Vendor Conference 2008

Safeguard hosted its fifth annual Vendor Conference. This conference brought together over 650 contractors and inspectors from all across the country, as well as executives from a number of loan servicers, Fannie Mae (FNMA), the Veterans Administration (VA) and a number of our clients. The three-day conference highlighted the state of the industry, and focused on best practices in maintaining and preserving our clients’ properties and the nation’s housing stock.

A number of topics were discussed throughout the sessions that impacted both REO and pre-sale efforts. These included:

  • Issues relating to high risk properties
  • Policies and procedures surrounding pool securing and maintenance
  • Hazard Claims policies, processes, and procedures
  • Grass cuts and winterizations
  • Photo documentation
  • Internal quality control measures that Safeguard has implemented to improve our services

 

Safeguard announced the impending rollout of our new Vendor Web. The site is currently in beta production with approximately 50 contractors, and Safeguard anticipates that all contractors will be trained and migrated to the new system by November 2008. Initial feedback by those beta contractors has been extremely positive and the new Vendor Web is expected to provide a more user friendly, quality enhanced application for receiving and updating orders.

Safeguard also discussed its new media procedures, which were developed to assist contractors who are suddenly facing media inquiries while they are completing work in the field.

The conference was a huge success, and Robert Klein repeatedly commented on the excellent work that our contractors and inspectors are doing each and every day. Though we are constantly looking for new and more efficient procedures to improve the process, Safeguard truly believes that we have the strongest contractor network in the industry, and we appreciate the excellent turnout for this conference. The clients and servicers who were present echoed Robert’s sentiments that we are doing great work in the field, and that they look forward to further improvement.

Please click on the links below to view summaries of the different sessions that took place during Vendor Conference 2008.

summarySummaries

Keynote and Opening Remarks

Keynote Address: Robert Caire
Welcome and Opening Remarks

General Sessions

P&P
REO

movieVideo

 

This conference took place in Cleveland, Ohio August 24-26 and brought together over 650 contractors and inspectors from all across the country, as well as executives from a number of loan servicers, Fannie Mae (FNMA), the Veterans Administration (VA) and a number of our clients.

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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