Kelly J. Doran, 66, longtime Twin Cities real estate developer and founder of The Doran Group, passed away on December 28, 2023, after battling cancer. Kelly was larger than life, lived boldly and had a giant heart. He loved to tell stories and laugh, while always seeing the silver lining in any situation.
Born in Duluth in 1957, Kelly was inspired by his single mother, Donna, to use his public education to make a difference in the world. Raised alongside his older sisters Janis, Jean and Nancy, Kelly graduated from Minneapolis Southwest High School (Class of ‘75) before earning an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
Kelly is widely recognized as a leader in the multi-family housing industry, completing dozens of high-profile projects across the Twin Cities and Denver, including luxury apartments and student housing. He partnered for many years with his mentor and friend Robert Muir, developing millions of square feet of shopping centers. In 2007, Kelly founded Doran Companies and began building housing, later selling the company and moving the management of his real estate portfolio into The Doran Group, now run by his son Evan. Although not an architect, Kelly loved to lead in the creation of designs that added to the fabric of the community. The handprints of this work on innovative design are located throughout our communities.