Conference Overview

The Associated General Contractors of America will launch its 2013 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management with a reception running from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4. AGC will conclude the business activities with a lunch and special guest speaker on Wednesday, February 6, and host a closing reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on that Wednesday evening.

Between these other events, AGC will provide a steady stream of opportunities for the interaction that has become the hallmark of this annual event, including plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and other gatherings. Again in 2013, AGC hopes to challenge the thought leaders in the construction, surety and insurance industries to take a critical look at their policies, practices and procedures, and to identify their opportunities for further improvement.

Monday and Wednesday Meetings Before and After the Conference

On Monday, prior to the Opening Reception, AGC will host a meeting exclusively for the in house lawyers in the AGC family, and the Surety and Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) will host a meeting exclusively for the members of its Contract Bonds Advisory Committee. There is a small but separate registration fee for this AGC meeting, but there is no registration fee for the SFAA meeting.

On Wednesday afternoon, following lunch, and prior to the Closing Reception, AGC will host a wrap-up meeting exclusively for in-house risk managers and other representatives of the general and specialty contractors attending the conference. There is no registration fee for this wrap-up meeting.

Who Should Attend

This annual conference is intended for the in-house lawyers, in-house risk managers and other senior executives of the general and specialty contractors in the AGC family and their many counterparts in the surety and insurance industries. The conference will benefit anyone interested in controlling the cost of managing the risks inherent in a changing construction industry. Surety bonds, insurance policies, construction contracts and construction operations are all among the subjects open for discussion.

Host

Again in 2013, the AGC Forum on Surety Bonding and Risk Management will be the host. The Chair of this outstanding forum is Ed Littleton, Vice President, Risk Management, Balfour Beatty Construction, and the Vice-Chair is Don Naber, Corporate Risk Manager, Gilbane Building Co.

Schedule

Conference Schedule of Events

The conference will feature a total of nine breakout sessions on Tuesday, February 5, and another three on Wednesday, February 6.

Monday Meetings Before the Conference

On Monday, prior to the Opening Reception, AGC will host a meeting exclusively for the in house lawyers in the AGC family, and the Surety and Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) will host a meeting exclusively for the members of its Contract Bonds Advisory Committee.

*These three functions are limited to the in-house lawyers attending the pre-conference meeting specifically intended for the members of this group.

Wednesday Meeting After the Conference

On Wednesday afternoon, following lunch, and prior to the Closing Reception, AGC will host a wrap-up meeting exclusively for in-house risk managers and other representatives of the general and specialty contractors attending the conference.

Conference Agenda

The agenda for AGC’s 2013 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management remains a work in progress. But much of it is already in place. Among the items already on the agenda for the plenary sessions are the following:

• The Economic Muddle: A Look at the Latest Trends in Construction Spending and a Forecast for the Coming Year, Including a Hard Look at Federal Fiscal Policy and the Role It is Likely to Play
• How the Relatives are Doing: A Look at the Latest Data on the Performance of the Surety and Insurance Industries
• Pain Thresholds: How the Construction Industry's Leading CEOs Set Priorities and Determine Their Tolerance for Risk

And among the items already on the agenda for the breakout sessions are these:

• Picking Your Spots: How to Identify and Manage the Private Sector Risks Often Written into Construction Loan Agreements and the Public Sector Risks of a Municipal Bankruptcy
• Clean-Up and Recovery: Recent Experience with the Surety Bond Claim Process and Practical Suggestions for Improving It
• Coping with Climate Change: How to Deal with the Latest Legal and Market Restrictions on Contractual Indemnity, Additional Insured Endorsements, and Other Instruments of Traditional Risk Allocation
• Continuous Improvement: Recent Lessons Learned from the Subcontractor Prequalification Process
• The Changing Legal Landscape: An Update on the Latest Case Law on the Insurance Coverage that Contractors Require
• Which Way the Wind Blows: Where the Insurance Markets are Heading, Including Key Indicators for Today's Risk Managers
• I Love New York: The Severe Problems Currently Confronting New York and What the Entire Country Can Learn from Them
• Time for a Little Bonding: The Annual Summit Between and Among AGC, SFAA and NASBP

If you have any agenda items that you would like to suggest, please just send an email to Michael Kennedy at AGC of America at kennedym@agc.org!

Registration

AGC has automated the entire registration process. To reserve your seat, simply click on the "Register" button on the right. The system will then guide you through the remainder of the process. In addition to the business meetings you plan to attend, the system will ask you to identify the cocktail receptions you plan to attend.

Shortly after you complete the registration process, you should receive an email confirming your registration. If you do not, or you have any other problems with the process, please just contract Rockkie Dunton or Crystal Yates at AGC of America, as follows:

• Rockkie Dunton at duntonr@agc.org or 703-837-5304
• Crystal Yates at yatesc@agc.org or 703-837-5437

The registration fee for the 2013 conference is $415.00. The separate registration fee for pre-conference meeting for the in-house lawyers in the AGC family is $150.00. If you are among those lawyers, please note that you are welcome to register for just that meeting, or just the conference, or both.

There is no registration fee for the pre-conference meeting for the members of the SFAA's Contract Bonds Advisory Committee, or for the post-conference meeting for the in-house risk managers and other executives of the general and specialty contractors in the AGC family.

AGC's 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management is open to all members of the Associated General Contractors of America, the Surety Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers, and to their invited guests.

What's Included

In addition to the business meetings, the registration fee for the 2013 conference includes the cocktail receptions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the breakfasts on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, and lunch on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The registration fee for the pre-conference meeting for the in-house lawyers in the AGC family includes a cocktail reception on the Sunday evening that precedes that meeting, and both breakfast and lunch on the day of the meeting.

