Don recently retired as the Chief Development Officer for Subway, the world’s largest fast food
chain in number of locations. Since joining the franchisor in 1981, Don has seen the company
grow from 166 restaurants at the time he began his career to over 41,000 units in 105
countries. Prior to his employment at Subway, Don was affiliated with the company through his
previous career as a freelance writer and musician, composing and performing jingles
promoting Subway sandwiches nationwide. That career also included his participation in a
studio project, “How Pop Can You Get” by The Bats, that yielded an album and video which
received national attention, including a “recommended” rating in Billboard Magazine and
airplay on HBO. the bats how pop can you get - Search (bing.com)
Don took his last drink on June 6, 1983. He speaks openly about his journey to recovery and as
Subway CDO was featured in two episodes of the CBS TV show “Undercover Boss” where he
publicly discussed his substance use disorder. (Don Fertman on Vimeo) He also participated in a
documentary about the Recovery Movement, “The Anonymous People”, which has been
screened around the country and was a producer for The Concert to Face Addiction in
Washington DC, featuring Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler, Cheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and others . As a
result of the outreach that occurred following the Undercover Boss appearance, Don became
an advisor and later Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Phoenix (www.thephoenix.org),
a nationwide organization building sober active community in 46 states with over 300,000
members. He also founded Recovery Branches (www.recoverybranches.org) to help those
struggling with addiction find avenues to recovery and to assist the organizations that support
them in their expansion efforts. Don is currently a member of The Phoenix Impact Board, a
Board Member of Brave Enough to Fail and sits on the Advisory Boards of Procure Impact and
KAIKAU.
“I owe my life and everything that I am today to my recovery from alcoholism and addiction
and the incredible network of friends and family who help me stay sober daily. My heart is filled
with love and compassion for those who are struggling and their loved ones who are suffering
and sharing their pain. My heart also fills with gratitude for each person who finds recovery and
celebrates every day of sobriety for all of us.”
