As National Commercial Surety Practice Leader, Greg has dedicated himself to providing the best possible service to his clients. He takes pride in negotiating and structuring very competitive surety programs, which have resulted in improved program terms and cost savings for his clients. Greg also handles the surety needs of various contractor clients.

Ken is SVP, CUO Commercial for Global Surety. He oversees both Core and Transactional Commercial. Ken started his surety career as a college hire with The Fireman’s Fund in 1978. He worked in NYC and Long Island, NY as a contract and commercial underwriter. In 1978 he became a Surety Manager at SAFECO in N.Y.C.. In 1990 he transferred to Mahwah, NJ to become the Regional Commercial Manager, handling the entire Northeast Region for SAFECO. In 2003 Ken was promoted to RVP of the Northern and Midwest Regions, and after the merger with Liberty, was appointed RVP for the Northeast.   In 2010 he was promoted to his current role. In August 2023 he will celebrate 45 years in Surety. 

Craig L Gortner, CPCU, AFSB is a 37-year surety professional, currently serving as the Senior Vice President and  National Underwriting Director of Chubb Commercial Surety. Based in Philadelphia, Craig is responsible for implementing Chubb’s underwriting strategy for Chubb’s Commercial Surety clients in the North America and managing a Home Office Referral team, which is a resource to Chubb’s regional field staff, brokers, and clients. In addition, Craig is responsible for facilitating access of US and Canadian clients to Chubb’s international surety network, and training and development of our Commercial Surety underwriters.

Prior to assuming this role in April 2020, Craig was the Senior Vice President and Director of Chubb’s Eastern US and Canadian Commercial Surety operation. Prior to joining ACE (which acquired Chubb), Craig spent 17 years in the field, primarily in New York City, and upon moving to Philadelphia in the aftermath of 9-11, in Home Office positions handling commercial and large construction clients headquartered around the world.

Craig  is a past Chairman of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) Commercial Surety Committee and is the current Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee of the SFAA.

Tara brings over 25 years of underwriting, marketing, and management experience in the surety industry.  Tara had an integral role on the leadership team hired to launch Argo Surety in 2008, which successfully became a top ten surety carrier with one of the lowest loss ratios in the industry.  At Argo, she drove underwriting and marketing strategy in various positions including National Underwriting Officer as well as Senior Vice President overseeing the Commercial Surety field organization of 30 underwriters.  

Prior to joining Argo, Tara was Managing Director at Travelers, New York City Metro responsible for a $30 million Commercial Surety portfolio. 

Based in Houston, Pat is Sompo Surety’s U.S. National Underwriting Officer.  This role encompasses portfolio management and credit modelling responsibilities for the U.S. Surety book, reinsurance placement activities, and other facets of surety executive leadership. Pat brings 15+ years industry experience to Sompo and its broker partners.  This experience includes underwriting and broking a variety of companies within the Fortune 2000 and private company equivalents, energy risks, and all facets of the surety life cycle including complex credit analysis, mergers and acquisitions, private equity involvement, collateral structures, and claims management. 

Prior to Sompo, Pat worked to build JLT Specialty’s surety brokerage practice in the United States with an emphasis in Energy as JLT’s Energy Surety Practice Leader.  Upon Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.’s acquisition of JLT, Pat became a Senior Vice President in Marsh JLT’s Surety Practice.  Prior to Marsh JLT, Pat worked at RLI Insurance Company in RLI’s Surety Group.  

Pat earned a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.B.A. in Economics from Loyola University of Chicago. He also holds the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) certification.  Pat serves on the Houston Advisory Board for Heroes for Children, an organization that advocates for and provides financial assistance to families with children battling cancer.

Susan has 30 years of experience in the surety industry. She has worked for the top large surety companies, the mid-size, and smaller companies. For the past 20 years, she has focused primarily on commercial surety, driving profitable results by developing long-term strategic partnerships. Susan enjoys training and educating others on surety bonds. She is a published author on commercial surety topics. When not working, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, including her four children and two dogs, relaxing on a beach, and exercising.

Carl Oliveri is the Construction Practice Leader and a partner at Grassi. Carl possesses over 20 years of experience advising owners and executives within the Construction industry, particularly in regards to project-centric and companywide financial modeling, operational strategy development, financial statement attest services and income tax method analysis. This extensive industry experience allows him to provide insight and advice to construction clients on marketplace trends and best practices.

A thought leader in the industry, Carl has presented at national construction conferences hosted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Construction Industry CPAs and Consultants (CICPAC) associations and across the Metropolitan area, including at the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) Construction Conference and the New York metropolitan trade associations’ events. Additionally, he has published articles on an array of contemporaneous issues impacting the construction community.

Carl is currently participating on the Construction Financial Management Association’s (CFMA) Emerging Issues Task Force and is a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers CPA Advisory Board. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of CICPAC, where he currently serves 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 board of the Institute of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (ICCIFP), and was the chairperson for the NYSSCPA 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 degree in Accounting and his Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from the York College of Pennsylvania.

