Port Property is thrilled to announce our two summer interns for 2025. From late May to August, Cody LaBonty and Ben Pierce have been embedded in the Port Property offices and walking around many of our 2,000 properties.
Cody LaBonty is a third-year computer science student at Worcester Polytechnic University. He’s on an accelerated track, and next year he will finish both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just four years.
“I’m passionate about contributing to my community,” says Cody, who was raised in Cape Elizabeth. “I’ve always wanted to see Portland grow and improve, so I’m enjoying this internship.” Cody speaks multiple languages in addition to the language of coding. His projects this summer include improving the company’s existing property websites and developing innovative new technology.
Right now, he’s building an interactive tool for PortProperty.com. “I’m making a map search feature,” he explains. “So, if you’re trying to find an apartment and you’re using the Port Property website, you’ll get a visual of all the available apartments and their prices on a map.”
Cody also spends his days visiting various property managers across Southern Maine. He sits alongside them, collects information and then addresses their issues almost immediately, helping to streamline their ability to do their work.
Ben Pierce is a rising senior from the University of Colorado Boulder who also harks from nearby Cape Elizabeth. He grew up in a family of real estate pros and is majoring in real estate.
Ben explains that his internship rotates across property management, working with maintenance teams, and asset management. He says it’s the real-world application of the things he’s learning in the classroom that he loves. He also loves the flexibility that comes with the role.
“It keeps you on your toes,” he says. “There are never two days that are the same. There is that opportunity to get out and just walk around the properties that the organization manages or owns.”
Ben is gaining valuable experience working with property managers as they help tenants in all sorts of situations. He’s also working on capital expenditure projects in asset management, focusing on long-term property improvements like roofs and siding.
But his favorite moments are the monthly budget variance meetings. “It’s kind of like being a fly on the wall, seeing how that works,” he says with a big grin. “I’m learning a lot by seeing the property managers work on controlling costs while providing that high level of service.”
Cody and Ben will be finishing their internships in early August. We can’t thank them enough for their contributions and the fresh energy and new ideas they’ve been bringing to their roles. And if you know someone who may benefit from an internship in 2026, send them our way!