New Year Letter From The Tugboat Team

Dear Evergreen Journal readers,

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are excited for 2018! Thank you for supporting the Evergreen Movement.

Reflections on the Past Year

Tugboat Institute membership grew 40%, expanding the footprint of our group across new geographies, industries and company sizes. This paced growth keeps our community vibrant and brings new ideas and wisdom to bear.

For me, the Tugboat Institute Summit 2017 in Sun Valley was our best one yet. I attribute it to the authenticity, curiosity and selfless giving of our members. It’s truly what distinguishes our group. Of course, the talks, outdoor adventures, food, drink and celebration were exceptional and icing on the cake. A warm thank-you to members who shared their stories and best practices with us from the stage: Chip Dickinson, Bob Glazer, Stella Ma, Robert Pasin, Joe Reynolds, Jess Rovello and Jed York.

We tried a different format with Tugboat Institute @Louisville in October. It was curated and led by growth expert Professor Ed Hess and used a mix of homework, lectures and peer workshops. A special thank-you to Carrie Van Winkle Greener and her family for the tastings, and Aric Andrews for Churchill Downs. Both made the experience feel extra special and intimate.

Our small and mighty team grew in 2017. We welcomed Maria Hilton to the member relations team.

Through the Evergreen Journal, we chronicled 27 Evergreen CEO stories and best practices, and shared 15 talks and videos. Participating in our Evergreen Journal is one of the most tangible ways our members contribute to the broader community and Evergreen Movement — a heartfelt thank-you to each and every one of our authors and speakers.

Key Gatherings in 2018

Tugboat Institute Summit 2018 will take place in Sun Valley in June.

Our Fall Exemplar event returns to our roots and befits the name. Tugboat Institute @Enterprise will be hosted by Enterprise Rent-A-Car Chairman and CEO Andy Taylor and his daughter, Chrissy Taylor, at their headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.

Small Improvements

You will see a few changes in the new year. First, we have redesigned several of the key pages on our website. Please take a look!

In a shift in philosophy, we want to prioritize easy sharing of Evergreen Journal content over driving traffic to our website. This includes a new format for our EJ newsletter that is easier to read and forward, and more share buttons on our EJ content. When you read or watch something you enjoy, please take an extra moment to share with your network, whether by email or social media. Lastly, at the end of Q1, we will be mailing out our first Evergreen Journal quarterly print publication, which will highlight the articles and talks from the prior three months. For those who like old-fashioned paper, this will be a nice read and something to pass around, too.

We want the world to be exposed to the inspiration, ideas and best practices in the work, family and life of our Evergreen community. If you have other ideas for us on how to do this better, we are all ears!

Final Thoughts

Every year offers the opportunity to reflect, adjust and be better. My team and I will strive to learn, improve and grow in work and in our lives. And we hope for the same for you, your company, your family and your community. All of us contribute to making our society better for everyone.

With Gratitude,
Dave Whorton & The Tugboat Team