Industry Leaders and Regulators Meet to Shape Housing Policy

Industry Update
April 2, 2016

For the seventh consecutive year, leaders from both government and mortgage servicing converged in Washington, D.C. for the 2016 Five Star Government Forum to work together to shape housing policy in America.

The historic Newseum provided the backdrop for the day-long exclusive event on Thursday, March 31, as leaders from government agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae joined with top executives from companies such as Wells Fargo, Nationstar Mortgage, Ten-X, Equifax, Redfin, SecureView, Deloitte, the Collingwood Group, Seneca Mortgage Servicing, Bayview Loan Servicing, Weiner Brodsky Kider PC, Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS), and Rock Ventures to engage in open dialogue about the mortgage industry’s most pressing issues and how rules and regulations that originate in Washington, D.C. affect the everyday American homeowner.

“This event [Government Forum]  provides a unique platform to engage mortgage servicers, federal regulators and agencies that seek to establish common ground on the establishment of best practices and solutions, ultimately designed to protect homeownership,” Five Star Institute President and CEO Ed Delgado said. “It has been and continues to be a privilege to bring the mortgage industry together to promote these conversations that are for the benefit of all engaged.”

The morning’s events at the Five Star Government Forum included a keynote address from HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Edward Golding as well as panel discussions on the potential effects of the upcoming presidential election on housing policy (“Changing of the Guard”) and effective strategies for regulators and the industry to work together for the good of the American homeowner (“Meeting in the Middle”).

The afternoon’s activities included a keynote address from Ginnie Mae President Theodore W. Tozer, an update on single-family housing by leaders from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a discussion on the economic indicators that are expected to drive the housing market in 2016, and a discussion on the challenges that communities are facing while still trying to recover from the housing crisis eight years later.

Editor’s note: The Five Star Institute is the parent company of DS News and DSNews.com.

Source: DS News

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties