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Safeguard’s Power Players

Safeguard in the News
February 1, 2018

Power Players:  Service Providers

Safeguard Properties Management, LLC.

Mortgage service providers walk a tightrope of regulatory demands that they must meet while delivering a full spectrum of services and solutions to their clients. In this section, we profile five companies creating new products, new efficiencies and new opportunities in a dynamic mortgage servicing market.

The COMPANY
Safeguard Properties, founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, provides its clients with excellence in the field services industry through leadership on key issues, ongoing training for employees and resources for contractors, the development of industry-leading technologies and providing outstanding client service.

Technology plays a strategic role at Safeguard, which inspects and preserves vacant and foreclosed properties throughout the U.S. The company is proactive in developing technologies to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and in creating systems to assure the highest rate of clean audit findings.

“Safeguard has long been in the forefront of bringing creative thinking to the industry,” said Alan Jaffa, Safeguard CEO. “By critically looking at current issues and those on the horizon, Safeguard provides solutions to minimize risks to clients and properties.”

The company’s technologies improve quality of work using geo-location services, big data analytics and workflow distribution, state-of-the-art data centers and mobile capabilities.

And Jaffa credits the company’s philosophy — Customer Service = Resolution — as the foundation of Safeguard’s success. Jaffa said the phrase is more than just a motto; it’s a promise to deliver the highest level of quality service.

“Safeguard has identified critical issues within the industry, convened national discussions, and led working groups with representation from the mortgage industry, the field services industry, and government to find resolutions,” Jaffa said.

“In addition, Safeguard hosts the annual National Property Preservation Conference, bringing together industry leaders to discuss current issues and to develop solutions.”

By introducing major advances in its mobile platform, the company is creating a real-time two-way conversation with its contractors, who can now capture the property condition in real-time from the property and communicate it back to Safeguard within minutes.

The company’s next goal is to work with mortgage servicers and investors to extend this automation into their back-office workflow, enabling them to have better visibility and make important time-sensitive decisions.

The EXECUTIVES
ROBERT KLEIN, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN
Robert Klein is the founder and chairman of the board for Safeguard. Under Klein’s leadership, Safeguard grew from a handful of employees in 1990 into the largest field services company in the industry. Klein assumed the role of chairman in May 2010.

Klein serves as chair of the National Vacant Properties Registration Committee of the MBA and he represents not only Safeguard, but the industry as a whole in national associations including MBA, USFN, CMBA and REOMAC. He also is the founder of the National Property Preservation Conference.

In 2009, Klein received the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

ALAN JAFFA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Alan Jaffa is the CEO for Safeguard, a role he assumed in May 2010. Previously he served as chief operating officer. 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 complementary markets.

Since joining Safeguard in 1995, Jaffa has worked in virtually every department of the company. Under his leadership, Safeguard has doubled in size and, in 2010 and 2011, was recognized as the fastest-growing large company in Northeast Ohio.

GREGORY ROBINSON, CPA, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Gregory Robinson directs all accounting and financial management activities for Safeguard, as well as overseeing quality assurance, information security, internal audit, corporate communications and support services. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners. Prior to joining Safeguard, Robinson led successful consulting practices at CGI Inc., NetGov Inc. and ORION Consulting.

In 2010, Robinson was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as CFO of the Year.

FAST FACTS:

  • Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.
  • The leading mortgage default field services company in the U.S.
  • Safeguard provides its clients with excellence in the industry through leadership on key issues, ongoing training for employees, resources for contractors, the development of industry-leading technologies, and providing outstanding client service. Safeguard will remain true to its founding spirit and corporate motto of Customer Service = Resolution.

Source: HousingWire (Power Players: Service Providers [pdf])

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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