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.