Photography by Bo Carlock / Spacecrafting
Anne Behrendt and Ryan Johnson
As CEO of Doran Companies, Anne Behrendt knows a thing or two about building and investing in something important. She joined the real-estate company in 2011 as general counsel, but as the business quickly grew, she saw an opportunity to bring in much-needed structural support for longevity and success. Behrendt dove into even more prominent leadership roles: By 2015, she was named COO, and then in 2019, she stepped into the position of CEO when she and her longtime colleague (then CFO) Ryan Johnson bought the company.
“Entrepreneurs generally sway optimistic, and I think that’s always how I’ll view the world and business,” she says. “It’s an important outlook to have, because it allows us to continue to see possibilities — and through a pretty wide lens.”
The optimism and grit of a small but mighty team of doers and learners powered them through the near-catastrophic effects of the pandemic. That period was an opportunity to test their collective problem-solving mettle and continue to deliver on-time, on-budget projects nationwide.
Diversifying their own holdings would be key to the future of Doran Companies: climate-controlled storage in the southeastern United States, built-for-rent projects in the Carolinas and a homebuilding division have made them a formidable yet approachable company.
Bridgewater Bank has been a fantastic long-term partner, Behrendt says: “Because they have an entrepreneurial foundation, they’re able to view opportunities from an innovative perspective and understand the why behind a project or deal.”
It’s been a wild ride, but one full of satisfaction. “If I had known the path and challenges ahead, I might have taken a minute to consider it all — but it’s also been so amazing,” reflects Behrendt. There’s nothing I would change, and it would have been a huge mistake if I hadn’t taken the leap.”
Bridgewater Bank is an Equal Housing Lender + Member FDIC
