the founding partner in the law firm of Ernstrom & Dreste, LLP. For over 25 years, he focused his practice on the construction and surety industries.

Mark McCallum is Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers. He previously served as the Association’s General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, heading its government relations, industry relations, legal, and other functions. Prior to joining NASBP, McCallum was Senior Counsel & Executive Director of Programs and Industry Relations with the Associated General Contractors of America, and Associate Counsel with American Institute of Architects.

Leslie Shiner, author, speaker, and trainer, has more than twenty years of experience as a financial and management consultant for the construction industry and owner of The ShinerGroup, a consulting firm for contractors.

Brian Wasserman is an Assistant Professor in the Construction Management Department at Minnesota State University, where he instructs Estimating and Scheduling.

Make your plans to attend today! For detailed information and to register, click here.

2010 NASBP Summer Surety School Provides More Surety Professionals Invaluable Career Tools and Information

Once again, the industry’s premier educational program, the NASBP William J. Angell Surety School, for bond producers and underwriters attracted a large student body from around the country, as well as several students from abroad. The school was held for the first time in downtown San Diego. Students had full days in the classroom listening to lectures, participating in case studies, and working on group activities. In the evenings, they enjoyed San Diego’s many attractions.

The faculty for the 2010 Summer School included Paul Amstutz, Erle Benton, Matt Cashion, David Castillo, Tom Durkin, Jim Lareau, Larry McMahon, Tom Padilla, Ralph Pulver, and Bob Shaw. John Rindt, NASBP First Vice President, joined the faculty to present Ethics to the Level II students.

Luncheon Speaker, Harry Crowell (far left) pictured with other Insco Dico colleagues and David Castillo (third from left). From left, Stephanie Anderson, Tammy Barna, Dusty Rhodes, and Jillian McKenzie.

Harry Crowell, Chairman of the Insco Dico Group, was the Level II Eberle Foundation Luncheon Speaker. Crowell shared the lessons he has learned through his long, varied, and illustrious career. The central theme of his remarks centered on the importance of people to the success of a business and why he has been so personally committed throughout his career to hiring, developing and retaining the very best people.

The summer offering of the NASBP William J. Angell Surety School was held for the first time in San Diego, CA.

David Castillo (right) congratulated Matt Cashion (left) of The Cashion Company in Little Rock, Arkansas for his 20 years of service as a faculty member of the William J. Angell Surety School.

During the graduation ceremonies for the School, Matt Cashion, Secretary and Treasurer of The Cashion Company and Past President of NASBP, was honored for his 20 years of service as a member of the Surety School Faculty. David Castillo, Chairman of the NASBP Professional Development and Education Committee, recognized and thanked Cashion for his dedication and commitment to the School.

Cashion, who is a proud “Yellow Team” instructor, has served through the years as member of the faculty for both the Level I and Level II Schools. He is known by his students and fellow faculty members as an enthusiastic and engaging instructor who never tires of lending a hand, offering advice, or going the extra mile to ensure that every student has a productive experience at the School. Cashion’s energy and enthusiasm in the classroom, year in and year out, speak to his passion for the surety industry.

NASBP would like to thank Cashion for his outstanding dedication to the School and for sharing his personal career advice with so many students throughout those 20 years.

NASBP Congratulates Most Outstanding Pupils

NASBP congratulates all graduating students and recognizes the faculty for their generosity in sharing their time, talent, and expertise to educate the next generation of surety professionals.

At every session of the School, each class identifies, from among their peers, the
Most Outstanding Pupil (MOP). This is the student whose contribution in class impresses his or her peers the most. These students are recognized at graduation and, as tradition, receive a football signed by the other students and faculty. The summer session recognized the following outstanding students:

Level I Red Team – Outstanding Student was Jaquanda Martin (with football) of the Conner Strong Companies, Inc. Faculty (from left) David Castillo, Paul Amstutz, Tom Padilla, and John Rindt (NASBP First Vice President).

Level I Yellow Team – Outstanding Student was Stephen ‘Eric’ Matlaga (with football) of First Sealord Surety, Inc. Faculty members (from left): Matt Cashion, Erle Benton, Paul Amstutz, and John Rindt (NASBP First Vice President).

Level II Green Team – Outstanding Student was Pete Fennell (with football) of Fennell and Associates, Inc. Faculty (from left): Tom Padilla, Larry McMahon, and Paul Amstutz.

Level II Blue Team – Outstanding Student was Jason Ford (with football) of Surety Placement Services. Faculty members (from left): David Castillo, Tom Durkin, and Paul Amstutz.