Joanne Brooks is an attorney with an extensive and expansive career as a surety executive, with experience as a Chief Underwriting Officer for a global insurance company and being an advocate for contractor rights. She has a unique skill-set with experience in underwriting, risk management, claims management, and business development. Ms. Brooks is a servant-leader who has gained a national reputation in the construction industry for her expertise in surety, commitment to educating others, and talent in building strategic relationships. Paired with her passion for diversity and inclusion, she is focused on building successful, thriving construction businesses, and advising stakeholders on the importance of creating fair and balanced relationships and contracting opportunities.

Most recently, Brooks served as Vice President and Counsel for The Surety & Fidelity Association of America, where she was the appointed advocate for small, emerging, minority, and disadvantaged enterprises due to her nontraditional and innovative thinking. The Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association recognized her as the Best Surety Executive for Minority Businesses. Brooks serves on the Board of Directors for the National Forum for Diversity in Construction, has been a consistent presence on the Association for the Improvement of American Infrastructure, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and until September 2018 served as the Chair of the Drafting Committee for Consensus Docs. Brooks is a sought after and inspiring speaker on many topics, but her favorite is the importance of bonding and how contractors can use bonds to increase economic development, job creation, sustainability, and legacy wealth. She is known as a passionate problem-solver and has been a keynote speaker for many contracting and minority organizations. She has also been a panelist or round-table participant on Capitol Hill at the invitation of Congressmen Cummings, Payne, Jr. and Congresswomen Velasquez.