Our People
People are our trophy assets.

Dan Clemmens
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer Learn MorePrior to joining Highwoods in 2007, Dan was a senior manager with Ernst & Young LLP in Atlanta for 13 years. He has extensive experience in the real estate industry, having led Ernst & Young’s audit engagement teams focusing on a variety of public REITs, including Highwoods. Dan is a Certified Public Accountant. His professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.
BS, Accountancy, Arizona State University
Hugh Esleeck
Treasurer Learn MoreAs Treasurer, Hugh is directly responsible for overseeing our cash management, our secured and unsecured borrowings, lender and rating agency relations, day-to-day equity markets activity, and financial analysis and support. Prior to joining the Company in 1997, he spent eight years with The Wyatt Company in the treasury group.
BA, Lynchburg College
MBA, Virginia Tech
Ed Fritsch
Chief Executive Officer and Director Learn MoreEd serves as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Highwoods Properties. He joined Highwoods in 1982, a year after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Business Administration.
Ed held many titles before becoming CEO in 2004. His prior roles include positions such as asset management, director of development, division president and chief operating officer. Also, Ed was a partner of Highwoods’ predecessor company before its initial public offering in 1994.
In the CEO role, Ed has implemented a successful business strategy focused on four core principles: people, portfolio, balance sheet and communications. Throughout Ed’s tenure as CEO, Highwoods has averaged a total shareholder return of 12.8 percent per annum.
In 2016, Ed served as chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), an organization representing nearly $3 trillion worth of publicly traded U.S. REITs. Currently, Ed serves on the board of National Retail Properties (NYSE:NNN). He also is a member of the University of North Carolina Foundation Board, the University of North Carolina Real Estate Holdings Board and Wells Fargo’s Central Regional Board.
Ed has been routinely active in community programs and initiatives at a leadership level. He currently serves on boards for the University of North Carolina Foundation, the University of North Carolina Real Estate Holdings, Triangle Family Services and Dix Park Conservancy.
Ted Klinck
President and Chief Operating Officer Learn MoreTed joined Highwoods in March 2012. He became President in 2018 after serving as Executive Vice President since 2015. Previously, he was principal and chief investment officer with Goddard Investment Group in Atlanta. Ted has 26 years of extensive real estate experience, and prior to joining Goddard Investment, he spent 16 years with Morgan Stanley Real Estate, including its predecessor companies Lend Lease and Equitable Real Estate. Ted has a strong focus on sourcing core, value-add and opportunistic real estate investments in high growth markets, particularly in the Sunbelt, and has overseen the closing of more than $15 billion worth of transactions over the last 10 years.
BBA, Finance and Real Estate, Southern Methodist University
MBA, Finance and Real Estate, University of Georgia
Carman Liuzzo
Senior Vice President, Investments Learn MoreCarman is a member of the Company’s Investment Group. He joined Highwoods in 1994 as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer and remained in that position until December 2003. Prior to Highwoods, Carman spent four years with KPMG Peat Marwick and then Boddie-Noell Enterprises as Chief Accounting Officer. He is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He also serves as a member of the Real Estate Industry Advisory Board and the Pamplin College of Business Advisory Council for Virginia Tech. Additionally, Carman is a member and former chair of the Diocesan Finance Council for the Raleigh Catholic Diocese and is a member of the board for Haven House Services.
BS, Accounting, Virginia Tech
Brendan Maiorana
Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations Learn MoreBrendan joined Highwoods in 2016 and spent the previous 11 years in Equity Research at Wells Fargo Securities, starting as an Associate Equity Research Analyst. Prior to that, he spent four years at Ernst & Young LLP as a senior auditor. He is a certified Chartered Financial Anaylst.
BS, Accounting, Rutgers University
MBA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Art McCann
Vice President, Chief Information Officer Learn MoreArt’s responsible for the company’s overall information technology strategy, aligning technology investments with the overall business. A 20-year business technology veteran, Art was a technology consulting manager at accounting firm McGladrey & Pullen before joining Highwoods in 2000. Prior to that, he served as a network manager for a non-profit organization in Washington, DC. Professional affiliations include past board member for the Society for Information Management and past president for the Oracle Real Estate Application user group. Art currently serves on the Quest International board of directors.
BS, Elon University
MBA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jeff Miller
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Learn MoreJeff joined Highwoods in 2007. Previously, he was a partner with DLA Piper US LLP and Alston & Bird LLP. Throughout his career in private practice, Jeff concentrated on securities, corporate governance and related strategic matters, and served as general outside counsel to a variety of publicly-traded REITs, including Highwoods. Jeff served as lead independent director of Hatteras Financial Corp., a publicly-traded mortgage REIT, prior to its merger with Annaly Capital Management, Inc. in July 2016.
B.A., Penn State
J.D. and M.B.A, Wake Forest
Mark Mulhern
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Learn MoreMark joined Highwoods in September 2014. He had served on the Highwoods Board of Directors and Audit Committee from 2012 through 2014. As Chief Financial Officer, his primary responsibilities include capital market and treasury functions, financial reporting, financial analysis, accounting and investor relations. Prior to Highwoods, Mark served as Chief Financial Officer of Exco Resources, Inc. (NYSE:XCO). Prior to Exco, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Progress Energy, Inc. from 2008 until its merger with Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) in July 2012. He joined Progress Energy in 1996 and served in a number of financial and strategic roles. He also spent eight years at Price Waterhouse. Mark is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the boards for McKim & Creed and Barings BDC. He previously served on the board of Azure Midstream Partners.
BS, Accounting, St. Bonaventure University
Randy Roberson
Senior Vice President, Development Learn MoreRandy is responsible for development across the company’s nine divisions. Areas of expertise include land-use planning and entitlements, design, cost control, construction administration, owner representation and customer coordination. Randy is a LEED Accredited Professional. He joined Highwoods in 1995. During his tenure, he has overseen 7 million SF of development worth $1.5 billion in investments. Prior to Highwoods, Randy served as a senior project manager at Clancy & They’s Construction Company and as vice president at Benchmark Construction Corporation.
BS, Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University.
Mike Starchville
Senior Vice President, Asset Management Learn MoreMike is responsible for the company’s overall asset management. As a 30-year real estate veteran, Mike has extensive leadership experience in property management, asset management, leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, risk management, property tax, and enhanced life-cycle strategies for major capital expenditures. Prior to joining Highwoods in 2008, Mike served as vice president of asset management for Crown American Realty Trust, the 2003 merging partner to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Building Owners and Managers Association.
BS, Engineering, University of Maryland


