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

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Jake Haulsic has some 15 years of experience in technology sales, with Velosio and Tribridge. He founded Trofeo, a fast-scaling cloud consultancy specializing in Microsoft Azure, in 2024. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Jake talk about how he built his company, not only around product and service, but culture. He also talked about some early decisions at Troefo that helped shape its trajectory, and his mentors that have helped guide the business along the way.

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:50) Leaders need to trust their employees
2. (12:40) The best leaders practice patience
3. (14:50) Every failure needs to be a learning opportunity

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Jake Haulsic, Trofeo, founder

(02:55) What is Trofeo?

(05:10) Jake’s mentors

(06:50) What did you learn from Tony DiBenedetto?

(09:00) What does culture mean to you?

(11:40) Leadership characteristics

(12:20) Best leadership advice you have received

(13:15) What role does storytelling play in Trofeo’s growth?

(14:00) Resilience

(15:50) How do you want to be remembered as a leader?

(16:45) Trofeo in 2026

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Tom Hall is a longtime advertising executive, with work across Florida and the Southeast. In addition to Tucker | Hall, a strategic communications firm with offices in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, Tom launched Creative Seminars, a prominent speaker series, which Adweek magazine acquired. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Tom talk about the origins of the firm and how he and the team led it to national prominence. They also talked about Tom’s book, “Ruthless Focus" and the lessons he learned about leadership writing it.

3 Takeaways:

1. (05:50) When in crisis, tell the truth, tell it all, and tell it right now
2. (13:30) Ruthlessly focus on what you do extraordinarily well
3. (15:10) Create an atmosphere where people can think their best

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Tom Hall, Chairman, Tucker | Hall

(03:40) What is Tucker | Hall?

(05:30) What do leaders need to do when in crisis?

(06:40) Creative Seminars

(09:00) What did you learn from Creative Seminars

(11:55) Who does a good job advertising these days?

(12:55) Learning from “Ruthless Focus”

(14:30) Keys to leading a firm

(16:15) Leadership mentors

(19:15) How do you handle conflict as a leader?

(20:30) Starting the Florida Aquarium

(24:30) What is coming up in 2026?

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Sinead Runyon runs Express Employment of Sarasota, which she founded in 2020 along with her mom, Josephine Carr. In 2024, she and her husband, William Runyon, opened a Made in the Shade window treatment, blinds and shades franchise in Venice. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Sinead talk about her entrepreneurial mindset, what she learned from her mentors and how she resolves conflict as a leader. She also talked about the second business she launched while running the first business.

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:15) The bus is moving forward, stop comparing yourself to others
2. (20:55) Good leadership is owning your mistakes
3. (23:00) Be there with your client

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Sinead Runyon, co-founder of Express Employment of Sarasota

(04:50) What is Express Employment Professionals - Sarasota?

(06:25) Door pulls

(08:20) Building up the stamina

(09:40) Leadership mentors and lessons

(12:40) Learning from other entrepreneurs

(14:50) Truly showing up for your clients

(16:45) Owning and fixing mistakes

(19:25) What is Made in the Shade?

(20:55) What is good leadership?

(21:55) Handling conflict

(24:30) What is coming up in 2026?

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Ashley Ljesevic has led marketing, sales, and development initiatives for a variety of organizations over the past decade, working in sports, travel and nonprofits, among other fields. She also has a podcast, the Endurance Diaries, which interviews athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and others to share stories of resilience. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Ashley talked about striving for — and pivoting when necessary — for big goals and how she does that in her personal life. They also talked about the lessons she’s learned from Endurance Diaries guests.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:30) “Can you enter a process where there are no outcome goals attached?”
2. (12:45) What we see on the surface is not the full story
3. (17:30) When things are tough, focus on the next step

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Ashley Ljesevic, Host of Endurance Diaries podcast

(04:50) Ashley’s 10x10 journey

(07:45) What is Endurance Diaries Media?

(11:45) Who have you learned from on Endurance Diaries?

(14:45) What is endurance to you?

(16:00) Overcoming adversity

(18:20) What leadership characteristic does every leader need?

(20:55) Imposter syndrome

(24:30) Endurance Diaries Media in 2026

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Dan is the CEO of Moorings Park, a nonprofit senior living organization with three campuses in Naples. He has been with the organization for nearly 20 years, first as CFO. Before that he ran his own packaged delivery service small business in Ohio. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Dan talked about how the concept of VUCA — leading through Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity — has helped make him a better leader and the organization stronger. They also talked about how Dan hopes his team sees him as a leader.

3 Takeaways:

1. (05:30) Leadership is humility and professional will
2. (08:10) Mission driven organizations focus on the end result
3. (09:20) Separate success from leadership

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Dan Lavender, CEO, Moorings Park

(03:15) What is Moorings Park?

(04:00) How did you get into senior living?

(05:10) What defines good leadership?

(07:20) Leadership influences

(08:45) Learning from residents at Moorings Park

(10:30) Decisions that shaped you

(11:35) Balancing short and long term wins

(13:40) Handling conflict

(14:40) Resiliency as a leader

(17:10) Your leadership style

(18:15) Moorings Park in 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.