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Safeguard Properties and SecureView Announce Loss of Robert “Mendy” Klein, Chairman and Founder

News Release
May 4, 2018

CLEVELAND, OHIO – Safeguard Properties and SecureView announced the loss of Robert “Mendy” Klein on May 3, 2018. Robert was chairman and founder of SecureView, Safeguard Properties, and RIK Enterprises. Robert was 65.

Associates of Robert expressed their shock and grief at his passing, and extend condolences to Robert’s wife, children, grand-children, and great-grand-child. Those condolences are also expressed to the local, national, and international Jewish community, of which Robert was a prolific supporter and icon.

Robert’s relentless energy extended into all of his business and philanthropic endeavors. He built Safeguard Properties from a company in his basement to the leader of the property preservation industry. Robert saw the need to address community blight, and created SecureView, the industry-leading polycarbonate clearboarding solution. Additionally, he formed RIK Enterprises, a family office based in Cleveland.

Robert was extraordinarily family-oriented, taking great pride in the accomplishments of his family, and he relished spending time with them. He often described the dozens of photographs in his office of his loved ones as “his fortune.” His regular and joyful presence in their lives will be deeply missed.

The consummate social entrepreneur, Robert’s businesses and activities sought to benefit mankind and improve the world around him. From an early age, he determined where the greatest needs existed and sought to address them with zeal. The absence of his energies in supporting community groups and beneficent organizations will be palpable.

A funeral will be held 12 p.m. May 4, 2018, at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s Yavne High School, 2475 South Green Road, Beachwood, OH 44112. The privacy of Robert’s family and community is requested at this time.

Media sharing in this news:

DS News:
Robert Klein, In Memoriam: The Industry Remembers an Icon
“It Just Appealed to Me”: Robert Klein’s Property Preservation Legacy

MReport
Remembering Industry Icon Robert Klein
Setting the Industry Standard: Remembering Safeguard’s Robert Klein

HousingWIre
Safeguard Properties icon Robert Klein passes away

National Mortgage News
Robert Klein, founder of Safeguard and SecureView, dies at 65

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