Safeguard Properties

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The Way Forward

Industry Update
June 4, 2018

Source: Monroe County Vacant and Abandoned Property Task Force (The Way Forward full report)

Additional Resources:

Rochester First (Task force plans to fix up abandoned properties in Monroe Co.)

WHAM ABC 13 (New task force report on vacant properties touts successes, aims to do more)

WHEC NBC 10 (Task force on vacant and abandoned properties releases report)

WXXI News (County task force targets Zombie Homes)

Facebook (report press conference)

2018 Recommendations

  1. Strengthen and build partnerships between municipalities and HUD-approved housing counseling specialists to perform outreach targeting homeowners facing mortgage or tax foreclosure.
  2. Inform the public about programs, grants and organizations to help with foreclosure prevention, home buying and rehabilitation.
  3. Work with local court officials, representatives from lenders and consumer advocates to develop an expedited foreclosure process that offers benefits to all parties involved and that will ultimately be regularly utilized.
  4. Support the statewide campaign to secure continued funding for foreclosure prevention services through the New York State budget process.
  5. Advocate with HUD to make changes to the FHFA loan sales program that will create a positive impact to communities facing an influx of vacant properties.
  6. Advocate for changes to NYS Real Property Law to allow municipalities to pursue abandonment actions against vacant properties that have serious zoning, housing, building or property maintenance code violations for more than a year.
  7. Encourage Monroe County to modify its tax lien sale policy to account for the impact that distressed properties have on neighborhoods and consider a policy similar to the City of Rochester’s, which identifies properties that should be sold at foreclosure auctions.
  8. Monroe County should develop a “bidder-qualification” process to approve bidders at tax foreclosure sales.
  9. Continue to encourage expansion of the Rochester Land Bank to include all municipalities within Monroe County.
  10. Increase the sharing of technical tools between municipalities, and with the general public.
  11. Work with lenders to increase the numbers of donated and low-cost properties to local non-profits.
  12. Encourage the return of vacant housing to community-controlled institutions like City Roots Community Land Trust for rehabilitation.
  13. Continue to implement the Neighborhood Revitalization Program as a tool to address vacant properties in the City of Rochester and Monroe County and encourage participation from all eligible municipalities.
  14. Continue the work of the Task Force and seek funding to expand its scope and outreach.

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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