Last week, members of Tugboat Institute® gathered in Sun Valley. Over the course of the experience, members and thought leaders shared wisdom and insights on personal growth, business strategy, multi-generational stewardship, lessons from history, and innovation in the face of uncertainty, to name a few.

Day one opened with Ron Carucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Navalent, who encouraged us to examine our personal and company origin stories with honesty and compassion. Fellow Tugboat member and CEO of Highlights for Children, Inc., Kent Johnson shared how its original Purpose saved his company from near catastrophe and continues to fuel its team. Another Member and CEO of Dot Foods, Inc., Dick Tracy, reflected on the strategic advantages of private ownership. Tugboat members Ashli Desai, President of Larry Walker Associates, and Scott Click, CEO of Tomlinson’s Feed & Pets, Inc., offered heartfelt stories of connecting new generations in the success and stewardship of these family businesses. Susan Cain, author of Quiet, reminded us that introverts are a large portion of our workforce and approaches to bring forth their potential for notable contributions and leadership. Next, members Larry Hofstetter, President of Schaeffer Manufacturing Company, challenged the audience to be winners, not victims, when dealing with inevitable disruptions. Mark Steele, Owner & President of Craftsmen Industries, Inc. entered the stage wearing a Darth Vader costume and spoke to his transformation from PE turnaround expert to a deeply committed Evergreen® leader and owner. Tugboat’s leader, Dave Whorton, built on Mark’s presentation, offering the latest data on the private equity industry and two examples of how Evergreen companies have creatively “taken a tart when the tarts were being passed.” Paul Kalmbach, Jr., President of Kalmbach Feeds, Inc. closed the morning by illustrating how Evergreen companies can create new, adjacent businesses using Clayton Christensen’s disruptive framework.

Day two kicked off with consultant Rob Cordova’s humor and POINT framework for team problem solving when facing uncertainty. Thought leader and global talent advisor Claudio Fernández-Aráoz offered timeless guidance on the importance of luck and making great people decisions based more upon potential than current competencies. Fellow member Everett Harper, CEO & Founder of Trussworks, Inc. grounded us in the history, meaning, and universal relevance of Juneteenth. Professor Jo Boaler reminded us of the limitless potential that arises from a learning mindset. Fellow member, CEO of Magnaplate and Founder & President of ASR Media Productions Ashley Russo, offered dual perspectives as both founder and successor in a third generation Evergreen company. Professor David Surdam took us back to the Great Depression, sharing how baseball’s owners adapted to survive, offering us timeless lessons. We closed with talks from Adam Echter, thought-leader, consultant and Partner with Simon-Kucher, on the discipline of pricing under inflation, fellow Tugboat member and founder of The Motz Corporation, Joe Motz on the lessons from paddling alone for 3000 miles, and Jim Gilmore, author of Look, who closed the day with six methods for observing the world more carefully.

Throughout both days, a clear theme emerged: that Evergreen leaders don’t just weather uncertainty, they turn it into opportunity—and the power of leading teams with Purpose and heart throughout all seasons.

Outside of the sessions, the connections were just as meaningful. Mountain activities, curated meals, and informal conversations brought new ideas, inspiration, and comradery. Seasoned members welcomed first-timers, and many found themselves in deep conversation with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities in business, family, and life.

Now more than a decade into the Evergreen movement, it felt at this gathering that the momentum is stronger than ever. Our compounding trust, shared commitment to learning and adapting, and belief in doing business the right way distinguishes this unique leadership community.