Safeguard Properties

Archives For: blight

Why the Pennsylvania Anti-Blight Bills Make Good Sense

DS News published an article discussing the passage of HB 653 and 667. Included are comments from late Safeguard Properties Founder Robert Klein from a November 2017 interview.

19 Jun 2018

Blight Bills Active in New York

A11000 was introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee on May 29, 2018 and A02419/S07968 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on January 3, 2018.

4 Jun 2018

The Empty House Next Door

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Center for Community Progress published a report that lays the groundwork for exploring the issue of vacancy by defining what is meant by a “vacant” property, what constitutes a “healthy” vacancy rate, how vacant properties are measured, and why properties become vacant and abandoned.

15 May 2018

Cities Now Use Taxes to Fight Blight. Is It Working?

Governing Magazine published an article discussing the concept of utilizing property taxes to address blight.

14 May 2018

Upstate New York Cities Collaborate with Tech to Combat Blight

Government Technology published an article outlining four local New York governments that have partnered with the Center for Technology in Government to develop a platform that will share data and stem the rising tide of blighted buildings.

24 Jan 2018

Battling Zombie Homes. . .and Plywood

DS News published an article exploring ways to combat vacant and abandoned properties. The article features comments from Safeguard Properties Founder and Chairman Robert Klein.

5 Dec 2017

Banishing Blight: Officials, Experts, and Lawmakers Meet for Roundtable

DS News published an article highlighting a recent roundtable event on community blight that took place in Harrisburg, Pa. The event featured Safeguard Properties Founder and Chairman Robert Klein as a key participant.

5 Jul 2017

Blight Laws And The Movement Away From Plywood

Servicing Management published an article authored by Natalia Steele, partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP. In it, Steele outlines recent actions that have been taken to utilize polycarbonate window and door coverings to secure vacant properties.

28 Jun 2017

Fast-Track Foreclosure Legislation: A Proactive Solution to Address the Problem of Community Blight

The U.S. Foreclosure Network (USFN) published an article authored by Safeguard Properties Founder and Chairman Robert Klein. In it, Klein discusses fast-track foreclosure laws and the positive impact they could have on the war against blight.

23 May 2017

Urban Institute: Urban Blight and Public Health: Addressing the Impact of Substandard Housing, Abandoned Buildings, and Vacant Lots

Recently, the Urban Institute issued a report authored by Senior Research Associate Joseph Schilling and Columbia University Associate Director of Nonprofit Management Programs Erwin de Leon. The report explores the affects blight has on the health of individuals and neighborhoods and presents initial findings on interventions designed to address them.

17 May 2017

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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