Staff - InsuranceFraud.org

Matthew J. Smith, Esq.

Executive Director

Michelle Rafeld

Interim Director

Brent J. Walker

Director of Government Relations

Joseph Matos

Chief of Communications, Outreach & Creative Services

Kendra Smith

Member Services & Events Manager

Brady Bell

Communications Associate

Dominic Dugo

Outreach Coordinator

Carmen E. Russo

Outreach Coordinator

Executive Director

Matthew J. Smith, Esq.

Matthew is a respected anti-fraud professional. Under his leadership, the Coalition is bringing together our diverse members from all sectors of the fraud fight including consumer advocates, insurers, legislators regulators, government agencies, prosecutors, law firms and respected business partners.

Before joining the Coalition staff in 2018, Matthew founded one of the nation’s leading law firms specializing in handling of insurance fraud and bad faith cases. He previously served as our Director of Government Affairs and legal counsel. Matthew is a prolific writer and speaker who serves on many boards and committees related to fraud-fighting efforts.

Matthew graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where he studied Radio, TV & Film.

202-393-7332 | [email protected]

Interim Director

Michelle Rafeld

Michelle Rafeld is a respected insurance professional with a stellar career spanning over three decades. Michelle’s leadership experience and profound commitment to combating insurance fraud are well-known throughout the industry. Michelle held various leadership roles within her distinguished 32-year career with the State of Ohio; she’s most notably known for serving as the agency’s Fraud Director, a position she held from 2007 until she retired from state service in June 2023.

An innovative and proactive problem solver, Michelle has effectively led local, state, and national collaborative efforts, leading to the successful implementation of industry and consumer protection programs. Michelle served as Vice-Chair of the Antifraud Task Force and Title Consumer Shopping Tools Working Group and chaired the Title Insurance Task Force, the Promoting Appropriate Sales Practices In The Sale of Life Insurance & Annuities Working Group, and the Antifraud Task Force Education & Enhancement Working Group.

Furthermore, she represented the NAIC Antifraud Task Force in an advisory capacity on the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership, the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee. In 2020, Michelle became the first woman appointed as the Coalition’s Public Interest Co-Chair. On January 1, 2024, she will make history again by becoming the first female Executive Director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

202-393-7333 | [email protected]

Director of Government Relations

Brent J. Walker

Brent has close to 30 years of combined experience in law enforcement, insurance fraud investigation, and nonprofit volunteer leadership. He was first introduced to fighting insurance fraud as a young police detective and has since spent the majority of his career in the special investigation units (SIU) with two large insurance carriers. He has held various roles to include major case investigator, regional SIU manager, and anti fraud compliance director. In addition, Brent believes in the value of collaboration in the fight against insurance fraud and has been very active in the larger antifraud community for over two decades. He has had the opportunity to serve on the board of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), lead a local Texas chapter, chair numerous committees, get involved with advocacy in both regulatory and legislative arenas, plan antifraud educational events, manage a global publication, and participate in many other initiatives. Prior to joining the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, Brent co-chaired its Government Affairs Committee. Brent received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce in organizational leadership and holds the Senior Claim Law Associate designation from the American Educational Institute. He has been married for over 30 years, has three children, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

301-821-6145 | [email protected]

Chief of Communications, Outreach & Creative Services

Joseph Matos

Joseph is a multi-award-winning creative and strategic executive who has successfully raised the bottom line for Fortune 100 companies. He has worked with some of the world’s largest and most prestigious ad agencies. He has also been one of the pioneers in the multicultural advertising arena, which is now a foundation for many advertisers and organizations. His expertise spans both the general and multicultural markets. Having this skill set gives him the range that organizations and companies alike seek when looking for unique solutions to their advertising, marketing, digital, and communication challenges. Joseph began his career as a Junior Art Director at Conill Advertising, where he was promoted to Associate Creative Director within his first year. His clients at Conill included, Citibank, Procter & Gamble, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, Toyota, Alka-Seltzer, Verizon, Seiko, and Helene Curtis.

A few years later, UniWorld Group hired him as Creative Director to work with such clients as HBO & HBO en Español, Reebok, Mead Johnson, Kodak, Gatorade, Lincoln-Mercury, Zima/Coors, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Burger King. In 2001, he opened his agency and won clients such as PepBoys while consulting for various agencies nationwide, helping win multiple blue-chip clients. Joseph moved to Washington, DC, in 2002, where he served as Chief Creative Officer for different advertising and media companies. He has provided the creative and marketing direction for numerous brands, including political campaigns. He created the memorable “Be A Hero” cape campaign that continues to be used by Donate Life Maryland today.

