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Middletown, PA Mayor to Host Blight Reduction Presentation, Aug. 14th

Updated 8/14/17: ABC 27 (Harrisburg) released a report titled Local officials introduced to new tool to fight blight.

Link to article

Safeguard in the News
August 8, 2017

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Mayor James Curry and Borough Manager Kenneth Klinepeter are scheduled to host the demonstration of the latest resource for combatting blight in the central Pennsylvania region on August 14th at 3:00 pm.

Recent news coverage of the more than 400 vacant and abandoned properties in Harrisburg led to a roundtable discussion featuring Sen. John DiSanto (R-PA-15th) and Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-PA-26th) on May 23rd. Joining them was Harrisburg civic leadership and Founder/Chairman of SecureView, Robert Klein.

At that roundtable, Sen. DiSanto said, “Blighted and abandoned properties destroy overall property value, and pose serious health and safety value to local residents.” Mr. Klein remarked, “We started SecureView to help communities fight back against blight using new technologies. Plywood boards are killing neighborhoods. There are a lot of different solutions to replace plywood, and we need to talk about all of them.”

Mr. Klein, who promised at the roundtable to return to central PA for a full demonstration, will show the nearly indestructible clearboarding material as it is installed, as well as discuss the overall financial benefit to communities. Polycarbonate has been recognized by several agencies, including Fannie Mae, as the best alternative to plywood for securing vacant and abandoned homes, schools, and commercial properties. Many governments, including the States of Ohio and Maryland, as well as the Cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Chicago have begun to enact statutes and ordinances banning plywood boards when shuttering properties. Plywood boarding practices have been directly linked to decline in property value, reduction in tax base, and increase in crime. Clearboarding has been shown to counteract those negative impacts while still securing vacant structures.

Community Blight Solutions, the outreach arm of SecureView, will be on site to speak with local nonprofit and civic leaders about the impact of clearboarding. Mr. Klein has led several philanthropic and public/private partnerships for neighborhood stabilization throughout the housing crisis, and will be available to discuss the impact and discovery of funding sources available to communities. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency generously provided the demonstration property in Middletown, Pennsylvania. “PHFA is happy to be a part of this demonstration,” said PHFA’s Executive Director and CEO Brian A. Hudson Sr. “The use of polycarbonate boarding is consistent with our mission of helping to preserve communities by preventing blight.”

The demonstration will begin at 3:00 PM, and will be located at 236 Adelia St., Middletown, PA 17057. Questions regarding the demonstration can be sent to Gene Veno, Senior Advisor, SecureView, at 717.941.0027 or gene.veno@secureviewusa.com.

About SecureView

SecureView is the leading security home & building board-up system. Designed to look like traditional windows, SecureView deters intruders while letting in natural light. Made from recycled materials, SecureView is virtually unbreakable, protects property from intrusion, and reduces the crime and squatting so often associated with plywood and steel board-ups. SecureView benefits homeowners, mortgage lenders, and communities by increasing the marketability of a property while simultaneously fighting community blight. To learn more about SecureView visit: www.secureviewusa.com or call 855-SCRVIEW.

About Robert Klein

Robert Klein is a successful entrepreneur who has earned a reputation as a pioneer and innovator in the property preservation industry. For 25 years, Klein has been a staunch advocate for eliminating blight in communities across the country. Klein is the Founder and Chairman of Safeguard Properties, Community Blight Solutions and SecureView, all based in Cleveland. Klein is a frequent speaker at field service industry conferences.

About PHFA

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $13.2 billion of funding for nearly 168,500 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 132,531 rental units, and saved the homes of more than 48,900 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.

MEDIA ALERT

Middletown, PA Mayor to host Blight Reduction Presentation, Aug. 14th

What: Central Pennsylvania community will see a demonstration of state-of-the-art technology to secure vacant and abandoned homes and reduce community blight.

When: Monday, August 14th, 2017, 3:00 PM

Where: 236 Adelia St., Middletown, PA 17057

Who: Invitees include civic and community leadership of central Pennsylvania, as well as interested community members, organizational leaders, interested industry managers, and related contractor, emergency preparedness, and project management professionals.

Mr. Robert Klein, Founder and Chairman of SecureView, will be leading the demonstration. Mr. Klein is a nationally recognized expert in the property preservation industry, and founded SecureView for the purpose of combatting urban blight. The SecureView system is designed to preserve properties not slated for demolition or active repurposing, and to deter intruders while maintaining a healthy neighborhood aesthetic.

Contact Information:

Media should direct inquiries to:
Gene Veno, Senior Advisor
SecureView, LLC
Direct: 717-941-0027
gene.veno@secureviewusa.com
Website: www.secureviewusa.com

For more information about SecureView, go to www.secureviewusa.com

SOURCE Borough Of Middletown and SecureView

Source: PR Newswire

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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