Jerry Carozza is a senior counsel with Liberty Mutual Surety in their commercial surety claims unit.  Prior to joining Liberty, Jerry handled both contract and commercial surety claims for almost 30 years, including 24 as the head of bond claims for a regional carrier.  Earlier in his career, Jerry practiced commercial real estate development and debtor/creditor law in New Jersey and worked at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation liquidating failed thrifts in the 1990s, with a focus on environmentally challenged assets requiring remediation.  Blessed with two careers, Jerry also served in the Army Reserve for 26+ years where he rose to the rank of full Colonel and served in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.

Greg Veal is a Partner at Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin and is a member of the firm’s Fidelity, Surety, and Construction group with related experience going back to 1982. He has been with the firm since 1993, but he has first-hand experience in both a smaller, boutique construction partnership as well as a 200-lawyer firm. His career began during the time when fidelity and surety claims alike were handled by the same company representatives, and he continues to work in both areas today.  He was born in Augusta, Georgia, has practiced in the Atlanta area for over 40 years, and currently lives in Peachtree Corners with his wife of over 30 years.

Greg has written and spoken often for groups interested in fidelity, surety, and construction law topics, including the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (FSLC) of the Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the ABA (TIPS), the State Bar of Georgia’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), the Surety Claims Institute, and most frequently at conferences of the Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Association (SSFCA).

Carl Oliveri is the Construction Practice Leader and a Partner at Grassi. He has over 25 years of experience advising owners and executives in the Construction industry, particularly in project-centric and companywide financial modeling, operational strategy development, financial statement accounting services, and income tax method analysis. This extensive industry experience enables him to offer valuable insights and advice to construction clients on market trends and best practices.

Carl’s thought leadership in the industry is well-established. He has been a featured speaker at national construction conferences hosted by prestigious associations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Construction Industry CPAs and Consultants(CICPAC). His influence extends across the Metropolitan area, where he has presented at events organized by the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYCPA) and the Construction Conference, as well as various trade associations. Additionally, he has published articles on a wide range of contemporary issues impacting the construction community.

Carl is the Chairperson of the Construction Financial Management Association’s (CFMA) National Emerging Issues and a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers' CPA Advisory Board. Before that, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of CICPAC, currently serving as the Thought Leader Committee chair. He has also served on the board for the New York City Chapter of CFMA, held an at-large position on the Institute of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (ICCIFP) board, and was the Chairperson for the NYCPA Construction Contractors Committee.

Other professional affiliations include membership in the AICPA and the worldwide and New York City chapters of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Carl earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from the York College of Pennsylvania.

Hassan Khan is a Technology Consulting Partner at Grassi, leading the Technology Advisory Practice. He has over 20 years of experience in technology accounting, operations and business process optimization, strategy and governance, risk analysis, offshoring, and enterprise intelligence.

Hassan’s practice areas include the implementation of technology risk management frameworks, development of tailored regulatory compliance frameworks focused on GDPR, CCPA, GLBA, PCI, HIPAA, and FERPA, as well as IT platform/systems/infrastructure review, product strategy and innovation, and IT due diligence and crisis management. Hassan also has extensive experience in IT cost reduction, insourcing and outsourcing analysis, vendor negotiation, and end-to-end IT transformation.

Before joining Grassi, Hassan was a Managing Director at a national accounting firm. He worked with clients’ management, audit committees, and boards, providing independent, senior-level expertise that enabled executives to drive value from technology and improve business performance.

Hassan is licensed in New York as a Certified Systems Auditor and a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Robert J. Duke is Vice President and Legal Counsel for Markel Surety. Prior to joining Markel, Rob was Surety Legal Counsel for Euler Hermes North America. Previously, he was General Counsel for The Surety & Fidelity Association of America, the industry trade association for insurance companies that write surety bonds. 

Mr. Duke was in the surety and fidelity industry as a company underwriter and broker for 8 years before joining SFAA in 1999. Mr. Duke spent two years working in private law practice.

He has authored several articles on surety and fidelity topics.  

Mr. Duke graduated with a J.D. summa cum laude and first in class from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University in 2005. He graduated summa cum laude from Loyola College of Maryland in 1988 with a Bachelors in Business Administration and obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola College in 1992.  

