About

Tugboat Institute® is dedicated to supporting Evergreen® leaders, their teams, and their companies through recognition, a range of experiences, several publications and programs to bring forth inspiration, new ideas, proven best practices about business, family and life. To be clear, we do not profess to be experts, but instead we view our role as conveners and curators. We believe everything that needs to be known is within our Evergreen community and from Evergreen thought leaders. Our current offerings include:

Tugboat Institute Membership offers qualified Evergreen CEO and presidents, and nextgen leaders, a trusted, authentic network of peers, unique experiences to connect and learn, and access to our rich library of content

Evergreen Journal, the voice of the Evergreen movement, shares the stories and best practices of our members and Evergreen thought leaders, building awareness of Evergreen principles and best practices, and offering inspiration to leaders and teams. The Evergreen Journal is available to any interested learner.

Our Certified Evergreen program, provides Evergreen companies the opportunity for extensive, rigorous assessment with the intention of continual improvement and further maturation on the Evergreen 7Ps as well as public recognition that one’s company adheres to these highest standards. A firm’s leadership does not have to be a member of Tugboat Institute to be Certified Evergreen.

Gathering of Teams brings Evergreen leaders, their teams, and family members together to connect, share, and learn around Evergreen principles, best practices, and hard-earned personal wisdom. Gathering of Teams is open to select Evergreen leaders and thought leaders who are not current members of Tugboat Institute.

Please explore our website to learn more about Tugboat Institute!


History

In 2005, Dave Whorton had a transformative conversation with an entrepreneur and friend that would deeply challenge his beliefs about business and launch a movement.

Having founded four companies in Silicon Valley and spending his early career as an investor at two of the top venture capital and private equity firms in the world, Dave’s conversation with Stella & Dot founder Jessica Herrin awakened him to an alternative path to business success. Jessica’s approach to building a business was novel in the Silicon Valley landscape: She dreamt of building a private company to last her lifetime and beyond, growing at a paced rate over time, and fueled by a deep purpose and a commitment to her employees.

The conversation became an idea that took over seven years to germinate. In 2013, Dave had dozens of conversations with leaders around the country who were ambitious to build a meaningful company but eschewed the VC and PE path to exit by sale or IPO. Combining sound business principles, extraordinary purpose and a desire to bring their employees along in their success, and without an expectation of an exit, these leaders were building growing, private, profitable companies for a lifetime, or longer.

In 2013, Dave coined the term “Evergreen” leaders and “Evergreen” companies to describe the people and businesses leading this movement. After a small gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho in October of that year, with the help of Chris Alden, he created Tugboat Institute to convene Evergreen CEOs to help one another through inspiration, new ideas, best practices, support, and encouragement.
(Read The Full Launch Post Here.)


Purpose

We believe in the vital importance of humans coming together to create and grow enduring, private businesses that make a dent in the universe.


Vision

Our vision is two-fold. First, that Evergreen companies will go from being underappreciated to being broadly recognized for what they are—attractive employers, partners, suppliers, customers, and community members that aren’t going away because they are adaptable, well-run, share in their success, and are not for sale.

Second, that Tugboat Institute will be the unrivaled resource for Evergreen CEOs and their businesses, providing a value-aligned support network unlike any other and additional services that are highly valued by our members and the broader Evergreen community.


Our Team

We have dedicated our careers to supporting great entrepreneurs, and we believe that supporting Evergreen leaders is our calling.

Andy Alvey

As the Director of Certification, Andy spends most of his time working on Certified Evergreen®. Pri...
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Dan Benetz

Dan serves in an advisory capacity to The Tugboat Group, including Tugboat Institute, Tugboat IP and...
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Angie Benton

Angie enjoys working with current Tugboat Members, their referrals and fostering the growth of the T...
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Michelle Bitler

Michelle manages financial reporting and payroll for Tugboat Institute and contributes to a variety ...
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Becca Bitler

Becca manages the day-to-day financial operations and HR administration at Tugboat Institute. She al...
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Lauren Burson

Lauren is thrilled to be a part of Tugboat Institute and work with the Member Services Team to ensur...
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Ryan Drew

Ryan heads the creative development, strategy and distribution of Tugboat Institute’s curated cont...
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Chauncy Gardner

Chauncy creates, edits, and distributes the Evergreen Journal and the EJ Quarterly, in addition to w...
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Christine Kirby

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Dr. Gary Kunkle

Gary leads the Tugboat Institute’s expanding executive education programs, consulting services, an...
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Elyse Smidinger

Elyse coordinates Tugboat Institute events alongside Events Director, Nani Stoick. She is inspired b...
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David Spalding

David focuses his efforts at Tugboat on supporting the Paced Growth Team Training Series, led by Dr....
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Nani Stoick

Nani spearheads and executes Tugboat Institute events in-person experiences such as the Fall Exempla...
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Annie Van Fossan

Annie oversees Tugboat Institute Events, Tugboat Forums, and Tugboat Institute member relations. Ann...
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Jake Vegwert

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Dave Whorton

Dave founded Tugboat Institute in 2013 to connect, support, and inspire purpose-driven leaders of Ev...
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Fellows

Chris Alden
Howard Behar
David Bradford
Spencer Burke
Rorke Denver
Phil Hansen
Madeline Levine
Jenn Mann
Jeff Snipes
Ed Viesturs

Advisors

Chuck Holloway
Roberta Katz
Dave Strohm