Ed Fritsch
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Learn More

Ed Fritsch
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Ed serves as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Highwoods Properties. He joined Highwoods in 1982, a year after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Business Administration.
Ed held many titles before becoming CEO in 2004. His prior roles include positions such as asset management, director of development, division president and chief operating officer. Also, Ed was a partner of Highwoods’ predecessor company before its initial public offering in 1994.
In the CEO role, Ed has implemented a successful business strategy focused on four core principles: people, portfolio, balance sheet and communications. Throughout Ed’s tenure as CEO, Highwoods has averaged a total shareholder return of 12.8 percent per annum.
In 2016, Ed served as chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), an organization representing nearly $3 trillion worth of publicly traded U.S. REITs. Currently, Ed serves on the board of National Retail Properties (NYSE:NNN). He also is a member of the University of North Carolina Foundation Board, the University of North Carolina Real Estate Holdings Board and Wells Fargo’s Central Regional Board.
Ed has been routinely active in community programs and initiatives at a leadership level. He currently serves on boards for the University of North Carolina Foundation, the University of North Carolina Real Estate Holdings, Triangle Family Services and Dix Park Conservancy.

Carlos Evans
Chairman of the Board
Learn More

Carlos Evans
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Evans was elected to the Board in January 2015. He is Chair of the Compensation/Governance committee and a member of the Executive Committee.
Mr. Evans retired from Wells Fargo Bank in May 2014, where he served as executive vice president and group head of the eastern division of Wells Fargo commercial banking. He was also responsible for the bank’s government & institutional banking group and he served on Wells Fargo’s management committee. Mr. Evans joined First Union National Bank in 2000 as the wholesale banking executive for the commercial segment prior to its merger with Wachovia Corporation in 2001. From 2006 until Wachovia’s merger with Wells Fargo in 2009, Evans was the wholesale banking executive and an executive vice president for the Wachovia general banking group, overseeing the commercial, business and community banking segments, the dealer financial services business and the government, tax exempt, and not-for-profit healthcare groups. Before joining First Union, Evans served in a variety of roles at Bank of America and its predecessors including NationsBank, North Carolina National Bank and Bankers Trust of South Carolina, which he joined in 1973.
In addition to serving as a Highwoods Board member, Mr. Evans is a member of the Compensation and Finance Committees for Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYKE).

Good business grounded in good governance.

Gene Anderson
Board Member
Learn More

Gene Anderson
Board Member
Mr. Anderson has been a director since 1997. He is a member of the Investment and Executive committees.
Mr. Anderson served as regional manager of Highwoods Atlanta and Triad operations until his retirement in June 2009. Mr. Anderson is managing principal of G.H. Anderson & Company, a private investment firm. He was president of Anderson Properties from 1978 until February 1997. Mr. Anderson is a past president of the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and is a past national board member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.



Chuck Anderson
Board Member
Learn More

Chuck Anderson
Board Member
Mr. Anderson has been a director since 2014. He is a member of the Investment and Audit Committees.
Mr. Anderson co-founded Bandera Ventures, a private real estate development and investment firm, in May 2003. Prior to founding Bandera Ventures, Mr. Anderson was with the Trammell Crow Company for over 16 years where he was senior executive director, responsible for the development and investment group for the western United States. He also served on Trammell Crow’s executive and operating committees. Mr. Anderson serves on the Board of Directors for Triumph Savings Bank, and The Cooper Institute.

Dr. David Hartzell
Board Member
Learn More

Dr. David Hartzell
Board Member
David J. Hartzell has been a director since 2009. He is a member of the Audit and Investment Committees.
Dr. Hartzell is a Steven D. Bell and Leonard W. Wood Distinguished Professor in Real Estate at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to joining the University of North Carolina in 1988, Dr. Hartzell was a vice president at Salomon Brothers Inc. in New York, where his primary focus was on institutional real estate finance and investments. Dr. Hartzell also worked as a research associate for The Urban Institute and as a financial economist for the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency. He is a former president of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.

Sherry Kellett
Board Member
Learn More

Sherry Kellett
Board Member
Ms. Kellett has been a director since 2005. She is chair of the Audit Committee.
Ms. Kellett is a certified public accountant and served as senior executive vice president and corporate controller of BB&T Corporation from 1995 until her retirement in August 2003. She previously served as corporate controller of Southern National Corporation from 1991 until 1995 when it merged with BB&T Corporation. Ms. Kellett previously held several positions at Arthur Andersen & Co. She is a director of MidCountry Financial Corp., a private financial services holding company and is a director of Medical Properties Trust, Inc., a publicly-traded medical office REIT.

Anne Lloyd
Board Member
Learn More

Anne Lloyd
Board Member
Ms. Lloyd was elected to the board in January 2018. She is a member of the Audit Committee.
Ms. Lloyd served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) from June 2005 until her retirement in August 2017. She joined Martin Marietta in 1998 as Vice President and Controller, promoted to Chief Accounting Officer in 1999. She also formerly served as director and chair of the Audit Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (NYSE:TNH), a global leader in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and distribution. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.
At Highwoods, Employees are Family