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the organization and with our customers. Now, the focus is Sustainability: It is one thing to design and build new,
on the implementation phase of those strategies. It’s about but how do you convert brown field locations to
making it come to life over the next 18 to 24 months, then achieve maximum efficiency at scale in a cost effective
taking a refresh at that strategy to make sure we’re still manner?
on the right path. We believe it’s a great program of work
backed by good economics. We’re excited to pivot from Cybersecurity: This is an imperative; we need to
strategy to execution—that’s when it gets fun! ensure we are building security in our designs from the
ground-up.
What technology, automation, or innovation trends
do you see having the most impact on the industry Scalability: Not only around sustainability, but also
over the next three years and why? around global IoT infrastructure, delivering insights
In my opinion, these trends will have the most impact: across a portfolio in a cost-effective way.

owns and manages 219 buildings totaling 31.4 million
square feet across nine markets primarily concentrated in
the Southeast.

Tell us about your role within your organization.
My main responsibility is to strategically align every
technology investment to the business by improving
processes, heightening cybersecurity and/or increasing
NOI. This starts with what I believe is one of the best
technology teams in real estate. We regularly host open
discussions with every business unit and every corporate
support department to learn how to better serve them.
At Highwoods, you are empowered to ask questions
and fully licensed to find a better way. If someone says,
“we’ve always done it that way,” we always ask “why?”
I’m very proud of what the team has accomplished
over the years. Our list of accomplishments is long, as
ART MCCANN we’ve addressed some form of technology automation/
improvement for every function/department within our
VP AND CIO business—built or bought.
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES
What were the major technology projects you
started or completed last year?
We invested a significant portion of the team’s time
Art McCann is Vice President and Chief Information last year dramatically improving the automation and
Officer of Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW). He has efficiency of our paid parking garages, which is branded
been with Highwoods for 18 years. As a 28-year business as SmartPark by Highwoods Properties. We created a
technology veteran, Art provides leadership for the dedicated unit within Highwoods to devise and implement
continued development of an innovative, robust and this effort. By replacing outsourced operators in 11 urban
secure technology platform. parking garages with SmartPark technology, we have
successfully heightened the level of customer service,
Highwoods is a publicly traded real estate investment trust the customer experience and significantly increased NOI.
specializing in the development, acquisition, leasing and This cross collaboration among many corporate support
management of high quality office space. The company departments, such as accounting, asset management,

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RC19 EDGE Spring All but Covers - final - 19APR.indd 32 4/19/19 3:17 PM