Associate Spotlight: Brock Wajda

At CASTO, many associates build their careers by embracing new opportunities, taking on new challenges, and growing alongside the company. This month, we’re highlighting Brock Wajda, a Financial Operations Associate whose career journey spans multiple roles across the organization—from being part of the summer crew and maintenance team to leasing, property management, and now working in financial operations.

Throughout his time at CASTO, Brock has continually sought opportunities to learn, develop professionally, and expand his skill set. His experience across different departments has given him a unique perspective on the business and reinforced his appreciation for the people and culture that make CASTO a special place to build a career.

Known for his collaborative spirit and positive attitude, Brock values the relationships he’s built with colleagues over the years and the support they’ve provided throughout his career. Read on to learn more about Brock’s career journey, the accomplishments he’s most proud of, and what excites him about the future of the real estate industry.

In honor of our 100th anniversary, what’s one CASTO tradition or value you hope continues for the next 100 years?
In honor of CASTO’s 100^th anniversary, one tradition that I love, and hope continues is the company holiday party at the end of the year.  As someone who has worked across different departments and many properties, I always enjoy getting to catch up with people that I used to work with that I don’t get to see on a regular basis.  It is always an exciting and fun day, as well as a great way to end the year. 

What accomplishment at CASTO are you most proud of?
The accomplishment at CASTO that I take the most pride in is the professional growth I’ve achieved throughout my career and the steady progression I’ve made by consistently delivering results and embracing new challenges. I started as a summer crew member during my senior year of high school, doing landscaping and assisting the maintenance team. From there, I worked in the leasing office and eventually became an Assistant Property Manager. Today, I work as a Financial Operations Associate supporting the Lease Accounting and Accounts Receivable teams.

How have your colleagues influenced your experience at CASTO?
My amazing colleagues have made my experience at CASTO a fantastic one, both professionally and personally. I’ve had managers who have pushed me to improve, while also helping train me for the responsibilities of the future roles I was working toward. I’ve also had coworkers who made me feel incredibly welcome and helped make the transition into new sites and roles extremely smooth. Along the way, I’ve built incredible friendships with coworkers that I can’t imagine having gone without. I am very thankful for the colleagues and coworkers I have had throughout my career at CASTO. 

What excites you most about the future of the industry?
The things that excite me most about the future of this industry is the “flight to quality”, the shift in both the commercial and residential real estate markets to move away from older, lower-tier spaces to newer, modern spaces.  Companies and residents alike are looking for rental spaces that offer more than just space. Amenities such as wellness centers, kitchens, and green, all-electric operations are becoming increasingly common in the industry. Likewise, apartment residents are looking for communities that feel more like luxury resorts, with features such as gyms, pools, pickleball courts, and gathering spaces for larger groups.

Tell us about a hobby, passion, or volunteer activity that’s important to you.
I have two hobbies that I am passionate about. The first is fitness and sports.  After spending an entire workday sitting at my desk, I usually go to the gym for a workout. I also participate in a couple of recreational sport leagues here in Columbus, including baseball, softball, and bowling. During the summer, my fiancée and I spend our weekends water skiing, and in the winter, we transition to snowboarding.  My other hobby that I enjoy immensely, and is much more on the nerdier side, is called Warhammer 40,000. It is a role-playing tabletop game in which you build and paint your own miniature models.  I like to unwind most evenings by sculpting and building these models!