Lee Wetherington founded Lee Wetherington Homes in Sarasota in 1981. He has since moved the company, one of the largest-builders in the Sarasota-Manatee region, to Lakewood Ranch. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Lee talked about the ups and downs of being in the homebuilding business in Florida for more than 40 years, and the key decisions he had to make — in both good and bad times. They also talked about what he learned about leading from his time serving in combat in the Vietnam War.

3 Takeaways:

1. (12:00) Be patient, give clear and concise commands
2. (13:30) Build trust with transparency and truth
3. (20:00) Always know your numbers

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Lee Wetherington, founder, Lee Wetherington Homes

(03:05) What is Lee Wetherington Homes?

(05:00) Starting Lee Wetherington Homes when interest rates were 18%

(06:40) Restructuring the company in 2010

(10:40) Lessons from the recession

(11:45) Lessons from the Marines in Vietnam

(13:30) How do you build trust in teams?

(16:20) Leading with certainty

(18:30) Mentors

(20:00) Advice to young entrepreneurs

(21:00) Being involved in philanthropy

(25:30) What are you looking forward to in 2026?

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Debbie LaPinska has been chief people office of CabinetWorks Group, based in Michigan, since November 2024. Prior to CabinetWorks, she worked at Venice-based window and door manufacturer PGT Innovations for 31 years, rising to chief human resources officer, and after that, chief customer officer. She joined several other former PGT executives at CabinetWorks Group. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Debbie talked about the shifts in her career and she dealt with what she thought, at the time, was a major setback. They also talked about how she won over a group of 50 truck drivers in one leadership role, partially by meeting them as their day started at 3:30 a.m.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:15) Sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions as the leader
2. (11:20) Being honest and transparent is key in hard decisions
3. (15:50) If you are good with people, you can lead any function

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Debbie LaPinska, Chief People Officer, CabinetWorks Group

(03:45) What is CabinetWorks Group?

(06:30) What did you learn from Jeff Jackson?

(08:45) How did you work through letting people go in the recession?

(10:10) Building trust with teams and communicating challenging messages

(13:30) Defining leadership

(16:30) Don’t have to know everything, just need to know enough to be dangerous

(19:20) Valuable feedback

(22:40) What is coming in 2026?

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Nicci Bucher was named CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg in late 2025. Prior to this role, Nicci spent 20 years in the YMCA network, most recently as COO of the YMCA of Central Florida, where she oversaw a $51.6 million operational budget. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Nicci talked about her leadership styles and principles and how she creates a strong workplace culture through trust and transparency. They also talked about how she has overcome feelings of impostor syndrome, especially in the current stage of her career.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:45) Be authentic as a leader
2. (12:00) Buy into your team, you are not above doing something in the business
3. (17:30) Good workplace culture is trust and transparency

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Nicci Bucher, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg

(05:45) What is the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg?

(06:20) Starting her career at Department of Children and Families, and what did you learn from that time?

(08:30) Leadership style

(09:30) Leadership characteristic every leader should have

(10:15) Leadership influences

(12:50) Giving others autonomy

(13:50) Leadership lessons Nicci wishes she knew early

(15:40) Nicci’s transition to CEO role

(17:20) What is good workplace culture?

(18:30) Great leadership advice

(19:34) Dealing with imposter syndrome

(22:00) Growing in the role of CEO

(23:40) Looking forward to 2026

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.