The Orlando office participated in our annual Summer College Rotational Internship Program that is ending this week. Special thanks to our Orlando leadership team, mentor and HR team. Here’s a few words from intern Caden Morales and mentor, Rose Thomas.

Caden Morales: Reflecting on my experience at Highwoods, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity I have had to be a part of a fantastic team and learn from talented professionals. I am a rising junior at the University of Florida, majoring in finance, and since starting college, I have had a strong interest in the real estate industry. An aspect of the program that I valued was the opportunity to experience different departments within our market. Each week, I would spend time learning about leasing, property management, construction and maintenance. I was even given the opportunity to collaborate on finance projects with colleagues from the corporate office.

One of the memorable moments of my time with Highwoods was the trip I took with my mentors to the Tampa office. While visiting, I was able to meet additional team members who shared their knowledge and experience with the company. I found it interesting how different markets utilize varying strategies for their unique portfolios.

In addition, I am thankful for the mentorship I received from Rose Thomas. She has done a fantastic job since I started my position. Since day one, she has helped me familiarize myself with my role and provided me guidance when I ran into obstacles. Once again, thank you for this privilege, and I hope future interns will find as much fulfillment and growth as I have at Highwoods.

Rose Thomas: I am grateful to have been chosen by our Orlando Leader, Steve Garrity, to be Caden Morales' mentor. Allowing our younger generation the opportunity to experience the corporate workforce during their college years is extremely valuable and speaks volumes about an organization's forward-thinking culture. Designing an internship that allowed Caden the opportunity to tap into each and every one of our departments while also being able to experience a day in our neighboring Tampa market was not only beneficial to him but a learning experience for me as well. Cadens' contributions, fresh perspectives and dedication over the past several weeks will not be forgotten.

I'd also like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in pulling this together and working one-on-one with Caden. Our outstanding corporate office team members Lisa Betts and Hannah True for allowing Caden the space to assist with a project, and our local leadership team here for playing such a huge role. Your support and willingness to work together and coordinate projects have made Caden's internship a rewarding experience. I am grateful for our team commitment at Highwoods Orlando Division.