

In this episode, Shayne Gaffney, VP of Product & Engineering at Highwire, speaks with Heather O'Neill, VP of Construction Specialty Products, and Jen Chadd, AVP of Senior Commercial Line Underwriter at Arch Insurance, about how strong prequalification practices can reduce risk and boost profitability.
With deep experience in subcontractor default insurance (SDI), Heather and Jen explain why subcontractor evaluation must be an ongoing process, not a one-time event, and how it helps uncover hidden risks.
They discuss the evolution of SDI, the need for financial transparency, and the importance of aligning finance, ops, and risk teams. The episode also explores how tech can streamline prequal workflows and what’s next for the industry.
Whether you’re new to SDI or refining your approach, this episode offers practical insights to build a more resilient business.
To learn more about Arch Insurance, visit insurance.archgroup.com


BIG Construction and the Impact of Strong Partnerships

Keene State College: Educating the Next Generation of Safety Leaders

How Skanska Navigates a Shifting Modern Construction Landscape

Riley Construction: How Planning & Partnership Deliver Safer Outcomes

Gardner Builders: A Human Approach to Construction

Inside Frampton Construction: Aligning Safety & Operations

Measure What Matters: Tracking Events with SIF-potential

Boosting Wrap-Up ROI with Safety Programs

Driving Contractor Success in Mission-Critical Environments

Rethinking Safety Manuals With Help from AI

How NOVO Construction Evaluates Subcontractor Risk

Unlock the Power of Inspection Data

Engaging Leadership to Prevent Falls in 2025

Welcome to Highwire's New Podcast, Beyond Prequalification
Meet the Hosts

David Tibbetts, CSP
Highwire, Chief Safety Officer
David Tibbetts is a Certified Safety Professional and Chief Safety Officer at Highwire. His focus is on continued product development, client success, and customer support with the goal of helping Highwire clients deliver Contractor Success through full-lifecycle risk mitigation.

Shayne Gaffney
Highwire, VP, Product & Engineering
Shayne Gaffney is Vice President of Product and Engineering at Highwire, where he leads all software development. With a background in physical therapy and endurance sport coaching, Shayne brings a user-centric approach to building intelligent prequalification and risk mitigation platforms.