Location: Savage Craft Ale Works (430 Center St, West Columbia, SC 29169)

Date and Time: June 6, 11AM-3PM, short optional happy hour to follow

Event Summary: - Surety/SDI Panel, Banking, Demystifying AI

SCHEDULE: 11-12: Banking Panel, 12-1 Lunch, 1-3 Surety Panel, 2-3 AI

Surety Panel

Topics Include:

• South and North Carolinas Market Updates
• Best Practices Related to Surety Bonding Capacity
• Surety Bonding and your CPA – what you need to know

Banking Panel

This panel discussion brings together banking experts to share their perspective on the current condition of the credit marketplace. These panelists will give insight on the current challenges that contractors face when obtaining credit and some best practices to achieve maximum capacity in today’s marketplace.  

Topics Include:

• Market Overview
• Market Trends; both positive and negative
• Current Challenges & Concerns
• Market Outlook & Anticipated Changes
• Keys to Best Contractor/Lender Relationship

Demystifying AI Panel

Artificial intelligence is altering the way that organizations scale processes, take-action on insights, and operate as a whole. At the center of this are scalable AI models used for decision-making, powered by digital technology, analytics and data science. This session will dive into how AI applications are helping businesses add revenue, reduce expenses, and build value.

Topics Include:

• Discuss how Artificial Intelligence will affect the construction industry
• Identify key roles and elements of Artificial Intelligence
• Identify how Artificial Intelligence has changed our lives today

Speakers:

Surety/SDI Panel: Daniel Fulcher, Travelers; Douglas Schrift,  Subcontractor Default Insurance

Banking Panel: John Welsh,Commercial Banker, First Citizens Bank; Kevin Futrell, Regional Credit Officer, Synovus Bank; Rhett Postal, Vice President at F.N.B. Corporation; Ryan Tiwari, Area Executive, Fidelity Bank.

Demystifying AI: Mark Cecchini, Darla Moore School of Business

CPE: 3 hour
Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
 

The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org

Banking Panel: John Welsh

As a First Citizens commercial banker, it’s important to invest in understanding your business, strategies and key objectives. An established process and skilled team of specialists help me tailor solutions to fit you and your organization. Clients appreciate our trusted partnership in planning for long-term success.

I earned my Bachelors degree and my MBA from the University of South Carolina. My Bachelors degree is in Finance and Economics. My career includes over 20 years in banking; all as a commercial relationship manager with the majority of that time spent in the Midlands market. My goal is to provide all my clients with exceptional client service, financial and business process insights, and an overall banking experience that is second to none.

My spouse, Emily and I have been married for 20 years. We are the proud parents of two daughters, Virginia and Lizzie.

Banking Panel: Kevin Futrell , Regional Credit Officer, Synovus Bank

Responsible for credit quality management and loan approvals for the Commercial (C&I and CRE) portfolios.

Banking Panel: Ryan Tiwari 

Ryan Tiwari is an Area Executive with The Fidelity Bank headquartered in Fuquay-Varina, NC. He is leading their expansion into SC and has opened offices in Greenville and Spartanburg to date with plans for two more Upstate offices in the next 18 months.  He is a 20 year veteran of the banking industry with over 16  of those years in commercial banking in Greenville, SC. Ryan is a 2002 Graduate of Clemson University and a 2011 Graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania. Ryan is a board member of the YMCA of Greenville and spends his free time with his wife and their 3 children.

Banking Panel: Rhett Postal 

Rhett is an experienced commercial banker with a background in both C/I and Commercial Real-Estate lending and a passion for building strong relationships with his clients. Before joining First National Bank, he worked in a commercial lending and credit underwriting role with both Park National Bank and Wells Fargo. 

Rhett is also a proud alum of the N.C. Banking School (Chapel-Hill) and the Darla Moore School of Business, where he received a triple major in Corporate, Investment Finance and Marketing. He is also involved in the community as a supporter of The Leatherheads, and serves on the board (Finance Chair) of Braveworks, a local non-profit that provides opportunities and empowerment for women seeking to overcome various traumatic situations.

Surety/SDI Panel: Daniel Fulcher, AE Director
Travelers Bond & Specialty Insurance

Daniel Fulcher has 16 years of Surety experience working with businesses ranging from emerging contractors to ENR top 25 clients. As a member of the Construction Services team in RTP he primarily works with companies domiciled in the Carolinas for their Surety needs. He also has a regional underwriting role for the Travelers Project Loss Insurance product covering states from Pennsylvania down to Puerto Rico and throughout the Southeast. In addition to these principal responsibilities Daniel has been involved in many Travelers Construction Services strategic initiatives including the acquisition of the Family Business Institute in 2017 and the formulation of Project Loss Insurance for construction firms which came to market in 2020. Daniel is a graduate of North Carolina State University.

Surety/SDI Panel: Douglas Schrift, Chief Underwriting Officer, Liberty Mutual

Douglas Schrift is Chief Underwriting Officer for Liberty Mutual Surety’s Subcontractor Default Insurance practice where he is responsible for directing strategy and guiding operations. Supported by the broad resources of Liberty Mutual, and distinguished by the experience, expertise and integrity of his team, Douglas is committed to advancing the effective use of performance security solutions in the construction industry.

Douglas has more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry having worked in executive level positions for contractor, brokerage, and insurance firms. Prior to joining Liberty Mutual, he was the SDI practice leader for a national brokerage firm where he supported clients with the successful placement and utilization of SDI. Douglas served as Vice President and U.S. Director of Risk Finance for an ENR top 20 contractor. In his capacity as Director of Risk Finance, he was responsible for implementing risk finance strategy. Douglas also held positions as Director of Management Reporting and as Commercial Controller. The cumulative experience gained from these positions provides Douglas with a broad and deep understanding of the construction industry.

Surety/SDI Panel: Alex Cardarelli, Director of Business Development, Contract Surety Nationwide Insurance 

Alex has been a contract surety underwriter for 17 years and over that time he has supported contractors up and down the east coast from Maine to Florida ranging from small credit based programs up through $40mm+ bonded jobs.  Before his start in contract surety in 2006, he had 10 years’ experience as a construction inspector overseeing full depth road reconstruction work including water, sewer, and gas pipe installation.

Demystifying AI: Mark Cecchini, Darla Moore School of Business

Mark Cecchini is associate dean of executive education, and School of Accounting professor and department chair at the Moore School. He holds a B.S. in both finance and accounting from Florida State University, an MBA from Rollins College and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org