Cancellation Policy

AGC will fully refund your registration fee(s) if you provide an email or other written notice of cancellation to Rockkie Dunton or Crystal Yates at AGC of America no later than Friday, January 11, 2012. After January 11, 2012, registration fees are non-refundable, either in whole or in part.

Again, their email addresses are these:

• Rockkie Dunton at duttonr@agc.org
• Crystal Yates at yatesc@agc.org

Hotel Accommodations

AGC of America will return to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida for its 2013 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. This Mediterranean-style sanctuary features the Tiburon Golf Club with two Greg Norman courses, five exceptional dining establishments and a picturesque pool area with poolside service.

As an AGC guest of the golf resort, you will be welcome to enjoy the entire resort and the facilities and amenities of the neighboring Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, located just three miles west of the golf resort on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. A complimentary shuttle runs between the two properties, and as an AGC guest of the golf resort, you will also have complimentary day parking at the beach resort.

The AGC room rate is $299 per night, plus tax (currently 10%). This rate includes complimentary guest room access to the Internet. The resort fee has been waived.

To reserve a room at the AGC rate, simply call the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, at (236) 593-3300 or (888) 856-4380 and then request a reservation within the "AGC Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management Conference" room block. You can also go to www.ritzcarlton.com and make an online reservation. Simply select "NAPLES GOLF" from the list of “LOCATIONS," select your arrival and departure dates (on the right side of the screen), enter “ERMERMA” in the “GROUP CODE” box and then follow the prompts.

The deadline for reserving a room at the AGC rate is Friday, January 4, 2013.

Cancellation Policy

If you make and then need to cancel your room reservation, please note that you will need to do so at least 48 hours in advance (prior to your date of arrival) to avoid a cancellation penalty equal to one night’s room rate, plus tax.

Contact Information

Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

Travel Information

AGC has partnered with the following airlines and car rental agencies to provide transportation to AGC’s 2013 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. All airfares are based on availability. For the best discounts, use the AGC group code and book early!

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, is located approximately:

• 25 miles and 35 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
• 125 miles and 2 hours from the Miami International Airport (MIA); and
• 110 miles and 2 hours from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Airline Discounts

AGC travelers are eligible for the following discounts on their airfare:

• United Airlines: AGC travelers are eligible for a 2-10% discount off published fares from any city to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) by booking online at www.united.com and entering the promotional code ZP3Q419714 in the offer code box. Valid for travel between February 1 and February 9, 2013.
• Delta Airlines: AGC travelers are eligible for a 2-10% discount off published fares from any city to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and West Palm Beach Airport (PBI) by booking online at www.delta.com and entering Meeting Event Code NMEUL (“More Search Options” must be selected). Valid for travel between February 1 and February 9, 2013.
• American Airlines: AGC travelers are eligible for a discount of up to 5% off published fares from any city to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) or Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) if they book online at www.aa.com/group and provide the promotion code 1523DC for the event. Valid for travel between February 1 and February 9, 2013.

Car Rental Discounts

AGC travelers are also eligible for the following discounts on their car rental rates:

• Avis: AGC travelers are eligible for a variable discount on car rental rates if they book online at www.avis.com and provide AWD Number A587190.
• Hertz: AGC travelers are eligible for a variable discount on car rental rates if they book online at www.hertz.com and provide CDP Number 55977 and CV Number 04SF0004.

Event Sponsors

Below you will find the generous sponsors of the social and other events included in AGC's 2013 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. All are good friends of the AGC family, doing their part to support the construction industry. Use following links to their web sites to learn more about their products and services – and to thank them for their generous support

Textura

Textura is an online collaboration platform for the construction industry. From pre-qualification to payment, Textura seeks to leverage electronic signatures and online workflow to help clients save time, save money and reduce risk. The company is committed to automating the subcontractor pre-qualification process.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Wednesday Lunch and Special Guest Speaker
• Website: www.texturacorp.com

USLAW NETWORK

USLAW NETWORK is an international organization of over 100 highly rated law firms covering the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Africa. The U.S. based firms invited into the network have all undergone a rigorous review process. They have over 150 offices in 47 states.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Tuesday and Wednesday Breakfast
• Website: www.uslaw.org

Saxe Doernberger & Vita

Saxe Doernberger & Vita is a law firm exclusively focused on representing policyholders in disputes with their insurance companies. The firm has represented both large and small companies, partnerships, officers, directors and individuals in a diverse mix of insurance coverage litigation and counseling matters.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Tuesday Reception
• Website: www.sdvlaw.com

Peckar & Abramson

Peckar & Abramson is a national construction law firm routinely handling clients’ needs throughout the United States and the world. The firm has represented many of the construction industry’s most successful contractors. It also has an extensive government contract law and corporate compliance practice.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Tuesday Reception
  
• Website: www.pecklaw.com

Cokinos, Bosien & Young

Cokinos, Bosien & Young is a legal advisor to owners, contractors, design professionals, material and equipment suppliers, sureties, insurance companies and lenders on all aspects of construction law. Its lawyers are more than familiar with the peculiar dynamics of insurance coverage disputes.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Wednesday Reception
• Website: www.cbylaw.com

ConstructSecure

ConstructSecure facilitates the financial and safety pre-qualification of construction subcontractors. The company’s goal is to help general contractors focus on the critical information they need to consider before they select their subcontractors. The safety and financial components of the online program use patent-pending technology to verify the accuracy of documentation, allowing for an unbiased review of safety and financial performance.

• Sponsored Conference Event(s): Tuesday Morning Break
• Website: www.constructsecure.com