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Mortgage Professionals Come Together at Five Star Conference

Safeguard in the News
September 20, 2017

The Five Star Conference Expo Hall opened Tuesday morning, bringing lenders, servicers, and a number of other mortgage professionals under one roof.

Include, the 2017 conference theme, was a topic widely discussed at the DS News and MReport booth where attendees explained its importance.

“We like the networking opportunities and being able to connect with different companies from a strategic standpoint,” Kiyoshi Hunt, SVP of ZVN Properties said. “We can meet a lot of the needs our clients have, and maybe uncover some things we didn’t know, and learn about different perspectives.”

Tim Rath, Director of Supply Chain and Vendor Management from Safeguard Properties also enjoyed the camaraderie and diversity of the Expo Hall.

“If you just look around at the industry, there are a number of different people from different walks of life that are here and have a number of different roles,” Rath said. “I think the Five Star does a great job of encouraging everyone from different phases of our industry to come under one roof together.”

In the midst of attendees was Operation Homefront President and CEO John I. Pray, Jr., Brig Gen, USAF (Ret). Pray discussed many attendees favorite event of the conference, the Military Heroes Keys for Life Dinner and Concert where five military veterans are presented with a mortgage-free home followed by a concert from rock band Styx.

“It means the world to be able to do this,” Pray said. “When you think about it from their perspective it is literally life-changing. It will give them the firm foundation upon which to build a very bright future.”

U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew R. Gaff and his family; U.S. Airman First Class Ryan Hampe and his family; U.S. Navy Seaman Shynae Murphy and her family; U.S. Army Specialist Kenyetta Cooper and her family; and U.S. Army Specialist Marchalle Couch were the recipients of the homes, which Ten-X Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Jeff Frieden helped facilitate.

“I will not stop until we have no homeless vets,” said Frieden.

Source: MReport

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.

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.

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.

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.

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties