Jessica E. Bowers a founding partner with Smith Bowers, PLLC, concentrates her practice in the areas of surety law, construction law, business law and litigation, and appellate law. She works with her clients to reach creative and amicable solutions to try and avoid litigation and minimize costs. When litigation arises or becomes unavoidable, however, she is experienced in representing her clients in state and federal court, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings such as arbitration and mediation.

Emily H. Brooks As a member of Great American's surety division, Emily is responsible for risk mitigation, legal analysis, and underwriting support. She is a member of the Kentucky and Ohio Bar. Prior to joining Great American, Emily was in private practice where she focused on surety law and insurance defense litigation.

Megan Burke works for Travelers as counsel in the surety division. Before joining Travelers, she worked as claims counsel for CNA handling surety bond claims. In addition, she has worked as an associated attorney in Chicago, focusing her practice on litigation and surety defense. She currently serves on Lawyers Committee for Better Housing's Young Professionals Board as its Secretary. Megan received her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School and Bachelor of Arts Degree from Purdue University. While at Purdue, Megan studied Political Science and Spanish.

Michael Thomas Cronin is responsible for the avoidance, handling, and resolution of construction-related disputes, as well as providing underwriting support. He also serves as a mediator for primarily construction and insurance disputes, including complex, multi-party disputes. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section and the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the ABA, and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Construction Law.

Stephanie M. Keddy is Senior Claims Counsel with CNA where she manages complex surety performance and payment bond claims. Before joining CNA, Stephanie practiced law in Chicago for twelve years, focusing her practice on surety, construction and commercial litigation. Stephanie also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Stephanie received her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in History from Xavier University.

Christopher T. McRae In 1997, McRae & Metcalf was established to serve the surety and construction industry. Mr. McRae graduated from BYU in 1986 and received his law degree from Stetson College of Law in 1990. He published numerous articles and is a guest lecturer on current developments at seminars and conferences on surety and construction related matters. He is a fifth generation Floridian who is active in his church and community. In his leisure time, he is a real estate developer, Sunday School teacher and life coach. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children, and two grandsons.

Beth J. Rotenberg As counsel at CSG, Beth Rotenberg concentrates her litigation practice in the fields of surety and fidelity law, construction litigation, and bankruptcy and creditor's rights. Prior to joining the firm, Beth clerked for a federal magistrate judge in the Middle District of Florida. She graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and is a cum laude, Order of the Coif, graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Heather F. Shore is a shareholder with the law firm of Brown & Ruprecht, PC, where she focuses her practice in construction and surety law and commercial/business litigation. She represents sureties, contractors, subcontractors and owners on a wide-variety of construction and surety matters at state and national levels. Ms. Shore's practice includes drafting complex construction and commercial contracts, navigating and advising clients through defaults and takeovers, handling all aspects of Contract Disputes Act claims (41 U.S.C. §§ 7101-7109), and mediating, arbitrating and litigating issues pertaining to state and federal commercial projects with claims ranging from $1,500 to $93,000,000. She also handles default and delay damages claims, payment disputes, bid contests, MBE/DBE challenges, payment and performance bond claims, prevailing wage audits and issues (including Davis Bacon Act), and mechanic's liens..

Vicki M. Smith is a trial lawyer and partner at Bodyfelt Mount in Portland, Oregon, where her practice focuses on surety bond and insurance coverage, warranties, commercial litigation, and professional liability claims. She is admitted in all state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. She is an active member of DRI and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. Vicki is also a past-president of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel.

Douglass F. Wynne, Jr. a partner of Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982. He graduated from Tulane University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 2008 from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Mr. Wynne has been listed as a Louisiana SuperLawyers "Rising Star" in Construction Litigation since 2015 and is recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Construction Law and Construction Litigation.

Gene F. Zipperle, Jr. is a partner of the Louisville, Kentucky, office of the law firm of Ward, Hocker Thornton, PLLC., with offices in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky. He is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Kentucky and Indiana, and federal courts in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida. Gene concentrates his practice in the areas of surety and fidelity law including bid, payment and performance bond claims and litigation, as well as protecting and prosecuting of the surety's indemnity rights. Gene also represents sureties and insurers in other business and commercial contexts, including coverage issues, estate and probate, and miscellaneous bond matters, particularly transportation related bonds. Gene is an active member of the Defense Research Institute's Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, National Bond Claims Association and the ABA TIPS Fidelity and Surety Law Committee. He has presented at The Pearlman, National Bond Claims Association annual meeting, the Eastern Bond Claims Review annual meeting, and the National Association of Independent Sureties. Gene has also written numerous articles for several industry publications.