Curious how AI is shaking up federal bid protests? In this episode hosts Kat Shamapande and Mark McCallum talk with attorney David Timm about GAO Federal Bid protests, and AI pitfalls like hallucinated citations. Tune in for expert insight, real-world examples, and strategies to stay compliant and credible. Check out the Surety Bond quarterly articles mentioned during this episode, Togiak Case Redefines Bid Bond Enforcement Standards and GAO Warns Protesters of AI Sanctions. Its important to note that when this episode was recorded, there hadn't been any sanctions, but that changed on September 25th, 2025, when the GAO sanctioned a pro se protester.

With special guest:

David Timm, Associate, Burr & Forman LLP

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

Curious about the state of the surety industry? Ryan Work, President and CEO of The Surety & Fidelity Association of America, joins the hosts of Let's Get Surety to break down key trends, legislative priorities, and how data is aiding surety industry advocacy efforts. Additionally, he discusses the recent surge in private bonding, 2025 Q2's surprising loss ratio drop, and how SFAA's Foundation invests in future talent. Don't miss this timely overview of the numbers and insights driving surety interests forward today. Get more info on the EY study mentioned during this episode or listen to the Virtual Event and explanation by SFAA's Peter Roth.

With special guest:

Ryan Work, President & CEO, The Surety & Fidelity Association of America

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Liberty Mutual Surety!

Curious how a surety professional can influence the laws that protect our industry? Join us as our guests, Larry LeClair of NASBP, Alan Starks of Christensen Group Insurance, and Matt Cocco of Smith Brothers Insurance, as they discuss why advocacy is vital to the surety industry, how easy and rewarding the Federal Legislative Fly-in is, and how you can make a real impact in Washington. Get more information on attending the Federal Legislative Fly-in now! Don't miss it! Also check out the Surety Bond Quarterly article titled, "A Family Experience at the Legislative Fly-in" mentioned during this episode!

With special guests:

• Larry LeClair, Director, Government Relations, NASBP
• Alan Starks, NASBP's GR Committee Chair and Senior Vice President – Surety, Christensen Group Insurance
• Matt Cocco, NASBP's GR Committee Vice Chair and Surety Risk Advisor, Partner, Smith Brothers Insurance

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Old Republic Surety!

How does a surety company with South American roots break into the U.S. market? In this episode of "Let's Get Surety," Kat Shamapande and Mark McCallum talk with Andrés Álamos and Sharyl Markovits of Avla US about entering the Texas surety market, facing challenges, and serving small and mid-size contractors using tech-driven solutions. Hear how they feel their global experience can lead to local successes in the US.

With special guests:

Andrés Álamos, CEO, Avla US and Sharyl Markovits, Head of Contract Surety, Avla US

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Old Republic!

How are importers adapting to major changes in Canada's importing process? In this episode of "Let's Get Surety," we chat with Sheila Thompson of Rosenberg & Parker of Canada and Cristina Hagivreta, Commercial Surety Manager at Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company, who return to share insights on the rollout of the Canada Border Services Agency's CARM system and its financial security requirements. Hear what has worked, what bumps have occurred along the way, and what importers need to know now to stay compliant and avoid delays in importing goods into Canada. You can also check out the last episode on this topic, #121 Preparing for CARM: Changes in Canada's Importing Process, to see how far this process has come and check out the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to stay up to date on this issue!

With special guests:

Sheila Thompson, President, Rosenberg & Parker of Canada, Inc. and Cristina Hagivreta, Manager, Commercial Surety, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Old Republic!

Are you curious about a dynamic and rewarding career you may not have heard of? Join us for a conversation with Darrel Lamb, Senior Vice President at Old Republic Surety. We discuss the entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of relationship-building, and the real-world impact of careers in surety. Discover why surety professionals find their jobs so fulfilling and how they contribute to community development, solve problems, and thrive in this specialized industry!

With special guest:

Darrel Lamb, Senior Vice President – Business Development, Old Republic Surety Company

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Old Republic!

Curious about reinsurance and its impacts in the surety market? Join us on this episode as we chat with experts Brian Fiore of Aon, Stephen Haney of Chubb Surety, and Jeff Ryan of Partner Re to uncover what reinsurance is, why it is important to the surety market, and how it can drive growth, manage risk, and support major infrastructure projects. Plus, don't miss a lighthearted debate on the best Philly cheesesteak! Check out episode #135 Unveiling America's Infrastructure: Progress, Problems and Possibilities for more about the latest ASCE Infrastructure Report Card that was mentioned during this episode.

With special guests:

• Brian Fiore, Senior Managing Director, Aon
• Stephen Haney, Division President, North America Surety, and Chief Underwriting Officer, Global Surety, Chubb Surety
• Jeff Ryan, Business Unit Leader, Financial Risks, Partner Re

Hosted by:

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

Sponsored by Old Republic!

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!