As the Director of Certification, Andy spends most of his time working on Certified Evergreen®. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute®, Andy served as the C.O.O. for Appian Engineering, Inc., a commercial civil engineering contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his time there he found a deep appreciation for how businesses operate and how the people within them make them better. Andy holds a BS degree in Political Science from The University of Arizona, a M.A. in Leadership from Saint Mary’s College of California, and a MBA from Presidio Graduate School.

Dan serves in an advisory capacity to The Tugboat Group, including Tugboat Institute, Tugboat IP and Tugboat Ventures. From 2016 to 2021, Dan served as the CFO of The Tugboat Group and also led several key business and operational initiatives. Prior to joining Tugboat, Dan held multiple financial roles at Fortune100, public, and venture-backed companies in the U.S. and Europe, including Intel, Affymetrix, and NuGEN Technologies. Dan holds a BS in Math and Operations Research from University of California, Los Angeles.

Angie enjoys working with current Tugboat Members, their referrals and fostering the growth of the Tugboat Membership. She is inspired by the knowledge our Evergreen leaders bring to the table and their commitment to grow our community by sharing experiences. Her passion is coaching and inspiring others to release their achievement drive. Prior to Tugboat, Angie held a 15 year career in the STR Industry achieving great success through effective relationship management and account development. In addition, she spent 12 years in the Financial Services Industry working in Sr Leadership roles in Sales and Marketing for GE Financial Assurance. She also had the honor to serve as a Gubernatorial Appointee for the State of Virginia and holds a BA in English from Virginia Tech.

Michelle manages financial reporting and payroll for Tugboat Institute and contributes to a variety of operational and programming projects, including Certified Evergreen. She appreciates the opportunity to see Evergreen 7Ps principles at work in member companies and learning how those principles impact Evergreen employees and communities. Prior to joining Tugboat, Michelle served in corporate accounting roles in various industries, including insurance, retail, and senior living services. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from York College of Pennsylvania.

Lauren Burson is thrilled to be a part of Tugboat Institute and work with the Member Services Team to ensure a positive member experience. She is inspired by our Evergreen leaders and businesses and how they are making a difference in the communities they serve. Prior to joining Tugboat, Lauren worked in the hospitality industry where she was fortunate to work in some incredible resort settings, which ultimately led her to Sun Valley, Idaho. Lauren was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the University of Colorado in Boulder where she earned a BA in Political Science. In her free time, Lauren enjoys some of the world-class activities that Idaho has to offer, including hiking, fishing, and skiing.

Ryan heads the creative development, strategy and distribution of Tugboat Institute’s curated content, research, education, and Certified Evergreen programs. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute, Ryan converted his experience in product management, technology and data analysis into executive positions in operations and human resources at Willis Towers Watson, Restoration Hardware, and Blue Shield of California. Playing the long game resonates with Ryan especially when you consider the important milestones in life. As a native of Hailey Idaho, Ryan is overjoyed to bring his wife back to his home state to raise their young son in the same Wood River Valley where his family still resides. An avid cyclist, Ryan enjoys viewing the world from two wheels and seeing life all over again through the eyes of his son. Ryan holds a BS degree in Business Administration and an MBA from University of Redlands in California.

Chauncy creates, edits, and distributes the Evergreen Journal and the EJ Quarterly, in addition to working with the team to write and edit communications on all things Evergreen. She is inspired by the commitment and purpose of the entire team and membership, and loves finding ways to share our inspiring message in writing. Before joining Tugboat Institute, Chauncy worked for 25 years in education, teaching English and French, and then directing the College Counseling office for an independent school in Sun Valley, Idaho. She has been publishing articles on a variety of education-related topics for many years. Chauncy has a BA in English and French from Colgate University and an MA in French Literature from New York University.

Gary leads the Tugboat Institute’s expanding executive education programs, consulting services, and research projects that provide Members with data-rich insights into the management decisions that drive sustained profitable growth and long-term success. Previously, Gary was Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wisconsin and Resident Economist at Inc. Magazine. For a decade he led a sustained growth consultancy in the Netherlands, after working as Senior Manager at KPMG’s International Trade and Investment Services practice in Washington DC. On his days off, Gary is often out hiking a mountain trail or scuba diving a coral reef. Gary earned a BA in Political Science from Texas A&M University, an MA in International Business Management and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a PhD in Public Policy and Regional Economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Elyse coordinates Tugboat Institute events alongside Events Director, Nani Stoick. She is inspired by people and creating meaningful experiences for Evergreen Leaders. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute, Elyse worked in the non-profit world, connecting volunteers with veterans and people with disabilities to experience the power of recreation and ultimately increase their quality of life. She also worked for four years as a Golf Teaching Professional. When she is not working in events, she can be found hiking with her dog, Romeo, mountain biking and golfing. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BS in Business Management and Marketing.

Nani spearheads and executes Tugboat Institute events in-person experiences such as the Fall Exemplar Visit, Gathering of Teams, and the annual Tugboat Institute Summit. Nani thrives in the event planning environment where no two days are alike and applies the Aloha spirit of her home state of Hawaii to ensure our members receive warm and relatable experiences. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute, Nani was the owner and founder of two textile-based companies and also spent several years as an Artist Manager for Live Nation Entertainment. Coming from a family of private business owners, Nani grew up with roots deeply planted in Evergreen principles and is proud to be serving the movement. She earned a BS degree in Music Business from Northeastern University in Boston.

Annie oversees Tugboat Institute Member Services and Tugboat Forum. Annie is inspired by the purpose-driven leadership, sharing of insights, and authentic connections she sees at each gathering and deeply enjoys serving Evergreen leaders and businesses. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute, Annie contributed to a variety of digital and print content platforms as a freelance writer and editorial consultant, with a focus on the outdoor industry, and also spent four years as a professional ski racer. She graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in Philosophy before completing the summer Bridge program at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business.

Dave founded Tugboat Institute in 2013 to connect, support, and inspire purpose driven leaders of Evergreen businesses. Dave is responsible for all aspects of Tugboat Institute including setting strategy, curating experiences and developing relevant programming along with championing and celebrating the importance of Evergreen companies. Dave believes Evergreen leaders and their businesses are simply capitalism at its best. Prior to founding Tugboat Institute, Dave founded Tugboat Ventures in 2006 and co-founded four companies, including drugstore.com and Good Technology. Dave holds a BS in Engineering from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford GSB. Dave and his wife have been happily married for over two decades and count themselves lucky to have raised their son and daughter in Sun Valley. Dave is also a voracious reader. When he puts down the books, he can be found hiking, golfing, and cycling with his family.