On April 18, 2026, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will host a milestone celebration at the Salem Convention Center—the 75th Annual First Citizen Awards Banquet. This prestigious event, which has recognized the region’s most dedicated servant leaders since 1950, will honor four exceptional individuals whose contributions have strengthened the fabric of Salem’s community. From workforce development and youth empowerment to arts advocacy and professional excellence, this year’s honorees embody the spirit of giving back that has defined the First Citizen tradition for three-quarters of a century.
Laura and Dan Dorn: First Citizen Award
When it comes to servant leadership in Salem, few couples have made as profound and lasting an impact as Laura and Dan Dorn. Their combined decades of professional achievement and community investment have touched virtually every corner of Marion and Polk Counties, making them the clear choice for the 2026 First Citizen Award—the banquet’s highest honor.
Laura Dorn has built a distinguished career in real estate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, helping hundreds of local families achieve the dream of homeownership. Her professional accomplishments include serving as president of the Mid-Valley Association of Realtors in 2002 and leading the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce as board president from 2021 to 2022. Dan Dorn, founder and owner of Sunco Homes & Remodeling, has earned recognition as an award-winning homebuilder while simultaneously serving the public interest. His eight-year tenure on the Salem Planning Commission from 2003 to 2011 helped shape development decisions that continue to influence the city’s growth today.
Yet it is the Dorns’ collaborative efforts that have generated their most significant community impact. Together, they have become champions of youth workforce development, dedicating countless hours to Advanced Construction Education (ACE) and the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC). Dan volunteers his expertise to lead the construction of student-built homes, providing high school students with invaluable hands-on experience in residential construction. Laura lists and sells these homes without commission, donating the proceeds directly back to the program—a gesture that has raised substantial funding while creating training opportunities for aspiring industry professionals.
The couple’s philanthropic reach extends to numerous organizations that serve Salem’s most vulnerable residents. They actively support Habitat for Humanity, the Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties, Family Building Blocks, the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, the Salem Police Foundation, and the Union Gospel Mission. Through board service, fundraising, volunteer hours, and financial contributions, the Dorns have consistently demonstrated their commitment to creating opportunity and strengthening community bonds.
Colleagues describe Laura and Dan as humble leaders who never seek recognition for their service—they simply show up and step up whenever the community needs them.
Carlee Wright: Distinguished Service Award
For more than two decades, Carlee Wright has been a driving force behind Salem’s cultural renaissance, building connections across the community through arts, storytelling, and creative enterprise. As the founder of Press Play Salem and Marketing Director for the historic Elsinore Theatre, she has helped shape the city’s creative identity while making Salem a more vibrant and engaging place to live.
Press Play Salem, Carlee’s signature creation, has become an indispensable guide to the city’s arts, entertainment, and cultural scene. More than a simple events listing, the platform serves as an entry point for both residents and visitors, highlighting local artists, culinary destinations, and experiences while fostering a deeper sense of community connection. The publication has earned recognition including Travel Salem’s Most Culturally Connected Award in 2023.
Beyond her professional roles, Carlee’s volunteer leadership has shaped numerous cultural initiatives. She currently serves as Chair of the City of Salem’s Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board, guiding decisions on how the city invests in arts and tourism. As a Cultural Ambassador for the Oregon Cultural Trust and co-founder of The Moxie Initiative—a nonprofit focused on community-based creative projects—she continues to amplify voices and create platforms for artistic expression.
Carlee’s earlier contributions include helping establish Cherry City Roller Derby and Forge X Northwest, organizations that continue to influence Salem’s cultural landscape. Her involvement with the Salem Multicultural Institute has supported cultural education through events like the World Beat Festival. She also shares her expertise as an adjunct instructor in the Visual Communications program at Chemeketa Community College, mentoring the next generation of creative professionals.
Her colleagues describe Carlee as a connector—someone who brings people together, amplifies voices, and helps ideas take shape. Her 2024 recognition with the City of Salem’s Outstanding City Advisory Group Volunteer Award and the 2023 Maps Community Award further underscore her dedication to community building through creativity.
