High atop a five-star hotel in Minneapolis, UW-Stout real estate property management senior Madelyn King completed her summer cooperative experience as a private residences intern with Four Seasons.
“What I love most about the real estate property management major is that no two days are ever the same. I enjoy the fast-paced environment, but especially the opportunity to build meaningful connections with both residents and coworkers,” said King, who is also majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management.
Her internship at Four Seasons, which has 34 private residences at its Minneapolis location and manages residences in 21 countries, provided her with just the luxury residential living management experience she was looking for.
“In luxury residential living, we help to make a house a home through thoughtful touches, caring gestures, world-class amenities, and a team of staff with a profound expertise in property management in the world’s most sought-after destinations,” King said.
King, of Brownsville, plans to graduate in May 2026 and is excited about the possibility of continuing with Four Seasons or pursuing a role where she can combine hospitality, property management and community-building.
“I’m thankful to UW-Stout, my professors, and the REPM program for helping shape my career path and giving me the tools to succeed in this internship and beyond,” she said.
King was one of 20 UW-Stout students who received the university’s 2025 Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award. She was awarded for her excellence and achievements in a previous internship with Whistling Straits.
How do you hope to make an impact in your field?
I hope to be a positive moment in someone’s day, whether by helping solve a problem, offering a warm welcome or simply making someone feel at home.
What were your main roles as an intern with Four Seasons?
A few of my main responsibilities were:
- Assisting with resident interaction and guest services
- Coordinating housekeeping and engineering tasks
- Managing package deliveries, vendor access and concierge requests
- Supporting our team with residential operations and governance-related tasks.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I’ve really enjoyed diving into the governing documents that guide how the property operates. It might sound boring at first, but it’s actually super interesting to understand the structure behind luxury residential living.
I read through the entirety of the governing documents and created a summary presentation, which I presented to a few department directors. These documents included CC&R (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions), bylaws, declaration and agreements.
I truly feel that without my internship, I would not have been able to understand these documents, as I learn best by gaining hands-on experience.
What was challenging about your internship, and how did you face those challenges?
The most challenging part was handling the occasional resident complaint. Conflict is never easy, but I’ve learned a lot about staying calm, listening actively and working through those moments with professionalism.
While managing resident complaints taught me professionalism with guests, leadership roles challenged me to navigate team dynamics. The biggest conflicts I’ve faced in leadership have been personality clashes within a team. I’ve learned to approach those situations by setting clear expectations, encouraging open communication and finding common ground. This helps create fairness while also allowing different personalities to work together effectively
How will your courses and experiences at Stout help you make an impact in your career?
Stout does an incredible job preparing students for real-world experiences. The coursework is relevant and applicable, and I’ve found myself using what I’ve learned in class almost daily.
One of my favorite classes was Marketing and Leasing Commercial and Residential Properties. Additionally, I found accounting courses to be helpful to gain a better understanding of finance within a business.
Involvement in student organizations like IREM, the Institute of Real Estate Management, has also been a game-changer. It’s given me the confidence to connect with industry professionals and grow my network.
Career Services’ annual First Destination Report declared that 100% of recent REPM graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, and have an average starting salary of $58,000. UW-Stout’s real estate property management program is one of only a handful of its kind in the U.S.
