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Robert Klein Wins Mortgage Industry Award

October Research announces winners of industry awards
 
(Cleveland, Ohio – June 12, 2012) October Research, LLC, publisher of The Title Report, The Legal Description, Valuation Review, RESPA News and Dodd Frank Update, today announced the winners in its inaugural awards program, launched to honor men and women in the mortgage and settlement services industries for exemplary accomplishment in the areas of leadership, innovation and philanthropy.
 
Announced during the National Settlement Services & Compliance Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, the leadership award was given to Robert Klein, founder and chairman of Safeguard Properties. The award for innovation went to Stewart Morris, Jr., vice chairman of Stewart Information Services Corp. The award for philanthropy went to Chris Gulotta, Principal of The Gulotta Law Group, PLLC.
 
The awards were presented by Erica Meyer, founder and publisher of October Research and Chris Casa chief executive officer of October Research.
 
“We are thrilled to launch this new awards program for the industry this year,” said Meyer. “It was an honor to present the awards to such accomplished and dedicated individuals.”
 
Leadership
Klein is recognized for his efforts on behalf of the mortgage servicing industry to advance industry best practices, help homeowners avoid foreclosure, and build stronger relationships with municipalities to protect properties and preserve neighborhoods.
 
Founded in 1990, Safeguard Properties began as a two-person operation and today is the largest privately held mortgage field service company in the U.S. It employs nearly 1,000 people, plus a network of approximately 10,000 vendors and contractors who inspect and maintain defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, investors and other financial institutions.
 
Kellie Chambers, assistant vice president of property preservation at Safeguard Properties, accepted the award on behalf of Klein.
 
Innovation
Morris was recognized for helping Stewart to become a leading provider of title insurance and related services to the real estate, settlement services and mortgage industries. Much of this success has been driven by Morris’ efforts to create technology to improve productivity, create transparency and better the customer experience. Many industry technology “firsts” can be attributed to his efforts to move the industry forward.
 
“The title and settlement services agents out there are the core of the entire real estate process,” Morris said in accepting the award. “Innovation is a journey. We have an obligation to continue to innovate this process on behalf of all the clients we serve. This industry is filled with innovators who keep this process going.”
 
Philanthropy
Gulotta, an attorney and principal of a New York Title agency, was recognized for his various community efforts. As a business owner, he has served on the boards and provided pro bono legal services to the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and The Community Fund. He is also known for giving much of his time mentoring students at community schools, universities and law schools as well as being an advocate for physical health and youth sports.
 
“What a great honor it is to be nominated for an award like this and for an award named after such a great man,” Gulotta said. “Philanthropy is nothing you do for anything in return. Every child I have mentored every soccer player I have coached, it has all been selfish. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and never looked for anything in return. I also want to recognize Evan Grimm and Dave Heine for their work in organ donation and childhood poverty.”
 
The Joe Casa Awards for Leadership, Innovation and Philanthropy were named after the late founder of October Research. These prestigious awards recognize the highest standard of professional achievement in the settlement services industries.
 
In presenting the awards, Chris Casa said he was delighted to pay tribute to the industry top leaders and innovators who have stepped up to the plate time and again to guide the industry through the challenges of the last decade.
 
October Research launched the Joe Casa Awards program in January and nominations were accepted through March 31. Nominations were open to anyone with a track record of accomplishment in the mortgage and settlement services industry. The 2013 awards program will be open for nominations in January 2013.
 
About October Research
Founded in 1999, October Research is the nation’s leading provider of market intelligence, industry news and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, settlement services and mortgage industries. Publications include The Title Report, The Legal Description, Valuation Review, RESPA News and Dodd Frank Update. Located in Richfield, Ohio, the company also produces educational audio seminars, Webinars, videos and live events, which can be purchased at www.octoberstore.com.

 

About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees  and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with nearly 1,000 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

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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