{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Refit Podcast","title":"SE01 E01 From COO to CEO: Why the Job Changes Completely at the Top | With Don Whetro","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3070,"description":"\nIn the first episode of The Refit Podcast, host Kyle Killian sits down with Don Whetro, Chief Executive Officer of AR Homes and AR Franchising, Inc., for an unfiltered conversation about what leadership really looks like when the playbook stops working.\nWith more than two decades in homebuilding and franchising, Don shares his unexpected journey from operations to the CEO seat and the realities of leading a 70+ year legacy organization through modernization, market disruption, and organizational change. From identifying leadership atrophy to making difficult people decisions, Don breaks down what it takes to move a business forward without losing its core identity.\nThis episode dives deep into the impact of COVID-19 on the homebuilding industry, the operational bottlenecks that stalled growth, and the controversial but necessary decision to outsource critical functions to keep the business moving. Don also opens up about the loneliness of leadership, the importance of trust and credibility, and why empathy and communication are essential when leading people through uncertainty.\nIf you are a CEO, founder, executive, or leader navigating growth, change, or legacy systems, this conversation offers real-world insight into leadership under pressure.\nTopics covered in this episode include leadership transition, organizational change, homebuilding operations, COVID-19 disruption, outsourcing strategy, trust and credibility, executive decision making, communication, empathy, and modernizing legacy businesses.\nGuest bio\nDon Whetro is the Chief Executive Officer of AR Homes and AR Franchising, Inc., the company behind the AR Homes brand. Appointed CEO in December 2023 after serving as Chief Operating Officer, Don leads a national leadership team focused on modernizing the custom homebuilding experience while preserving a legacy of craftsmanship, design leadership, innovation, and customer focus. He brings over 20 years of experience across executive leadership,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/b_ydF-fZiyp9jOw8BKzbXV0lZzk9N_djbGZH4hoNqoA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lMTY5/MGUyYmU3MzA3ODcw/MWRlODY4YWQ4OWM2/MmVmMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}