Safeguard Properties

Safeguard Employees Take Part in Slavic Village Recovery Community Volunteer Day

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On Friday, May 9, 2014, Safeguard Properties’ employees joined employees from Forest City, Secure View and RIK Enterprises LLC to volunteer for the Slavic Village Recovery Community Volunteer Day. Close to 60 enthusiastic volunteers joined together to remove trash, trim lawns, plant trees and construct fencing around the perimeter of the new green areas. What is now wildflowers, trees and grass, was once eight residential lots. The houses, at the intersection of East 59th and Huss Avenue, long left behind when the housing market crashed, were razed.

Although a cooling steady rain began to fall by afternoon, volunteers kept at it and were able to finish a majority of the tasks at hand.
The first of its kind, the Slavic Village Recovery initiative is a strategic partnership between Forest City Enterprises, RIK Enterprises, Slavic Village Development, and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. By collaborating in such a way, the Slavic Village Recovery Project aims to steady market volatility, stabilize the larger community and match home-buyers with a renovated home at a good price.

Check out the Slavic Village Community Day video and pictures of the day.

About Safeguard Properties
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S.  Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for the mortgage service industry. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard Responds to NFHA Complaint

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On April 8, 2014, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) conducted an online news conference to announce an amendment to a complaint they filed with HUD nearly a year ago accusing Safeguard Properties of providing higher levels of preservation services in predominately white neighborhoods than properties in largely African American and Latino neighborhoods. Safeguard is issuing the following statement in response:

Safeguard is disappointed that NFHA has taken this opportunity to conduct a press conference discussing this complaint. Since the complaint was originally filed, we have worked with HUD through the administrative process and have complied with information requests. We have asked NFHA for details on the actual properties they base their complaints on; and they have not cooperated with us. Safeguard has and will continue to cooperate with HUD’s investigation of this matter.

Safeguard performs services following Industry Standards set forth by Investors and our clients pursuant to service agreements. The standards pursuant to which Safeguard performs services do not vary based on the makeup of a particular community.

Safeguard neither condones nor tolerates acts of racism or business practices that would unfairly target or neglect certain neighborhoods based on location and demographics. We are outraged by the allegations made by the NFHA and we intend to dispute the claims and prove the accusations to be untrue.

We take complaints of this nature very seriously. Safeguard has a proven record of working with our clients, communities, and civic leaders throughout the country to combat blight brought on by the housing crisis. We have senior members of our leadership team that sit on the boards of community outreach groups; we host national conventions with the primary purpose of collecting and reinforcing the behavior and guidelines that preempt neighborhood deterioration; and we participate in industry and investor feedback panels where the focus is to build best practices to protect and preserve the houses that make up these communities.

NFHA plays a key role in this country in ensuring Fair Housing Laws are enforced.  However, we are of the opinion that their claims in this circumstance are unfounded and we fully expect that HUD will find no basis for these claims once their investigation is concluded.

About Safeguard Properties
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S.  Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for the mortgage service industry. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard Properties Director of Community Initiatives to Speak at 2014 Ohio MBA Convention

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Cleveland, Ohio, April 30, 2014 — Safeguard Properties Director for Community Initiatives Michael Halpern will be a presenting speaker at the 2014 Ohio MBA Convention, May 5-7, 2014, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Halpern’s session, titled “Lenders and Vacant Property Ordinances”, will be held on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. 

Safeguard Properties’ Community Initiatives Department has been actively tracking vacant property ordinances and has built a solid reputation as a liaison and go-to source of information for members of the mortgage serving industry and local, county and state representatives.

During his presentation, Halpern will discuss the massive number of city and municipality ordinances and provide a historical perspective and discuss the multiple variances including vacancy vs. foreclosure triggers. Based on his years of experience working with code enforcement departments, city councils, community organizations and state entities, he also will talk about what components work and what don’t work, and the mutually beneficial solutions and alternatives that exist.

