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Safeguard Properties Recognized as One of the Fastest Growing Large Companies in Northeast Ohio

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Weatherhead 100 Recognizes Safeguard Properties As One of the Fastest Growing Large Companies in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, December 05, 2014 — Safeguard Properties was recognized as one of the fastest growing large companies in Northeast Ohio at the annual Weatherhead 100 awards ceremony Dec. 4, 2014. Safeguard was honored in the Centurion category (link: http://weatherhead.case.edu/weatherhead100/centurion2014), which includes companies with annual net sales in excess of $100 million.

“We are honored to be recognized once again for this prestigious award. Our continued growth would not be possible without our strong client partnerships, and the commitment to quality and customer service from our employees and vendors in the field,” said Alan Jaffa, Safeguard’s CEO. “I am proud to share this honor with our clients, vendors and the nearly 1,000 residents we employ in Northeast Ohio.”

The annual Weatherhead 100, presented by the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, recognizes the 100 fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio.

This is the 18th year in which Safeguard has been recognized as a Weatherhead 100 company. Qualifying companies must demonstrate consistent growth over the past five years. The objective ranking is performed by the Weatherhead School of Management.

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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 Receives Medical Mutual Pillar Award

Posted on September 13, 2018October 29, 2018 by Safeguard

Safeguard Properties Receives Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service
Safeguard’s Cares Committee gives employees the opportunity to give back

CLEVELAND, December 03, 2014 — Safeguard Properties is pleased to announce that the company has been named a 2014 Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service recipient. Presenting Safeguard with the award was American Cancer Society Senior Director Community Engagement Sarah Wells.

The award honors organizations and individuals committed to making a difference in the northeast Ohio community. Its purpose is to encourage a charitable environment, recognize creative efforts that make a difference and demonstrate the ties between the for-profit and nonprofit worlds.

Safeguard’s employees have always been active participants in the communities where the company has offices. As the company grew to 1,700 employees and expanded outside of Northeast Ohio, the Safeguard Cares Committee was formed in 2011 to help centralize and coordinate the company’s fundraising efforts. The Cares Committee is made up of 30 employee volunteers from Safeguard’s five office locations in Ohio, Texas and Kentucky. Each location’s committee members are responsible for picking a charity and then planning and promoting the fundraising effort.

“I am proud of the gracious and giving nature of Safeguard’s employees. It is wonderful to see everyone come together to support so many deserving organizations. I think it is very important for companies to offer their employees the opportunity, during work hours, to support the causes that are near and dear to their hearts. At Safeguard, we consider it part of the employee’s work day and encourage our staff to get involved,” said Alan Jaffa, CEO of Safeguard Properties.

One of the highlights of 2014 included a unique twist on the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life where Safeguard, a 12-year participant, held its own, first-ever in Northeast Ohio, on-site corporate Relay For Life at each of its three Ohio locations. The event took place during the workday with more than 455 employees participating. More than $22,600 was raised, which included a matching gift from Safeguard and Safeguard’s Founder and Chairman Robert Klein.

Since its launch in 2011, the Safeguard Cares Committee has helped raise money, secure donated goods, services and volunteer hours for more than 20 organizations, including the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity and Friendship Circle. Safeguard was honored at a ceremony held at LaCentre in Westlake, Ohio on December 2.

Safeguard Properties Announces Two IT Management Appointments

Posted on September 13, 2018October 29, 2018 by Safeguard

Safeguard Properties announced the following promotions within its IT management team:

Amitha Rao, promoted to assistant vice president for client systems and data analytics. Rao leads data architecture and governance for all systems, with the goal of creating a consistent and reliable information management platform. She works closely with the service lines to define key performance indicators and deploy dashboards to help Safeguard identify opportunities for continuous improvement; in addition to working with clients to provide information that helps meet their business objectives. Rao has been with Safeguard since 2002 and has been instrumental in designing and managing the company’s enterprise data warehouse system, consistently exceeding the expectations of clients and internal users. Under Rao’s direction, Safeguard broke new ground by applying geospatial technologies to analyze the spatial footprint of the mortgage industry and develop effective solutions to critical problems. Prior to joining Safeguard, Rao worked as a principal consultant in Boston for various clients in the research and development, bioinformatics and life sciences industries. As a bioinformatics consultant, she is proud to have worked on various proteomics and genomics projects including the Human Genome Project. Rao holds a master’s degree in physics and statistics.

Rick Moran, promoted to assistant vice president of application architecture. Moran is responsible for evolving the Safeguard IT systems. He leads the design of Safeguard’s enterprise application architecture. This includes Safeguard’s real-time integration with other systems, vendors and clients; the future upgrade roadmap for systems; and standards designed to meet availability, security, performance and goals. Moran has been with Safeguard since 2011. During that time, Moran has led the system upgrades necessary to support Safeguard’s growth. In addition, his team has designed and implemented several innovative systems. Prior to joining Safeguard Properties, Moran was director of enterprise architecture at Revol Wireless, a privately held CDMA Wireless provider in Ohio and Indiana, and operated his own consulting firm providing services to the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors.

DS News and HousingWire share this news.

Safeguard Executives to Speak at the 2014 Five Star Conference

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Safeguard Properties CEO Alan Jaffa, and Vice President of Operations Mike Greenbaum, will be featured panelists at the upcoming 2014 Five Star Conference in Dallas, Texas, on September 14-16, 2014.

Alan Jaffa will participate in a panel discussion titled Property Preservation in the New Regulatory Environment, Monday, September 15 at 1 p.m., as part of the Property Management Lab.

Panel description: It goes without saying that property preservation is a vital cog in the mortgage servicing process and in stabilizing America’s neighborhoods. But as regulatory mandates impact the servicing industry, professionals within the property preservation field are subject to new rules, regulations, and responsibilities. How will this affect business, both in the short and long terms? Experts in field servicing will explore critical matters including vendor management, useful technology, and remaining compliant.

Mike Greenbaum will participate in a panel discussion titled The Cost and Consequences of Compliance, Monday, September 15 at 1 p.m., as part of the Compliance Lab.

Panel description: The onset of new regulations has forced many companies across mortgage servicing to change processes, adopt and invest in new technology, enlist third-party assistance, and even recruit and retrain staff, all of which increase the cost of servicing. Discover productive and effective developments to implement, third parties who are offering valuable services, and how consumers will share and experience the burden of expense.

Safeguard is this year’s Hosting Sponsor of the Five Star Conference, which takes place at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. Safeguard will be at booth #201 throughout the entire conference.

To view the full conference schedule, click here.

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 Raises $23,400 for Relay For Life

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Safeguard Properties Raises $23,400 for Relay For Life
Month-long fundraisers help company surpass last year’s total

On Friday, June 20, Safeguard Properties held its own, first-ever, on-site corporate Relay For Life at each of its three Ohio locations. More than 455 employees participated and raised more than $4,500 for cancer research. Once again, Safeguard and Robert Klein will be providing a match to increase the impact of Safeguard’s efforts.

This is in addition to the monies raised throughout the month of June as the company geared up for the Relay by holding special dress down days and a Safeguard Fairy Princess Contest, as well as the money raised through the company’s participation in the Aurora Relay for Life on June 6. In total, Safeguard will be donating $23,440 to the American Cancer Society.

Safeguard would like to thank AVI Foodsystems, for donating a portion of the event cookout proceeds, and Safeguard Massage for donating 100% of their massage proceeds for that day to the Relay.

Safeguard Employees Take Part in Slavic Village Recovery Community Volunteer Day

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

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.

Safeguard Responds to NFHA Complaint

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

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.

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

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018 by Safeguard

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.

Safeguard Properties Announces Five Management Appointments

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

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.

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

Posted on September 13, 2018October 4, 2018 by Safeguard

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.