Doran Cos. hires Stenman, leader in U.S. Bank Stadium project, as chief executive

Doran Cos., one of the fastest-growing local construction companies, has a new CEO and big plans for expansion.

The Bloomington-based company said Monday that Scott Stenman, who played a leading role in the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, will lead Doran Construction and Architecture, effectively succeeding founder Kelly Doran, who will focus on property development and business growth.

The move is also aimed at facilitating a national expansion. The company recently opened an office in Denver, where it already has three employees after landing a $40 million construction project. Doran is also contemplating expansion into a third market, likely Tampa.

"He's been described by a number of people as being one of the smartest construction guys they've ever worked with and we expect he'll do big things for our organization." Doran said of Stenman. "He has the opportunity to take the company where he wants it to go."

Doran said that during the past five years the company has grown from 30 to 140 employees who are divided among several entities, including those who focus on development, architecture, construction and management.

The company has developed several commercial projects, but the bulk of the company's business right now is multifamily, mostly luxury rental apartments. After building hundreds of units near the University of Minnesota, the company has shifted its own development efforts to suburban markets that have been underserved during the latest boom.

Doran has projects underway in Brooklyn Park, Hopkins and Maple Grove. The company is also general contracting several apartment buildings for other companies, including Sherman Associates, Graves Hospitality and Bigos Management.

The company now owns or manages 3 million to 4 million square feet of retail, commercial and residential space.

Stenman was most recently a project manager and engineer for Madison, Wis.-based Hammes Co., where he managed the design and construction of the U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and Minnesota Vikings.

"Scott was instrumental in keeping U.S. Bank Stadium on schedule and within budget," Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, said in a statement. "His leadership skills and attention to detail helped guide the ownership group through the design and construction process while working closely with the design and construction teams."

Stenman also led development and construction of the Detroit Lions' Ford Field and worked on the expansion of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

He also spent several years in Colorado where he was director of development for the Vail Resorts Development Company and managed the development of Arrabelle at Vail Square, a 560,000-square-foot, mixed-use project that includes luxury housing at the base of Vail Mountain.

Doran's chief operating officer, Anne Behrendt, said that Stenman's new position will allow senior vice presidents, Scott Casanova and Paul Kolias, to focus on other aspects of the business, including pre-construction and operations.