Sam Finnerty is a trusted legal partner to government contractors, helping businesses secure, defend, and maximize federal contracting opportunities. With deep expertise in federal procurement, construction law, small business programs, and litigation, Sam provides strategic counsel to contractors navigating the complex world of government compliance and disputes.

A seasoned advocate, Sam represents contractors in high stakes bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition (ODRA), U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC), and state/local procurement agencies. He also defends and pursues small business size and socio-economic status protests before the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA). As a key member of the firm’s Government Contract Claims & Appeals Group, Sam has extensive experience handling Contract Dispute Act claims, requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), cure notice and show cause responses, terminations, and contract performance disputes.

Beyond litigation, Sam helps businesses leverage federal set-aside programs, advising on the 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and All Small Mentor-Protégé Programs. He drafts and negotiates teaming agreements, GSA CTAs, joint ventures, subcontracts, mentor-protégé agreements, and other contracts to ensure clients remain competitive in the federal marketplace. Additionally, Sam advises contractors on a diverse array of regulatory compliance issues arising under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and SBA regulations, including recertification, limitations on subcontracting, organizational conflicts of interest (OCI), adverse past performance evaluations (CPARs), security clearances (FCLs and PCLs), and affiliation. Sam also works closely with the firm’s Business & Transactions Group to guide contractors through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), due diligence, and novation agreements, ensuring seamless transitions in government contracting.

Sam is an active member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) GovConNet Council, which advocates on behalf of the contracting community. He also supports the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) by providing frequent trainings and instruction to its veteran-owned small business members.

Lauren represents commercial businesses in a variety of government contracting and litigation matters. As Chair of PilieroMazza’s REAs, Claims, and Appeals Group, she leads a team of attorneys who assist clients in every phase of the contract dispute process.

A highly skilled practitioner, government contractors benefit from Lauren’s substantial experience managing complex claims and appeals for contractors under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) and other applicable jurisdictional statutes. This experience is particularly valuable for contractors seeking monetary relief and time extensions from procuring agencies, as she adeptly handles cases at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and various boards of contract appeals. Lauren’s work in this area extends to advocating for the rights of contractors facing constructive changes, unjustified terminations, cure and show cause notices, and defective or vague specifications.

Lauren also offers clients guidance on bid protests, lease negotiations, GSA schedule compliance, multiple award contracts, and solicitation reviews. She is adept at counseling clients on suspension and debarment proceedings, mandatory disclosures, alternative dispute resolution, False Claims Act (FCA) actions, and other issues under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

 Lauren’s past experience includes assisting contractors on how to navigate the complex nature of Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) and host nation laws applied to contractors supporting missions in the Middle East and Europe.

Ralph began his surety career with the Travelers in 1985 in Albany, New York. Subsequently he has served in both home office and field management positions for Travelers, Continental Insurance and Amwest Surety Insurance Company. In 2001, he returned to Travelers where he serves as a Regional Underwriting Officer for Construction Services of Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance based in Hartford, Connecticut. He has underwriting responsibilities for Northeast Midwest territory as well as the Construction Services Express unit in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Ralph serves on the National Association of Surety Bond Producers’ (NASBP) Professional Development and Education Committee, Virtual Seminar Advisory Board, and the Emerging Contractor Committee. Ralph has been a faculty member for the NASBP’s William Angel Surety School since 1990 and involved with both the development and teaching of the Level II and Level III curriculum. In 2013, the NASBP awarded Ralph with the John J. Curtin Jr Presidents Award for his distinguished service to the surety industry.

Ralph also serves on the contract surety advisory board for the Minority Business Development Institute and assists the Surety and Fidelity Association of America with its initiatives in support of small and emerging contractor initiatives. He has served on the advisory committee for the Insurance Institute of America’s Associate in Surety and Fidelity Bonding designation program and is recognized by the Institute for contributing to the technical review of their AFSB 152 text book material.

Ralph is a cum laude graduate of Siena College. He received his Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bond designation in 1993.

Sam is the AVP of Surety Sales at Skillings Shaw & Associates.  Sam brings over 13 years of experience in the surety bond industry, specializing in managing complex bond portfolios, developing strategic partnerships, and driving growth through tailored solutions.  With a strong background in underwriting, client relationship management, and market analysis, Sam plays a key role in expanding the agency’s footprint across construction, commercial, and specialty bond markets. 

