CFPB: Executive Team Additions Announced

Industry Update
September 25, 2019

Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) today announced the following additions to its executive team:

Desmond Brown will serve as the Deputy Associate Director for the Consumer Education and Engagement Division. Mr. Brown has more than two decades of experience working with national and local organizations to increase financial well-being and economic opportunities for consumers. He first joined the Bureau as a program specialist for the Office of Financial Empowerment in 2012. He earned his Masters of Policy Management from Georgetown University, and his B.S. in Political Science from Southern Connecticut State University.

Jason Brown will serve as Assistant Director for Research. Mr. Brown has 16 years of Federal service, most recently as Associate Commissioner in Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics at the Social Security Administration. Prior to this appointment he served in numerous capacities as an economist at the Department of the Treasury. Mr. Brown earned his B.A. in Economics from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University.

Karla Carnemark will serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff. Ms. Carnemark joins the Bureau with more than 20 years of experience in public service, project management and government affairs. She has worked with senior-level government executives from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Ms. Carnemark also served on Capitol Hill on the staff of Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH). Ms. Carnemark received her B.A. from Lynchburg College.

Ren Essene will serve as Chief Data Officer. Ms. Essene has served at the Bureau in a number of capacities since 2011. She previously worked at the Federal Reserve, and her career in information management and housing issues spans over 25 years. Ms. Essene earned her B.S. in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and M.P.A. from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Bryan A. Schneider will serve as Associate Director in the Supervision, Enforcement and Fair Lending Division. Mr. Schneider most recently served as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, a cabinet-level agency. He worked for the Walgreen Co. for 15 years in numerous capacities, from divisional vice president and assistant general counsel to senior attorney. Mr. Schneider earned his B.S. in Accounting from Trine University, his M.B.A. from DePaul University and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

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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