Dana Thompson is the Washington Representative for Women Construction Owner's and Executives.

"JB" is Vice President with Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies specializing in government affairs with 19 years in advocacy, policy, and strategic initiatives. He began working in the Federal policy arena in October 2001 as an aide to a U.S. Senator. In 2005, JB was hired by John M. Palatiello & Associates, a public affairs consulting firm which merged with Miller/Wenhold in 2018. He is the registered federal lobbyist for the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and was the first Government Affairs Manager for MAPPS. JB is also the lead staffer for the Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services (COFPAES) since 2005, the Business Coalition for Fair Competition (BCFC) since 2009, the Digital Coast Partnership and Advocacy Coalition since 2012, the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Coalition since 2014, and the Coalition for the White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB) since 2015. JB now lobbies for the Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Association, the U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization (USGEO), and the Geospatial Equipment & Technology Institute (GETI).

Mike Oscar is the Government Relations Director at the American Subcontractors Association (ASA). 

Mr. Howard is the Director of the Federal and Heavy Construction Division at the Associated General Contractors of America in Washington, D.C. He received his J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and earned his B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in English and Political Science from Texas Tech University. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland.  

Larry is Director of Government Relations at the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) where he assumed that role in January 2010. Prior to joining NASBP, Larry has advocated for policy interests on behalf of trade and professional associations for over 25 years at both the state and federal level, which includes the American Tort Reform Association, the American Institute of CPAs and the North American Securities Administrators Association. 

In his role as Director of Government Relations at NASBP, Larry is the chief lobbyist for the association on Capitol Hill representing its interest on issues such as the SBA Bond Guarantee Program, preserving the Federal Miller Act, and educating and engaging members of Congress and their staff concerning the importance of the surety bond product.

Larry received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine and his Masters Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.  Larry, his wife Barb, and their Welsh Corgi Jack, live in Potomac, MD.  

Jonathan J. Dunn is a partner in SMTD Law LLP’s Irvine, California office. Jonathan focuses his practice in construction practices, surety law, creditor's rights and remedies, including bankruptcy and work-outs, and transactions relating to construction, debtor/creditor and commercial matters. Prior to forming SMTD, Jonathan was a partner at an international law firm, an in-house attorney with two national bonding companies where he handled construction defaults in the Western United States, and active in his family’s construction business. Jonathan is asked to write and speak frequently, and has written numerous articles and presentations. Jonathan is a vice chair of the AGC-California Legal Advisory Committee, active in the ABA’s Forum on Construction Law section, a prior Vice Chair of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, as well as involved in numerous other construction and surety associations and legal bar organizations. Jonathan obtained his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law (formerly Univ. of Puget Sound L.S.), and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UCLA in 1989. Jonathan is licensed to practice in California, as well as various federal, special and bankruptcy courts.

Derek Popeil is a  in the Surety Claims department with over 30 years of experience in the surety industry. He has been with Chubb for the last 9 years. He initially started his career as an Associate General Counsel for First Indemnity of America Insurance Company. After 10 years with First Indemnity of America Insurance Company, he left to enter the private practice of law where he handled construction and surety claims and litigation in representation of numerous sureties. Derek graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1988 receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1991, he received his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in both federal and state courts of New York and New Jersey.

Matt Baker is a partner in Watt Tieder’s McLean, Virginia office concentrating his practice in the areas of construction, government contracts, surety, and commercial litigation.   Matt has assisted clients with disputes arising from a wide range of vertical and horizontal construction projects including transit and light rail, highway and utility projects, marine construction, airports, buildings, embassies, and schools.  Matt has further represented clients in connection with a variety of matters including payment disputes, changes clause claims, design defects,  delay claims, False Claims Act (“FCA”) litigation, and indemnity claims.  Matt is also a frequent speaker, panelist, and author on topics involving the intersection of the law and the construction and surety industries.

Bill Groscup counsels and advises owners, general contractors, subcontractors and sureties with respect to contract administration, claim preparation, dispute resolution and litigation both domestically and abroad. His experience includes contract drafting and negotiations, claim advice, strategies for contract administration, dispute resolution and litigation on a wide spectrum of commercial construction projects, including power plants, mass transit systems, tunnel projects, overseas military bases, railway bridges, and luxury hotels.

With more than 35 years of experience, Jack Callahan serves as CohnReznick's Construction Industry Leader overseeing a team of 200 professionals across the United States. He has served as a trusted advisor to contractors throughout their entire lifecycle demonstrating exemplary client satisfaction building a reputation as a results-oriented leader dedicated to driving company growth and transformation. Jack and his team have worked extensively with both private developers and public agencies to develop and implement fiscal and integrity monitoring programs to successfully mitigate the costs of fraud, waste, and abuse on large development projects. Jack was the lead partner for CohnReznick on the monitoring and investigative work performed at Ground Zero and continues to spearhead the ongoing initiatives at LaGuardia and O’Hare airports. Jack has extensive knowledge, insights, and experience in accounting, corporate taxation, and business consulting matters within the construction community and values his well-earned role as trusted business advisor.

Jack joined CohnReznick in August 2005 after serving as the managing shareholder of a leading private New Jersey accounting firm. He is actively involved in all aspects of the Construction and Engineering industry and a member of numerous industry trade groups. Jack got involved early in creating a support role for Public Private Partnerships, is an active member of American Institute for the Advancement of American Infrastructure. Jack’s individual accomplishments include his status as a Mole and serving on their finance committee, role as Treasurer for ACE Mentor Program of NY, and the Minority Business Development Institute. He presents regularly at conferences and is well known as an industry thought leader presenting on webinars, publishing business articles, and providing insights on social media through various industry trade groups and firm publications.

Will Gruy us a Senior Consultant with FMI, in that role he works with companies across the U.S. serving the built environment with an emphasis on operational improvement and strategic thinking. He specializes in corporate strategy, using a research and evidence-based approach to achieve improved financial results through organizational focus. 

With a background in information technology consulting focused on project management, analytics and business strategy, Will brings a unique viewpoint to strategic discussions and implementations.   

Prior to FMI, Will worked as an IT consultant for a major consulting firm. He developed operational improvement tools for managers that utilized the constant flow of data produced by operations. These tools increased the productivity of both personnel and assets deployed and provided better information to support organizational decision making. 

John Guglielmo is the President of U.S. Commercial Surety at Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions. John has over 25 years of experience in the surety industry.

Previously, he was the Vice President of Surety at ACE USA from September 2004 to July 2012. Prior to that, he was the Vice President at Avalon Risk Associates from March 2000 to August 2004.

John began his career in the surety industry as an Underwriter at American International Group (AIG) from January 1996 to September 1997. John then moved to Amwest Surety Insurance Company from September 1997 to March 1999 where he worked as a Senior Underwriter - Surety.

John has a degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

Tony is an industry-recognized executive with 30 years of experience. Prior to joining Everest, Tony was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of a surety managing general underwriter (Suremerica) representing XL Catlin.  He oversaw all aspects of the international MGU platform.  Tony spent the majority of his career employed by AIG in a variety of domestic and international senior product-line roles.  He led the Surety operations in the U.S. and Canada where he focused on developing contract, commercial and international surety business.  Before assuming this role, he managed AIG’s international Fidelity and Financial Institution books.  During his career he has underwritten and managed all segments of the surety product line, including: small, mid and jumbo contract, commercial and international business.  Prior to joining AIG, Tony was a field underwriter within CIGNA’s New York regional surety office, and participated in the company’s merger with Liberty Mutual.  

He completed studies at St. Peter’s University and holds a B.S. degree in Accounting.

Rachel Walsh is Regional Vice President – Northeast Claims for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Before joining Liberty Mutual, she practiced at Krebs, Farley & Pelleteri, PLLC in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she focused on surety and fidelity law and construction litigation. Ms. Walsh received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans in 2007 and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Tulane University in 2004. She serves as an Assistant Bar Examiner for the State of Louisiana, routinely speaks at American Bar Association and industry events regarding various aspects of surety law, and additionally serves as a Vice President of the Philadelphia Surety Claims Association. 

Barron Avery, who leads the firm's government contracts practice, advises and represents government contractors and subcontractors in a wide range of matters involving all aspects of federal government contracting. With substantial knowledge of the rules and regulations that drive the government contracts industry, Barron provides knowledgeable day-to-day advice and counseling to government contractors.

Complementing his government contracts counseling practice, Barron has experience litigating matters on behalf of government contractors and subcontractors. He regularly brings and defends bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), representing clients in a wide range of industries. He also has experience litigating contract disputes before the COFC and boards of contract appeals, particularly the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), as well as other federal contract appeals boards.

Clara Kollm practices high-stakes commercial litigation, with a focus on complex government contracting issues.  Clara has appeared before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and has experience representing commercial item subcontractors in federal False Claims Act ligation.  Clara also focuses on software licensing and implementation disputes. In one such dispute, she obtained a unanimous defense verdict for a Fortune 25 company after a two-week jury trial. She has litigated issues related to business torts, breaches of contract, and the Contracts Disputes Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Voting Rights Act, and Copyright Act.

Clara holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as a senior editor on the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. Prior to attending law school, she worked in New Delhi, India with a waste management nonprofit. Previously, Clara served as a judicial intern for Judge Paul L. Friedman of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Sarah-Jane Lorenzo focuses her practice on regulatory compliance matters, government contracts, and related litigation. Before law school, Sarah-Jane worked as a journalist and spent time as a research associate at an education policy nonprofit where she analyzed trends in state and federal legislation. Her publications have been featured in or cited by national news outlets including The Washington Post, National Review, and Politico. Sarah-Jane is admitted in Ohio only, and her practice is supervised by Texas Bar members.

During law school, Sarah-Jane served on the editorial board of the Virginia Journal of International Law and participated in the law school’s First Amendment Clinic.