For more information on Safeguard’s local and state outreach efforts please visit https://safeguardproperties.com/Municipalities.aspx.


About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard Properties Announces Five Management Appointments

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Safeguard Properties announced the following appointment and promotions within its management team:

Jennifer Anspach, promoted to assistant vice president of human capital. Anspach is responsible for the company’s national workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. She manages recruitment strategies, employee relations, personnel policies, retention, and benefits programs. Anspach joined the company in April 2009 as a manager of accounting and finance and a year later was promoted to director. Anspach is a graduate of Youngstown State University.

Jen Jozity, named assistant vice president of inspections, REO and property preservation operations. Jozity has demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent results in order audit and order management.  Along with her management team, she will build upon these strengths in order to deliver this level of excellence in both REO and property preservation operations. Jozity joined Safeguard in 1997 and was promoted to director of inspections operations in 2009 and assistant vice president of inspections operations in 2012. Jozity graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in business.

Amy Nauer, named assistant vice president of IT portfolio management. Nauer is moving into an IT/operations liaison role and will use her operations experience to ensure alignment of business priorities and IT resources. She joined Safeguard in 1998 as a property preservation updater and has progressed through positions including team lead, manager, director of property preservation/REO operations, and most recently, assistant vice president of property preservation/REO operations in 2013. Nauer attended the University of Akron.

Gretchen Fri, APR, recently joined Safeguard as director of corporate communications. Fri is responsible for Safeguard’s communications and public relations functions. Prior to joining Safeguard, Fri was director of communications at InfoCision Management Corp., in Akron, Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Fri is accredited in public relations and serves as secretary on the board of directors for the East Central District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She also is past president of the Akron Area PRSA Chapter.

Joseph Haug, promoted to director of Safeguard’s Service Center. He is responsible for overseeing call center operations, which consists of property preservation/REO customer service, the securing authorization call center (SACC), vendor contact center and inspections customer service. He was instrumental in implementing Safeguard’s call recording software, Call Copy. Haug joined Safeguard in 2012 as the manager of SACC. Haug attended California Lutheran University, is a member of the Help Desk Institute and is a certified Help Desk Manager through STI Knowledge.

HousingWire shares this news.

About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard Launches Proprietary System to Assess and Minimize Weather Impact on Mortgage Portfolios

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Safeguard Properties Launches Proprietary SystemTo Assess and Minimize Severe Weather Impact on Mortgage Portfolios

— First of its kind technology combines weather alerts, geospatial mapping and property condition data to improve decision-making

Valley View, Ohio,  December 12, 2013 – Safeguard Properties today announced the launch of its proprietary MapAlert™ system that integrates weather data with property condition and inspection data, enabling mortgage clients to quickly assess the potential for damages to properties in their portfolios and take appropriate actions to protect properties in targeted zones, mitigate damages and initiate outreach to troubled borrowers. 

MapAlert provides both pre-disaster and post-disaster information to support client decision-making.  It utilizes multiple national weather data sources and overlays them with advanced geospatial mapping technologies that identify the locations of client properties to provide a visual representation of affected areas.  It also incorporates property condition updates from Safeguard’s internal system to allow mortgage servicers to analyze their portfolios and make targeted asset preservation decisions at a national, regional, neighborhood or property-specific level. 

“This is the first property management technology that combines external weather data with property inspection condition results so that clients can be as general or as specific as they choose to evaluate and make decisions about their nationwide property portfolios,” said George Mehok, Safeguard’s chief information officer.  “It is capable of tracking millions of properties and analyzing hundreds of variables for any potential weather event, so clients can monitor many different ‘what if’ scenarios in preparation for the unpredictable.” 

Utilizing Safeguard’s client reporting system, mortgage servicers also can receive automated notification of weather events in specific geographical areas to immediately identify properties that may be affected or have been impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires and other disasters. 

The system also benefits municipalities when severe weather strikes, because proactive measures by servicers reduce property damage and allow community resources to be deployed more effectively to other areas of need.  

“Through our All Client Alert System, Safeguard established itself as a critical industry and municipal resource when disasters strike,” said Michael Halpern, Safeguard’s director of community initiatives.”  With MapAlert, we offer an entirely new level of value.  With immediate and detailed information about specific properties, servicers can take decisive action to reduce damages and deploy resources to assist affected borrowers.” 

Weather data sources for MapAlert include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Geological Survey, the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GeoMAC). 

Additional features of Map Alert include the ability to create user-specific accounts to track events; advanced filtering, analysis and reporting capabilities, both pre-and post-event; real-time post-disaster satellite imagery; and access from mobile devices.

The release was published by MortgageOrb.  Please follow the link for the full article:
http://www.mortgageorb.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.14745

 

About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field service company in the U.S.  Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted properties for mortgage service companies, lenders, investors and other financial institutions.   Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.  Website: www.safeguardproperties.com. 

Media contact: Diane Roman Fusco, director of public relations, 800-852-8306, ext. 1213 diane.fusco@s.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard Properties Announces Five Management Appointments

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Safeguard Properties Announces Five Management Appointments

Valley View, OH, August 28, 2013 — Safeguard Properties announced the following appointment and promotions within its management team:

Amy Nauer, promoted to assistant vice president, property preservation and REO operations. Nauer oversees several aspects of Safeguard’s operations, including evictions, utility coordination, bid desk, and order audit/processing. She joined Safeguard in 1998 as a property preservation updater and has progressed through positions including team lead, manager, and most recently, director of property preservation/REO operations. Prior to joining Safeguard, Nauer owned a candy and confections shop in the Akron, Ohio-area. Nauer attended the University of Akron and practices LEAN Management in her operations. 

Holly Fletcher, promoted to director, client relations. Fletcher is responsible for the day-to-day management of Safeguard’s client’s post-sale Federal Housing Administration properties from sale through conveyance to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fletcher joined Safeguard in 2003 as a hazard claim specialist. In 2006, she was promoted to manager of hazard claims. Prior to joining Safeguard, Fletcher worked within the insurance industry managing corporate client accounts.

Brian Gecewich, promoted to director, field quality control and service quality assurance (SQA). Gecewich is responsible for Safeguard’s field quality control team and the creation of the SQA group. Gecewich joined Safeguard in 2007 and has progressed through several positions, most recently as manager of SQA. Prior to Safeguard, Gecewich served as a project manager for Commercial Movers in Garfield Heights, Ohio; account executive at Advanstar in Middleburg Heights, Ohio; and as an advertising consultant at Verizon Information Services in Independence, Ohio. He also served as a psychological operations specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve. Gecewich is pursuing a degree in business logistics at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio.

Steve Goberish, promoted to director, application development – vendor systems. Goberish is responsible for all development activities, including business requirements gathering, architecture and design of code enhancements and topologies, quality assurance testing and overall functionality of the vendor-facing web applications. Goberish joined Safeguard in March 2012 as manager of the application development team responsible for vendor systems including Vendor Web, INSPI, Archer and the Equator Interface.  Prior to joining Safeguard, Goberish led successful teams at First American Title Insurance Company and Broadvox, LLC. He is a graduate of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

Robert Lewis, attorney. Lewis joins Safeguard’s legal department, with responsibilities for the company’s litigation management function, focusing on all corporate and business line litigation and claim activity. Prior to joining Safeguard, he served for more than 10 years as a construction litigation attorney at Thompson Hine LLP in Cleveland. Lewis earned his undergraduate degree in history and political science from the University of Detroit Mercy and his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland. He currently serves as co-chair of PlayhouseSquare Partners in Cleveland, where he has held several executive board positions since 2010. He also is a member of the American Bar Association, including the Forum on the Construction Industry; the Ohio State Bar Association; and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

The release was published by HousingWire, DSNews, and MortgageOrb respectively.  Please follow the links for the full articles:

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/26491-safeguard-properties-appoints-five-new-management-members
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/safeguard-announces-promotions-hires-new-attorney-2013-08-28
http://www.mortgageorb.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.14280

 

About Safeguard

Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.  Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Media contact: Megan Greenwalt, public relations advisor, 800-852-8306, ext. 1870
megan.greenwalt@s.safeguardproperties.com

Safeguard Properties Expands Operations, Brings Jobs to Richardson, TX

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Safeguard Properties Expands Operations And Brings More Than 200 Jobs to Richardson, Texas

Richardson, Texas, April 4, 2013 – Safeguard Properties, the nation’s largest field service company serving the mortgage industry, announced the opening of its new operation in Richardson, Texas, bringing more than 200 jobs to the community. Safeguard is the first tenant to occupy the newly renovated Greenway II complex at 2400 Lakeside Boulevard, leasing the 22,000 square-foot third floor of the facility.

Safeguard, headquartered in Valley View, Ohio, has three additional locations in Ohio and Kentucky. The expansion to Richardson provides a strategic presence for Safeguard in the Dallas area, which is a major hub for the mortgage servicing industry. 

Alan Jaffa, Safeguard chief executive officer said the company conducted an extensive search for office space and selected the Richardson location because of its proximity to many of Safeguard’s major clients and the availability of additional space to accommodate future growth and expansion.   

“We are proud to be the first tenant in this excellent facility,” said Alan Jaffa. “It provides a high-quality work environment and great amenities for our employees, and a local base of operations to better serve our clients located in the Dallas area. We look forward to contributing to the growth and vitality of the community,” Jaffa added. 

“We are pleased to welcome Safeguard Properties to Richardson,” said John Jacobs, executive vice president of the Richardson Economic Development Partnership. “We know they will enjoy being a part of our vibrant economy with its outstanding live, work and play environment. Safeguard’s selection of Greenway II in Richardson underscores the value of the reinvestments being made in our commercial office space by proactive property owners.”

Functions performed at the new facility include client account relations, operations, loss management, field quality control and code compliance.  The new facility became fully operational this week.

About Safeguard

Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field service company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted properties for mortgage service companies, lenders, investors and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Media contact: Diane Roman Fusco, director of public relations, 800-852-8306, ext. 1213
diane.fusco@s.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard CIO George Mehok Named CIO of the Year

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Safeguard CIO George Mehok Named “CIO of the Year.”

Valley View, OH, April 17, 2013 – Safeguard Properties announced that Chief Information Officer George Mehok received the “CIO of the Year” Award from Crain’s Cleveland Business in the large private company category.

The award was announced Tuesday, April 16 at a ceremony attended by more than 300 guests.

Crain’s recognized Mehok for his leadership, innovation, IT challenges met, and strategies implemented.

“George is a creative and strategic thinker who has led the development and implementation of key technology initiatives to support Safeguard’s industry leadership and assure that we continue to deliver the highest levels of quality and service to our clients,” said Alan Jaffa, Safeguard chief executive officer.  “George would be the first to share the credit with his team – we are proud of George and grateful to him and his team for their tremendous contributions.”  

George joined Safeguard in 2011.  He has more than 20 years of technology leadership experience, and prior to joining Safeguard was chief information officer at Revol Wireless.  He holds an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University and a B.S. degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University.  He is an advisory board member and volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement, serves on the executive board of the Center for eBusiness and Information Technology of the University of Akron, and is a part-time lecturer for the University of Akron’s Management of Information Systems graduate program.

Please click here for Crain’s Cleveland Business article.

About Safeguard

Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.
Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Safeguard’s Diverse Vendors Complete Small Business Training

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Safeguard Properties’ Diverse Vendors Complete Small Business Training Sessions

— Field service company spends $153.7 million on diverse vendors in 2012

Valley View, Ohio, March 4, 2013 – As part of its ongoing initiative to support diversity in its vendor network, Safeguard Properties announced today that about 250 of the company’s minority- and women-owned vendor businesses recently completed small business training conducted in five cities across the country through the Partnership for Small Business Development (PSBD), a collaboration between Safeguard, Citi and the Foundation for Small Business Development.

Additionally, the company reported that annual expenditures with diverse vendors exceeded $153.7 million in 2012. Diverse vendors include those owned by women, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities. 

“Safeguard is committed to helping its diverse vendors grow their businesses, and supporting our clients’ efforts to promote diversity as well,” said Alan Jaffa, CEO of Safeguard. “We are grateful to Citi and the Foundation for Small Business Development for creating the PSBD program so that companies like Safeguard can help their minority-owned and women-owned vendor partners.”

Under the PSBD, training sessions were conducted in Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Baltimore during the past year to help women-owned and minority-owned vendors build their resources and expose them to new contract channels through official certification as diverse small business enterprises.

The PSBD also is offering 400 of Safeguard’s minority- and women-owned vendors one complimentary year of certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NSMDC), in addition to local and state-level opportunities. About 201 vendors have been certified and 170 are currently in the process.

Vendors are individuals and companies with whom Safeguard contracts to inspect and maintain defaulted and foreclosed homes across the country. The vendor network comprises nearly 10,000 businesses. On a monthly basis, the company inspects and maintains more than one million properties nationally.

About Safeguard

Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S.  Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage service companies, lenders, investors and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.
Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Media contact: Diane Roman Fusco, director of public relations, 800-852-8306, ext. 1213
diane.fusco@s.safeguardproperties.com

Safeguard Properties Launches Next-Generation of INSPI Mobile Application for Inspections

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Safeguard Properties Launches Next-Generation of INSPI Mobile Application for Inspections

Cleveland, Ohio, February 15, 2013 — Safeguard Properties announced the launch of its next-generation INSPI Mobile application, a proprietary system that vastly improves the efficiency and accuracy of field and insurance loss property inspections.

The industry-leading application is the only mobile system for property inspections today that works across all mobile platforms, including Apple iOS and Android devices, such as iPods, smartphones and tablets. Inspectors receive and submit work orders in the field in real-time, and also can receive immediate order cancellations when the status of a loan changes and an inspection is no longer required.

Features of the INSPI Mobile system include a robust script-engine with an embedded camera function that optimizes the way inspectors manage the entire inspections process.  It prompts inspectors to assure that work orders are submitted accurately and completely and a “smart labeling” feature assures that all photo requirements are fulfilled.  It also eliminates the need for inspectors to work in multiple applications while accommodating the offline mode necessary for field workers.  

The system also provides driving instructions and mapping features for more efficient property location and routing. 
  
“Our integrated mobile technology combined with advanced image handling have made it possible to vastly improve the inspections process for our inspector network, allowing them to deliver more accurate and timely services,” said George Mehok, chief information for Safeguard. 

Mehok added that to achieve the highest quality mobile application, Safeguard forged a relationship with Appcelerator, the company that provides the platform on which all of Safeguard’s mobile programs are developed.  

Jen Jozity, Safeguard’s assistant vice president for inspections, said, “We are especially grateful to our inspectors for their spirit of partnership in providing us with the feedback necessary to evolve the INSPI Mobile application to serve their needs. Our inspectors are our ‘boots on the ground’ and need efficient tools to work effectively. INSPI Mobile supports them to deliver quality results that in turn serve our client and investor needs.” 
 
About Safeguard

Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field service company in the U.S.  Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted properties for mortgage service companies, lenders, investors and other financial institutions.   Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.  Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Media contact: Diane Roman Fusco, director of public relations, 800-852-8306, ext. 1213
diane.fusco@s.safeguardproperties.com.

To view a demonstration video about INSPI Mobile: http://safeguardproperties.fordela.com/videos/preview/18039/38267