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Safeguard Properties Announces Five Executive and Management Appointments

 

Safeguard Properties Announces Five Executive and Management Appointments

Valley View, OH, May 24, 2012 — Safeguard Properties announced the following promotions within its executive and management teams:

Kellie Chambers, promoted to assistant vice president, property preservation. Chambers assumes leadership responsibilities for both property preservation operations and the client account representatives group. She also oversees all aspects of Safeguard’s property preservation service line, including order entry, client relations, regional coordination, and operations. Chambers joined Safeguard in 2001. In 2007, she was promoted to property preservation manager and in 2009 was promoted again to director.  Chambers also serves on the board of directors for Community Housing Solutions in Cleveland, Ohio, a non-profit organization helping to fill the housing needs of the underserved.

Russ Klein, assistant vice president, quality assurance and training. Klein is responsible for implementing comprehensive quality assurance and internal audit programs to identify and correct errors before they impact customers. He is also responsible for developing and delivering training for new hires and ongoing learning programs for current associates. He joined Safeguard in 2010.  Prior to joining Safeguard, Klein held leadership positions in operations, project management and technology with American Greetings, Diamond Management and Technology Consultants, and JPMorgan Chase (formerly First Chicago NBD Capital Markets). He earned an MBA from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington University. Klein also serves on the board of directors for Vocational Guidance Services in Cleveland, Ohio.

Steve Meyer, assistant vice president, high risk and hazard claims. Meyer is responsible for managing clients’ conveyance processes and developing our working relationships with cities and municipalities around the country. Meyer joined Safeguard in 1998 as manager over the hazard claims team. In 2002, he assumed responsibility for the newly-formed high risk department, once again building its success. Meyer was promoted to director over these two areas in 2007. Prior to joining Safeguard, he spent 10 years within the insurance industry, holding a number of positions including multi-line property adjuster, branch claims supervisor, and multi-line and subrogation/litigation supervisor. Meyer is a graduate of Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Travis Anderson, director, vendor management. Anderson is responsible for implementing and maintaining comprehensive programs for the recruiting, training and management of Safeguard’s extensive and diverse vendor network. Anderson joined Safeguard in January 2012 after almost 7 years at Iron Mountain, an information management company in Solon, Ohio. He also served 11 years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power program on two submarines, one from each coast. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology and business in 2003 from the University of Phoenix.

Tim Rath, director, property preservation, regionals. Rath directs the property preservation regional coordinators that are responsible for working with Safeguard’s vendor network to assure that its clients work is thoroughly completed and communicated on time. Rath joined Safeguard in October 2011 as a property preservation project director. Prior to joining Safeguard, he was the director of supply chain with PartsSource Inc. in Aurora, Ohio. Rath also held positions with Rexel Inc. and ComDoc Inc. Rath graduated from the University of Akron in 2000 with a degree in marketing and sales.

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