 Prior to his current role, Sam served as an Account Executive, working with contractors, developers, and businesses across a wide range of industries.  He worked closely with his clients to navigate complex underwriting requirements and secure the bonds they need to grow and operate with confidence.  Sam also started his career working with construction companies as a surety underwriter in Southern California.  

David Jean has over 25 years of experience in public accounting. He focuses primarily on financial accounting and consulting for construction, real estate, and manufacturing companies. David’s expertise is respected among New England’s construction community and endorsed nationally through his membership on The Certified Public Accountant Advisory Council, an exclusive, 8-member council formed to serve as the resource team for the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP).

In addition to providing traditional accounting and tax services, David provides specialized services such as overhead burden analyses, operational reviews, and benchmarking analyses. He regularly counsels our construction and real estate clients on industry best practices on matters such as strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, establishing and upgrading job costing systems, cost segregation, profit enhancement, and succession planning. David has written numerous articles and regularly develops and leads seminars on various industry-related tax and financial management issues. 

Colleen Clarke is Vice President, Surety, Roanoke Trade Services, Inc. She focuses on the review and analysis of CBP policy including new issues from the perspective of the surety underwriting group as well as the client services team. She manages the Roanoke Trade independent agent unit for U.S. Customs bonds. In 2008 Ms. Clarke was appointed to the 11th term of the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) where she participates in several subcommittees. She serves as co-chair of the Surety Account Subcommittee within the Trade Support Network (TSN) and works closely with CBP as a representative on the Customs/Surety Executive Committee (C/SEC).

Michelle has been involved in the International Trade Segment of the Insurance Field since 1993 holding various roles throughout her career in both agency and company surety operations. From 2009 to 2019 Michelle served as Vice President of Surety for Navigators Management Company, Inc. (NMC). In April of 2019, Navigators became a Brand of The Hartford where Michelle managed the Customs and Logistics Surety Division until moving to her current role as Vice President of Customs Surety at Tokio Marine HCC in 2022

John Sheppard has been with C.A. Shea & Company, Inc. for over 22 years, and is currently the Vice President. He oversees the day to day operations of the bond department and is responsible for underwriting and dealing with Customs on both the local and executive levels.

Alana L. Porrazzo is a partner in the Phoenix, Arizona, office of Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall LLP and licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana. She is a co-chair of the FSLC Law Division Bankruptcy Subcommittee and a member of the Arizona State Bar Association Construction Section Executive counsel. Ms. Porrazzo’s practice emphasizes defending bond claims and bad faith allegations, litigating performance defaults, prosecuting subrogation and indemnity claims, and representing sureties in principal and indemnitor bankruptcies. She studied at Yale University (B.A., 2009) and Tulane University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2016).

CHAD L. SCHEXNAYDER is a partner in the Phoenix office of Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall LLP. For more than 38 years, his practice has focused principally on the surety and construction industry, representing builders, public and private owners, design professionals, suppliers, sureties and insurers. He represents clients before agencies, mediators, arbitrators, and in state and federal courts, including U.S. bankruptcy courts, throughout the country. He is a Past Chair of the Fidelity and Surety Law Committee of the American Bar Association, Tort & Insurance Practice Section.  Mr. Schexnayder is an editor and author in numerous industry publications, including Surety Aspects of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, American Bar Association (2021) (ed.), and Chapter 145 in the New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition.  He has spoken before the American College of Construction Lawyers, Surety Claims Institute, American Bar Association, Pearlman Association, Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, National Association of Surety Bond Producers, West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, the Surety and Fidelity Association of America, and the Arizona State Bar Construction Law Section on bankruptcy, surety and construction law subjects.  He is a cum laude graduate of Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and a cum laude graduate of Washington University at St. Louis.

Tiffany Harrod is a partner at Peckar & Abramson's Houston and Austin offices. With over 14 years of experience, she focuses on construction and commercial litigation, representing clients in matters such as contract negotiations, lien and bond issues, defect claims, non-payment claims, alternative dispute resolution, and arbitrations. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section and is active in the State Bar of Texas.