The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, Inc. (PIFF), is a leading voice for the personal lines property and casualty insurance industry in Florida. PIFF represents national insurance carriers and their subsidiaries, including many of the state’s top writers of private passenger auto and homeowners multiperil insurance. Together PIFF members write more than $13 billion in premium in the state. PIFF advocates for a healthy and competitive insurance marketplace for the benefit of Florida consumers.
About Us
Meet Our Staff
Michael Carlson, Esquire
President/CEO
Prior to joining PIFF, Michael served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative Affairs for CFO Alex Sink and the Department of Financial Services. He has also held a variety of leadership roles on the professional staff of the Florida House of Representatives, including serving as the Staff Director of the Committee on Insurance during the 2007 Special Session “A” on property insurance. Between his stints in government, Michael represented clients in insurance regulatory law and commercial litigation matters in Tallahassee and practiced insurance defense law in Atlanta. Michael is an attorney admitted to practice law in Florida and Georgia.
Michael graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in political science and holds a master’s degree in political science from the Florida State University. He is an honors graduate of the Florida State University College of Law, where he served on Moot Court and Law Review. Michael has been designated a member of the Florida Trend “Legal Elite” in government law.
Scott Matiyow
Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Scott is the Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, a non-profit property and casualty trade association representing national insurers doing business in the state. In this role he is primarily responsible for advocating the association’s interests before the Governor and Cabinet, the Florida Legislature, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders, working directly with elected officials and staff.
Scott has substantial experience with property and casualty issues, having served for eight years as a senior analyst on the Florida Senate Banking & Insurance Committee. In that role Scott developed a deep understanding of property insurance issues, including catastrophe issues, reinsurance, and Florida’s government entities that play a role in the property market: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, and the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association. Scott has been involved in drafting major legislative changes in these areas.
Prior to his Senate service, Scott served four years in the Executive Branch working in Legislative Affairs at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. He also has federal campaign experience.
Scott has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in political science from Florida State University.