Dan Dorn has been nominating his wife, Laura, to be Salem’s first citizen for the past five years.  “Laura has deserved this for a long, long time,” he said.  This year, Dan emailed around 40 people asking they nominate her. “At least 20 of them emailed me back, ‘Done,’” he sai d. The Dorns have been married for 23 years. Laura is an avid community volunteer and local real estate broker, while Dan is a local homebuilder and Salem native. Together, they sit on several local nonprofit boards and support others serving students, youth and the food insecure through philanthropy.  The Dorns were attending a meeting on March 12 when video cameras and Salem Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Hoffert came through the door for an “ambush” – a chamber tradition to surprise the first citizen. When Dan saw Hoffert enter the room, he was sure his wife had finally won the award. “I thought he was going to say, ‘Laura Dorn on April 18, you’re going to…’ – and he said, ‘Laura and Dan,’ and that surprised me,” Dan said. The annual award recognizes a Salem citizen, often in business, who has had a long-term local impact, serving the community through their work, volunteerism and philanthropy. The chamber appoints a first citizen annually, taking open nominations from the community. It isn’t often it appoints two first citizens.  The couple received 43 dual nominations, with submitors describing them as generous and compassionate, and calling them “champions of Salem” and a “power couple.” “I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m so glad that it’s the two of us … we are us, and we’re a team,” Laura said.  The Dorns’ impact in Salem spans decades.  They met in Salem in 1991 at a New Year’s Eve party, but it wasn’t until about seven years later they began dating. They married in 2003 in Napa Valley, a destination they still often visit.  Laura, a real estate broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, has helped sell over a thousand homes in the Salem area. She came to Salem in 1989 from her home state of California, where she worked as a nurse for about 12 years.  While considering the career change, a friend helped her see how her nursing experience could translate to real estate: “She said, ‘Well, you’ve taken care of people’s health … then just kind of take care of the next biggest thing in their lives through housing,’” Laura recalled.  On top of selling houses, Laura juggles several volunteer gigs and serves on the boards of the Salem Police Foundation, McLaran Leadership Foundation and the Advanced Construction Education foundation. Dan and Laura get to work together through the Advanced Construction Education foundation to support high school students in the construction trade.  The nonprofit partners with the Salem-Keizer Career Technical Education Center to provide a residential lot where students can build a home from scratch once a year. Once built, Laura sells the home and donates the commission back to the foundation.  Rhonda Rhodes, CTEC principal, was among those who nominated the Dorns. “This couple has poured their hearts, their time, their considerable talents, and their seemingly boundless energy into supporting and uplifting our community,” she wrote. “Dan and Laura Dorn truly embody the qualities of leadership, kindness, inspiration and service to our community that define the First Citizen Award.” Dan’s interest in construction began when he was just 6 years old, when new homes were being built in his south Salem neighborhood. His goal, he said, was to get on the roof of every house being built “because that was the funnest place to be.” He entered the industry in his mid-20s, when his dad secured an urban renewal loan on a house on a 900-square foot lot north of downtown Salem. That was Dan’s first remodel project, leading him to quit his merchandise broker job and pursue construction.  He started his own company, Sunco Homes Remodelling in 1978 at 25 years old. Since then, Dan has helped build over 200 homes in Salem, he estimated. He has helped remodel several more. Years later, Dan and Laura bought the house on Gaines Street back from his dad and rented it out. Dan later decided to demolish the house, which had fallen into disrepair. He started the demolition in style, inviting the Salem Police Department SWAT team to practice a raid on it.  A modern, green fourplex built by Dan’s company now stands on that lot. Dan drives by it nearly every day, calling it a “full circle” project.  When asked when he would retire, Dan said “last year.” “It’ll probably be last year next year,” he said laughing. Dan will eventually pass ownership to his nephew.  As for Laura, she’s not ready to retire.  “I still enjoy what I do, and have great clientele,” she said. The pair now live on a parcel of land in Keizer, where Laura tends to an expansive rose garden. In their free time, they travel, visit wineries and host dinner parties. Both have received recognition before, but this is the first time the Dorns are being recognized together. Dan previously won the chamber’s Distinguished Service Award in 2011, which Laura had nominated him for. His business also won small business of the year in 2024. Laura has multiple honors from the local Realtors association.  The chamber will formally present the Dorns with the First Citizen award at a banquet on Saturday, April 18, at 6 p.m. at the Salem Convention Center. Awards for Outstanding Young Professional, Legacy of Leadership, Nonprofit Leadership and Distinguished Service  will also be handed out. Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected]. SIGN UP: Salem Reporter is dedicated to covering the people, issues, and stories that shape our community. Stay connected to Salem. Subscribe today. The post Real estate “power couple” earns Salem First Citizen award appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less