PIFC maintains a full-time professional staff in Sacramento to conduct legislative, regulatory and political advocacy. As an advocate for the major personal lines property and casualty companies in California, PIFC works hard to explore and innovate new ideas, and expand the ability of its member companies and the industry to meet the insurance demands and needs of the state while working to mitigate or oppose those concepts that will prove detrimental to the insuring public and industry alike.
Rex Frazier
Rex Frazier serves as President of the Personal Insurance Federation of California. He represents PIFC's member companies before the California State government and provides advice on legislative, regulatory, litigation and political matters. He previously held the position of Vice President & General Counsel of PIFC.
Prior to joining PIFC, Mr. Frazier was an attorney in Los Angeles with the law firm of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, focusing on insurance and banking issues. Mr. Frazier previously served as Deputy Insurance Commissioner with the California Department of Insurance as well as legislative staff in the California State Assembly. Mr. Frazier has additionally served in various California political campaigns, including as campaign manager of a successful statewide ballot measure, Proposition 213, in 1996.
Mr. Frazier graduated as valedictorian from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. In addition, Mr. Frazier received graduate and undergraduate degrees in public policy from the University of Chicago. Mr. Frazier lives in Sacramento with his wife, April, and their two sons.
You can email Rex with comments or questions at rfrazier@pifc.org
Michael Gunning
Michael Gunning serves as the Vice President for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) and represents PIFC member companies before the California State Legislature and California Department of Insurance (CDI) on personal lines insurance issues including: auto, homeowners, community investment and finance.
Mr. Gunning is a 20-year veteran of finance, investments, public policy and community development in California, serving as Managing Director for the Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund (NCRF) before joining PIFC. While at the CDI, Mr. Gunning was Director of the California Organized Investment Network (COIN). He was also a policy consultant for the California Legislature, Assembly Republican Office of Policy in the Insurance and Banking committees. Formerly Vice President, California Public Finance Office of George K. Baum & Company, Mr. Gunning was Executive Assistant to the Treasurer of the State of Missouri from 1985 to 1989, while active in the Missouri Housing and Development Commission.
Mr. Gunning holds a BA in Political Science and History from Claremont McKenna College and an MA from Claremont Graduate School in Public Policy. He is a Coro Fellow, a published author and holds the 1999 Achievement Award from the Black Insurance Professional Association.
Mr. Gunning lives in Elk Grove with his wife, Kelly, and their daughters, Elon and Emma.
You can email Michael with comments or questions at mgunning@pifc.org
Manolo Platin
Manolo Platin serves as Legislative Advocate for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) and represents PIFC member companies before the California State Legislature and California Department of Insurance (CDI) on personal lines insurance issues including: homeowners, catastrophe management and emerging technology.
Prior joining PIFC, Mr. Platin was a lobbyist with Blue Shield of California and before that was appointed to various positions in the administration of Governor Schwarzenegger, including Acting Director for the Office of the Insurance Advisor. He has also served as an assistant to the Governor and was an California Executive Fellow in the Governor’s Office of Cabinet Affairs.
Born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Mr. Platin immigrated to Humboldt County, California in 1982. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Political Science and Business Administration.
You can e-mail Manolo with comments or questions at mplatin@pifc.org.
Jim Anderson
Jim Anderson serves as Political Director for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) and advises the PIFC member companies and the Personal Insurance Federation Political Action Committee (PIFPAC) Board on strategic political decisions, while representing the PIFC member companies and thousands of PIFPAC members before hundreds of candidates running for public office in California. In addition, Mr. Anderson manages the marketing and membership program to retain and expand the PIFPAC in partnership with the PIFPAC Membership Director, Kelly Shaw.
Prior to joining PIFC, Mr. Anderson was the Chief-of-Staff to Senator, now Congressman Juan Vargas, whose 2010 election to Senate he managed to a historic 22 vote victory. Mr. Anderson previously served with the Senator when Mr. Vargas was a member of the Assembly from 2000 – 2006. Between stints of public service, Mr. Anderson was a Partner with a San Diego-based company, Elevate, LLC, which specializes in public affairs, political consulting, media buying, and marketing.
Mr. Anderson graduation with a BA in Political Science and Spanish from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and completed graduate level coursework while serving as a Jesse M. Unruh California State Assembly Fellow. Mr. Anderson lives with his wife, Leslie, and son, Mateo, in East Sacramento.
You can e-mail Jim with comments or questions at janderson@pifc.org.
Kara Cross
Kara Cross serves as General Counsel for the Personal Insurance Federation of California where she represents PIFC's member companies before the California State government and provides advice on legislative, regulatory and litigation matters.
Prior to joining PIFC, Ms. Cross served as Corporate Counsel to the California Dental Association and its subsidiary, The Dentists Insurance Company. Before that, she served as Counsel for State Farm Insurance where she represented the company on legislative and regulatory matters at the state and federal levels.
Ms. Cross graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco, School of Law. In addition, she received her undergraduate degree in political science/public service from the University of California at Davis. She lives in Sacramento with her husband, Roger, and their children.
You can email Kara with comments or questions at kcross@pifc.org.
