Difference Makers Podcast: Educational Excellence in Surety Bonds

Listen now and nominate a colleague who is making a similar impact in our field!

Matthew K. Cashion, Jr., CIC, CRM (Matt), born and raised in Little Rock, was enrolled in the seventh grade at Pulaski Academy upon its inception by his parents. Before graduating in 1977, he attended Boys State and served as state president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). His next phase of life found him following in the footsteps of his next older brother, Ted, graduating from Westminster College in Fulton, MO in 1981 with degrees in Economics & Business Administration and Accounting, and a fiancee, Susan Pippin. While at Westminster, he served as a member of the college’s prestigious Skulls of Seven Society and is a Sigma Chi. After graduation, he joined the family agency alongside both brothers, Benson and Ted, and his father, Knight, and marrying his college sweetheart in the spring of 1982.

Education and industry involvement was instilled in the agency fiber by Knight and continues as part of its DNA today. Soon after joining the agency, his father sent him to the Reliance Insurance Company’s Agent Surety School in 1983. In 1986, Matt received his Certified Insurance Counselor Designation and completed the requirements for his Certified Risk Manager designation in 2004. Additionally, Knight gave him the opportunity to attend surety industry association meetings, where he found his business passion. With mentors from all over the country

providing wind in his sails, Matt volunteered his way through the ranks of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), serving as a Regional Vice-President, Board Member, various committee memberships and chairmanships, and in 2003-2004 he served as the youngest national president.

His lane through NASBP was via education. Attending its Level 2 surety school in 1986, he discovered a second passion; teaching. Returning to the association’s school two years later, Matt was recently honored as the longest tenured instructor for NASBP clocking in 35 years of volunteer service to thousands of students from every state in the union as well as seven foreign countries. Further participation has included curriculum development and review of all levels of the association’s educational offerings on contract surety, text editing of The Basic Bond Book, curriculum review for The Institutes’ AFSB designation as well as recording select course introduction videos.

Having just completed another term as chair of NASBP’s Professional Development Committee, Matt is currently serving as co-chair of the Annual Meeting Program committee for a record sixth time.

NASBP honored Matt with the President’s Award in 2004, the John J. “Jack” Curtin Presidents Award for Distinguished Service in Surety Education in 2009, the Bruce T. Wallace Award for Career Contributions in 2013 (its highest award), and the John J. “Jack” Curtin Award again in 2023, becoming the only two time recipient.

Matt also followed the leadership example set by his business partner, Jim Allbritton, serving as president of The Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas (Big I - Arkansas) in 2015-2016. In 2021, Big I honored Matt with its highest award, the Allan Kennedy Memorial Award.

An unintended consequence of volunteer service to various construction trade associations over the years has resulted in awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas (ABC) (2020 - Phillip Joiner Award for leadership) and Associated General Contractors of Arkansas (AGC) (2011 - Distinguished Service Award; 2021 - President’s Award). After having served as a founding member of National AGC’s Surety Industry Advisory Council and acting as its Outreach and Education Task Force Chair in 2001, AGC inducted Matt into its Consulting Contractors Council of America in 2009.

Further involvement has included presentations and speaking opportunities all over the country to various groups ranging from the AICPA, the National Home Builders Association, local surety associations, trade associations (AGC, ABC, ASA, NAWIC), universities, engineers, and as a convention keynote speaker in Puerto Rico.

Outside of the industry, Matt has offered his time to a variety of civic organizations including Pulaski Academy, Alzheimer’s Arkansas Programs and Services, the Metropolitan YMCA, and the Heflin Youth Foundation. Additionally, he has received gubernatorial appointments to the Information Network of Arkansas and the Contractors Licensing Board, where he has served as Chair.

Combining his passion for teaching and his greatest blessing, Matt and his wife have co-led various small groups at their church for over 30 years, most recently post college single adults. Pushing the comfort zone limits, he even became an ordained minister during the pandemic in order to perform a requested wedding service for a couple that had met in the class.

His most recent passion and greatest joys are found in spending time with his six amazing grandchildren. His daughter Rachel and her husband Dr. David Rainwater, have three wonderful girls. His son, Matthew K. Cashion, III (Tripp) and his wife Kara, have two amazing girls and his only grandson (Matthew K. Cashion, IV aka Knight).

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.