Archives For: Industry Updates

Exercising Caution in Property Preservation

On May 27, DS News published an article authored by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce (MRLP) Managing Partner Marcos Posada. In it, Posada explores Illinois vacant property laws and provides insight into the importance for servicers to engage properties cautiously.

27 May 2019

FHFA: Refinance Report – First Quarter 2019

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued its first quarter 2019 Refinance Report.

20 May 2019

Baltimore Ransomware Attack Cripples City’s Mortgage Operations

The Baltimore Sun published an article outlining issues stemming from a May 7 cyber attack that has compromised the City of Baltimore’s government servers.

14 May 2019

CFPB: Senior Leadership and Executive Team Additions

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced additions to its senior leadership and executive teams.

13 May 2019

CFPB: Director Kraninger Announces Deputy Director

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathleen L. Kraninger announced that Brian Johnson will serve as deputy director.

13 May 2019

CFPB: Plan to Review Rules Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a notice on how it plans to periodically review regulations under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and to request public input.

13 May 2019

Foreclosure Reform Bills Proposed in New Jersey

The office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a press release outlining the approval of a package of bills aimed at improving foreclosure rates across the state. Included is A4997 (Mortgage Servicers Licensing Act), a bill that will require any person acting as a mortgage servicer to obtain a license from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance for each main office and each branch office where business is conducted.

30 Apr 2019

NYDFS Launches Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division

The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced the appointment of Katherine A. Lemire as the executive deputy superintendent of the newly created Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division.

29 Apr 2019

Mortgage Servicing Professionals Meet With HUD for Policy Discussion

DS News published an article highlighting a meeting between the National Mortgage Servicing Association’s (NMSA) Joint Federal Agency Task Force and HUD that took place in Washington, D.C.

25 Apr 2019

New Jersey Bill Aims to Allow Municipal Property Registration

S3482 was introduced in the New Jersey Senate on February 14 and has been referred to the Senate community and Urban Affairs Committee. The legislation would permit municipalities to register vacant and abandoned properties and to utilize registration fees to maintain them.

24 Apr 2019

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties