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HUD Secretary Event to Feature Social Media Q&A on Housing

Updated 1/22:  On January 21, DS News released an article titled Castro Expresses Optimism, Addresses Challenges Facing Housing in ‘Fireside Chat’.

Link to article

On January 16, National Mortgage News published an article discussing a January 21 event where HUD Secretary Julian Castro will deliver an address on the agency’s housing initiatives.

HUD Secretary Event to Feature Social Media Q&A on Housing

HUD Secretary Julian Castro will address his agency’s housing initiatives and answer consumers’ questions submitted from a live audience and via social media on Jan. 21.

Castro and the Department of Housing and Urban Development took to Twitter this week to solicit questions using the hashtag #HousingforAmerica.

How has owning a home been a part of your “American Dream?” Post your story using #HousinginAmerica. I’ll answer questions live on 1/21.

— Julián Castro (@SecretaryCastro) January 15, 2015

Zillow is sponsoring the event, which will be moderated by Stan Humphries, chief economist for the Seattle-based real estate and mortgage advertising technology platform. Other scheduled participants in the discussion include: Mark Calabria, the director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute; former FHA commissioner Carol Galante; Edward Glaeser, an economics professor at Harvard; and Barry Zigas, director of housing policy for the Consumer Federation of America.

The event is the first in a series of planed “Housing Roadmap to 2016” events that Zillow is presenting.

Although no other events have been planned at this time, the company is looking to have its first regional event in its home city of Seattle and it will have a strong focus on rental housing issues, said Camille Salama, a spokeswoman for Zillow in an emailed message.

HUD did not respond to a request for comment, but confirmed the event in a press release detailing Castro’s public schedule, adding the Obama administration’s recently announced cut to Federal Housing Administration insurance premiums will be among the topics discussed.

Among the questions and comments already been posed to Castro on Twitter include:

@SecretaryCastro will @HUDgov implement REO to Rent programs in the distressed housing market in Puerto Rico? #HousinginAmerica

— porti (@APORTILLA787) January 16, 2015
 

@SecretaryCastro #HousinginAmerica My question is What can you do to see that the federal $ allocated for Sandy families gets to them ASAP

— Beth Henry (@StopFemaNowLI) January 16, 2015
 

@SecretaryCastro #HousinginAmerica My American Dream was shattered by the NYRISING program and SBA loan. We need help! #goingbroke

— psha (@sandyscooter1) January 16, 2015
 

@HUDgov @SecretaryCastro How about no doc loans for self employed scam out of their homes by #Hamp #housinginamerica

— Jeffrey L. Shurtliff (@shurtcircuit) January 16, 2015

Following Castro’s Q&A, a panel will discuss housing trends “to identify the housing issues that will have the greatest impact over the next two years,” according to a website for the event. This will be followed by an open discussion between the panelists and the audience to wrap up the meeting.

Please click here to view the article online.

About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the mortgage field services industry leader, preserving vacant and foreclosed properties across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Safeguard provides the highest quality service to our clients by leveraging innovative technologies and proactively developing industry best practices and quality control procedures. Consistent with Safeguard’s values and mission, we are an active supporter of hundreds of charitable efforts across the country. Annually, Safeguard gives back to communities in partnership with our employees, vendors and clients. We also are dedicated to working with community leaders and officials to eliminate blight and stabilize neighborhoods. Safeguard is dedicated to preserving today and protecting tomorrow.  Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

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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.

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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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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