Safeguard Announces Training Partnership with AACE

Safeguard Properties Announces Training Partnership with?American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE)

Membership to receive free training and certification Webinar

Valley View, OH, April 12, 2011 ? Safeguard Properties today announced a strategic partnership with the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) to offer a training and certification program free of charge to code enforcement officials nationally.

Code enforcement officials will receive 1.0 continuing education units (CEUs) for participating in the program, conducted via an online, on-demand Webinar platform, the first to be offered by a mortgage field service company.? Code enforcement officials may begin signing up for the training immediately.??

Webinar content and training materials were developed by the Community Initiatives Department of Safeguard Properties in consultation with code enforcement officials across the country.? AACE and Safeguard will serve as co-hosts to present the seminars to AACE?s membership.

?Cities across the country have been in the grips of a housing crisis for years, and the need has never been greater for trained and qualified code officers,? said Robert Klein, founder and chairman of Safeguard.? ?AACE has been a tireless advocate to support the code enforcement profession, and we are honored to partner with them to help their members meet and maintain their professional certification requirements and to help ease the financial burden of municipalities.?

?The partnership with Safeguard is an invaluable service to our membership,? said Sherri Johnston, AACE president.? ?Robert Klein and Safeguard were the first to reach out to the code enforcement community to foster collaboration on behalf of the mortgage industry.? Their initiative to create and offer this program for our membership is further demonstration of their commitment to share best practices that benefit code officials, municipalities and the mortgage industry alike.??

The training program provides an overview of best practices pertaining to property preservation, as well as tools and resources readily available to assist code officials with their day-to-day responsibilities of maintaining the integrity of properties in their communities.

Code enforcement officials may register for the Webinar by going to https://safeguardproperties.com/Municipalities/webinar.
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About AACE?
?The American Association of Code Enforcement, founded in 1988, is a national nonprofit association representing the profession of code enforcement, whose mission is to educate, elevate and improve the profession.? AACE is the internationally recognized leader in the profession of code enforcement.? Since its inception, it has become the premier association to advance the code compliance profession through its certification program, education, training and enforcement.? Website: www.aace1.com.

About Safeguard??
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held mortgage field services company in the U.S.? Founded in 1990, and headquartered in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for banks, mortgage companies, investors and other financial institutions.? Safeguard employs approximately 850 people, plus a network of thousands of contractors nationwide.? Website:? www.safeguardproperties.com.

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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