In 2014, for nearly seven years, Joseph led the advertising, marketing, branding, and communications efforts for a trade organization in Washington, D.C., raising the quality of messaging and outreach that targeted decision-makers and end-users. Most recently, Joseph led the marketing and outreach efforts from the ground up for a new health organization in Northern Virginia, where he developed successful brand/outreach strategies. Joseph offers world-class skill sets that at one point were only utilized for global Fortune 100 companies; also, his passion for DEI initiatives, along with overall strategic planning, has been recognized with multiple awards by various organizations throughout his career. Today Coalition members reach out to Joseph to request his subject matter expertise in various areas of marketing, communications, DEI, multicultural outreach and of course creative development.

202-250-3250 | [email protected]

Member Services & Events Manager

Kendra Smith

The Coalition’s internal and member operations are overseen by Kendra. Her remarkable organizing skills help make our member meetings run smoothly and make sure our databases are kept current. Kendra is there to make sure Coalition members get fast and accurate answers to questions.

Before joining the Coalition in 2007, Kendra supported senior staff at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, including being a liaison to the Mayor of D.C. and city council member assistants.

While at Suited for Change, Kendra coordinated more than 100 job-training programs for low-income women. She also trained volunteers, provided coaching, and skills training to women in need who are seeking employment.

At the Sanz School, Kendra organized career fairs, seminars, assisted students land internships and quality jobs.

Kendra received her BA in Business Administration and AA in Criminal Justice, both from American InterContinental University in 2008.

202-393-7330 | [email protected]

Communications Associate

Brady Bell

Brady is a political theorist and journalist, who has focused on political and marketing in campaigns. He is most passionate about the understanding of the political world and how it impacts everyday Americans.

Brady’s interest in politics began in his early high school years which led to volunteering in local elections. That grew to working and being on staff for local, state and national campaigns in the State of Oklahoma, he has served as a field organizer, strategist, and campaign manager. He learned how to manage local campaigns and use social media to spread their message. He is an advocate of how important the impact of local elections are to all communities. He has also worked as a journalist, during the 2020 primary election he was on a University of Oklahoma team who covered the Iowa Caucuses and interned for the local NPR station KGOU in Norman, Oklahoma.

Starting in 2023, Brady is now working as the Communications Associate for the Coalition.

He holds bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, with a minor in History from The University of Oklahoma.

Brady is currently completing his Masters in Political Theory from The University of Toronto.

202-393-7331 | [email protected]

Outreach Coordinator

Dominic Dugo

Dominic is a retired Chief Deputy District Attorney from San Diego, California, is now an Outreach Coordinator for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. He is also a co-chair for the Coalition’s Workers Compensation Fraud committee.

In addition to his role with the Coalition, He is currently the Vice-President, Fraud Division for the Delta Group and the National Prosecution Coordinator for the American Policyholder Association.

Dominic spent 33 years as a prosecutor in San Diego with 27 years prosecuting and then supervising the insurance fraud program. Under his leadership, San Diego has been recognized as having one of the best insurance fraud prosecutorial offices in the country.

After graduating in the top 5% of his law school class at DePaul University in Chicago, Dominic moved to California. He worked 2 years as an attorney for Justice Charles Hamlin of the California Court of Appeal. Thereafter, he joined the District Attorney’s Office.

Dominic established San Diego’s Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud (1996) and Medical and Legal Insurance Fraud (2005) Task Forces. Both of these were the first of their kind. He also authored several articles on insurance fraud including premium fraud.

Dominic’s success resulted in several awards. In 2016, he received the “Edwin L. Miller Lifetime Achievement Award” from the San Diego District Attorney’s Association. In 2010, Llorente Investigations named him their Nationwide Insurance Fraud Prosecutor of the Year. Previously, in 1999, he was named Insurance Fraud Prosecutor of the Year by the International Association of Special Investigation Units for Southern California. Dominic also was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the FBI and a Commanding Officer’s Citation from the San Diego Police Department.

Dominic has taught numerous classes throughout the country on how to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud including premium fraud. He also spearheaded and designed in San Diego one of the most successful anti-insurance fraud outreach programs in the country. This high-profile public campaign to deter insurance fraud included Public Service Announcements on Television, Billboards on Freeways, Anti-Fraud Posters for employers, and Ads in dozens of publications in numerous languages.

Prior to retiring from the DA’s Office in September 2019, Dominic served as Co-Chair of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud out of Washington, D.C. for 3 years.

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Outreach Coordinator

Carmen E. Russo

Carmen joined the Coalition in 2020 as an Outreach Coordinator. He also chairs the Coalition’s Life and Disability Insurance Anti-Fraud Working Group.

Carmen retired in March, 2019 as Assistant Vice President of Investigative Services at Manulife Financial/John Hancock where he was responsible for long range strategy and management of a global network of investigators across the United States, Canada and Asia.

Previously, Carmen worked for the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, most recently as the Director of Operations and Investigative Services.

Carmen was a member of the Executive Committee of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, and a Board member of the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud and the Boston Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Carmen received a B.S. in Accounting from Boston College and earned a Master’s in Public Administration degree from Suffolk University.

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