Our People

Prior 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

As 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 serves as President, 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’s currently involved with Triangle Family Services, the YMCA of the Triangle and Dix Park Conservancy.

Ted joined Highwoods in March 2012. 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 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 chairs 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 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’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 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 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 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 is responsible for the company’s overall asset management. As a 28-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