Michael (“Mike”) E. Griffin is a Market Leader and Executive Managing Director for Savills, a worldwide company known for its consistent delivery of a full range of integrated real estate services across the globe. Mike joined Savills in 2015 upon its acquisition of Vertical Integration, the startup Florida-based real estate solutions firm that Mike joined upon his graduation with a Business Administration, B.S. degree from the University of South Florida in 2003. Through his consultative, client-centric approach to occupier representation, particularly for multi-market accounts, during his career, Mike has completed commercial real estate transactions totaling more than 9.1 million square feet across the globe in more than 18 states and 15 countries.  Mike and his team represent several occupier clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to multiple public sector entities, including some of the largest users of space in the Southeastern US.  Mike has also provided advisory services on over 220 million square feet of leased and owned facilities.

Complementing his professional experience, Mike is well-known for his civic endeavors. In 2017, Mike served as Chairman of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (formerly known as the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce) and was recognized as it’s youngest Chairman in the more than 130-year history of the organization.  He began his involvement with the Chamber when he served as a charter Co-Chair of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay (formerly known as Emerge Tampa). He also chaired it’s Government Efficiency Caucus, charged with identifying cost-saving opportunities within local government, after having graduated from Leadership Tampa (Class of 2004).

Beyond his Chamber service, Mike has made his mark at his alma mater, initially serving two terms as Student Body President and as the charter student member of USF’s Board of Trustees. Mike returned to the USF Board of Trustees in 2019 after his appointment by the Florida Board of Governors where he serves as Vice Chairman of the BOT and Chairman of the Finance Committee. As an alumnus, Mike has served as the founding Chairman of USF’s Financing Corporation that oversees the bond financing for USF system projects. Under Mike’s leadership, financing transactions valuing more than $1.2 billion closed, resulting in more than 1.8 million square feet of projects, ranging from residence halls to sophisticated medical research buildings and office space. Thereafter, Mike chaired the USF Alumni Association Board of Directors and served on the Board of Directors for both the USF Foundation and INTO-USF Board of Directors, a Public-Private-Partnership (P3) focused on the strategic recruitment of international students to USF. In 2018, Mike was appointed to serve on the USF Consolidation Task Force – where he served as its Chairman – which was focused on providing implementation recommendations to consolidate USF’s three campuses. 

Transcending his servant leadership to the GTCC and USF, Mike, an Eagle Scout, serves on the Junior Achievement Board of Directors. Mike and his wife Melanie are the Chairs of the 2022 American Heart Association Heart Ball.  He is a graduate of Leadership Florida (Cornerstone XXVI), and in 2017, was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Tampa Port Authority/Port Tampa Bay Governing Board. Mike has received commendations from Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and Howard University, and is a recipient of the Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. Additionally, he is the inaugural recipient of the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award, and in 2007, was USF’s Young Alumnus of the Year. Mike was also one of the youngest named in Florida Trend’s 50th Anniversary Issue as one of Florida’s 50 World Changers, and recently, was recognized by the Tampa Bay Times as one of the top 25 most influential business leaders in Tampa Bay, a Power 100 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, a Maverick PAC Future 40 national leader in business and public policy and was named one of Top 100 most influential people in Florida by Influence Magazine.  

Above all, Mike cherishes spending time with his wife Melanie, son Maverick and Golden Lab Molly.