Alex Ferry: Outstanding Young Professional
At 32 years old, Alex Ferry exemplifies the emerging generation of Salem leaders who are investing in their community while building successful careers. As a State Farm Insurance agent and active civic volunteer, Alex has demonstrated that professional excellence and community commitment can—and should—go hand in hand.
Since opening his State Farm agency in 2021, Alex and his team have achieved remarkable success, earning recognition in the prestigious Chairman’s Circle—an honor reserved for the company’s top five percent of performers nationwide. This accomplishment reflects not only strong business performance but also a commitment to building meaningful client relationships and delivering exceptional service.
Alex’s community involvement spans multiple organizations and initiatives. As a sponsor of the Salem Real Estate Investors Group, he supports a network focused on developing and strengthening the local housing market. He serves on the McLaran Leadership Foundation Board of Directors, helping support leadership development opportunities for fellow young professionals and high school students. His connections to his alma mater, Corban University, and his church, Salem Heights Church, demonstrate his commitment to the institutions that shaped him.
Within the Chamber, Alex serves as a Salem Emerging Leaders Ambassador, promoting networking events and inspiring other young professionals to develop their leadership skills. He serves as Incoming Vice Chair for the weekly Salem Chamber Greeters and participates in multiple signature event committees. His sponsorship of community events including the Awesome 3000 and Hoopla reflects his understanding that business success and community investment are inseparable.
Those who know Alex point to his strong sense of responsibility, integrity, and enthusiasm. He is described as someone who not only pursues professional excellence but genuinely understands the importance of giving back—building a foundation for long-term community impact defined by service and collaboration.
Tony Frazier: Inaugural Nonprofit Leadership Award
The 75th Annual First Citizen Awards Banquet will introduce a new category this year: the Nonprofit Leadership Award. Its inaugural recipient, Tony Frazier, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center, has spent his career demonstrating what effective nonprofit leadership looks like.
Under Tony’s direction, the Salem Kroc Center has evolved into more than a recreation and community gathering space—it has become a hub for education and career pathways that are changing lives throughout the region. Through his leadership, the center has secured millions of dollars in grant funding to support family education initiatives, workforce training programs, and early learning opportunities. These resources have opened doors for families who might otherwise struggle to access educational and career-building opportunities.
Tony’s particular focus has been preparing young people for the workforce through programs that combine hands-on learning with mentorship and career exposure. The I-Build construction program, for example, allows participants to learn real-world trades while contributing to meaningful community projects. For many young people, this experience represents their first exposure to professional work environments and career possibilities.
His collaborative approach has built strong partnerships with educational institutions, including Chemeketa Community College, to expand access to GED programs and career training. Before joining the Kroc Center, Tony’s work with the Community Services Consortium and Habitat for Humanity focused on helping young people gain job skills. He also served as a Construction Manager for YouthBuild, where he utilized more than 500 volunteers to complete renovation and construction of more than 120 homes following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.
Tony is often described as someone who leads with empathy, positivity, and unwavering belief in others. His ability to inspire those around him and celebrate their successes has created a culture where staff and partners are motivated to invest in the success of the community’s youth.
A Milestone Celebration
The 75th Annual First Citizen Awards Banquet represents more than an evening of recognition—it marks three-quarters of a century of Salem celebrating those who serve. From Laura and Dan Dorn’s workforce development efforts to Carlee Wright’s cultural advocacy, from Alex Ferry’s emerging leadership to Tony Frazier’s transformative nonprofit work, this year’s honorees represent the breadth and depth of servant leadership in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
The banquet will take place Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Salem Convention Center, with a reception beginning at 6:00 PM and the program starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $75 per person and include dinner.
As Salem gathers to honor these four remarkable individuals, the community celebrates not just their individual achievements but the collective spirit of service that has defined the First Citizen tradition since 1950—and will continue shaping Salem’s future for generations to come.
