Kelly Doran
As the founder and principal of the Doran Companies, Kelly has been involved in the real estate development business for over thirty years. In the past thirty years Kelly has developed, constructed, leased and managed many projects that comprise millions of square feet of commercial real estate. He was selected as a member of the MSCA Hall of Fame. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and also holds a MBA from the Carlson School of Business.
Jim LaValle
Jim serves as the Vice President of Development at Doran Companies. He has been involved in the development and commercial general contracting business for nearly 25 years. He has successfully participated in completing millions of square feet of retail, office, office showroom/office warehouse and industrial commercial properties. Jim has a keen eye for development opportunities and a reputation for the ability to apply the requirements and goals of his clients to achieve results beyond expectation. Jim attended St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing.
Ken Braun
Ken serves as the Vice President of Construction at Doran Companies. He has been in the construction industry since 1978. His general contracting experience includes office, manufacturing, retail, restaurant, community centers, and multi-housing. Ken has has a strong commitment to maintaining client relationships and customer service. Over the course of Ken’s nearly 35 year career, he has managed construction projects with a total aggregate value in excess of $500M. Ken’s background, along with his comfortable style, positive attitude and responsiveness to the client’s goals, results in a successful experience for the entire project team.
Brenda Thomas
Brenda serves as the Vice President of Management at Doran Companies. She has worked in the property management field for over 14 years. At Doran, Brenda is responsible for lease administration, tenant relations, lease accounts, budgeting, year end reconciliation and coordination with on site maintenance staff and contractors to ensure the properties are maintained according to Doran Companies’ standards of excellence. Brenda obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Winona State University.
Christy Lewis
Christy serves as the Director of Business Development at Doran Companies. She is a seasoned business developer with over 16 years of experience. Christy’s extensive industry knowledge, coupled with her creative ideas and ability to build long term relationships has proven successful in uncovering new opportunities for her clients, consistently exceeding expectations and delivering top-notch customer service well beyond the sales process. Christy majored in Business Marketing and Management at MN State University Mankato. She is currently active in multiple industry associations.
Ryan Johnson
Ryan serves as the Senior Director of Accounting for Doran Companies. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Ryan has eleven years of accounting experience in both subcontractor and general contractor capacities and earned his MBA from the Minnesota School of Business. His construction background brings a wide spectrum of experience in many different markets. Ryan feels strongly about continually exceeding client, subcontractor and vendor expectations which are important to delivering an excellent product.
Anne Behrendt
Anne serves as the General Counsel at Doran Companies. Prior to joining Doran Companies she was an attorney at Zappia & LeVahn, Ltd. in Minneapolis where she gained extensive experience in the areas of real estate, construction law, business litigation and mechanic’s lien actions. She received her B.A. with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. Anne is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, where she teaches Real Estate Law, is certified as a Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, and has been selected as a Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers.
Ryan Freese
Ryan serves as the Director of Architecture at Doran Companies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from North Dakota State University School of Architecture and is a registered licensed Architect in the State of Minnesota. Ryan has been involved in architecture for over 15 years where his experience in a variety of project delivery methods provided him the opportunity to work on a range of project types which include residential, office/ retail, religious, education, health care and senior housing. He is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American Institute of Architects and an active member in the American Institute of Architects Minnesota.
