Episode 9: The CEO Shift: From Doer to Leader - Shawn Verlinden, Auch Construction

In this episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop, hosts Glen Dall and John Ninkovich sit down with Shawn Verlinden, CEO of Auch Construction. Shawn shares his journey from project manager to CEO of a 100+ year-old construction firm, and how building leadership rhythms transformed his company’s culture and growth trajectory.Shawn explains how letting go of daily tasks was the best move he made, how daily huddles created trust and speed across the company, and why coaching and accountability drive momentum. From his first year as CEO, Shawn’s insights are practical, candid, and deeply human — lessons every leader can use.If you’re a CEO struggling with growth challenges, this episode will give you practical strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and discipline. Subscribe for more conversations with real-world CEOs.Chapters: [00:00:00] Intro & Guest Welcome [00:01:00] Shawn’s background in construction [00:03:00] The CEO Doom Loop explained [00:07:00] Building a cohesive leadership team [00:13:00] First year as CEO: lessons learned [00:17:00] Letting go of projects to lead the company [00:20:00] Shifting from operations to strategy [00:27:00] Coaching, huddles, and momentum [00:34:00] Shawn’s leadership philosophy & vision [00:42:40] ClosingSend us Fan Mail