Vision
Our vision is two-fold. First, that Evergreen® companies will go from being underappreciated to being broadly celebrated for what they are—attractive employers, partners, suppliers, customers, and community members that can be counted on to be steady and reliable for the long term. They are 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 values-aligned support network unlike any other with additional, valuable services that evolve and grow along with our members and the broader Evergreen community.
History
The story of how Tugboat Institute came to existence, like that of many great ideas, evolved slowly, after years of work and growth throughout the life of founder, Dave Whorton. Having started four companies in Silicon Valley and spent his early career as an investor at two of the top venture capital and private equity firms in the world, Dave had a singular conversation that set the Tugboat story in motion. He spoke with Stella & Dot founder Jessica Herrin who 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 ambitiously working to build meaningful companies, but who 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, these leaders were building growing, private, profitable companies for a lifetime, or longer.
Based on these meetings and the common threads he observed in each of these conversations, Dave coined the term “Evergreen” leaders and “Evergreen” companies to describe the people and businesses leading this movement. After a small gathering including many of these leaders in Sun Valley, Idaho in October of that year, with the help of Chris Alden, he created Tugboat Institute, driven by his vision to convene Evergreen CEOs to help one another through inspiration, new ideas, best practices, support, and encouragement.
Since its inception, Tugboat Institute has been committed to co-creating annual, in-person and virtual events, forums, certifications, and content in partnership with our members, all aimed at supporting the Evergreen community. Over the last 11 years, we’ve introduced a variety of initiatives to provide our members with opportunities to connect, learn, and grow by sharing experiences and best practices. Whether it’s through Tugboat Talks, Seminars, articles, intimate discussions, functional workshops, or curated seating at dinners, our goal is to empower leaders to build enduring, purpose-driven businesses.
As we look to the future, our mission remains clear: to evangelize the Evergreen ethos far and wide. We firmly believe that all the wisdom and insight needed to lead and grow a successful Evergreen business exists within our community. By capturing and sharing this wisdom publicly in our content, we aim to provide guidance around every business challenge, thereby ensuring that the collective knowledge of the Evergreen community continues to guide and inspire leaders everywhere.
In 2024, we announced the first annual Best Evergreen Companies™ list and the Evergreen Company of the Year™ award, which gave us our first opportunity to celebrate and elevate wonderful Evergreen companies and our Evergreen movement publicly, in a language that society understands.
The Tugboat Institute is not just a network; it’s a movement that continues to reshape the business landscape, one Evergreen company at a time.
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®. 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 Benetz
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 Benton
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 share and their commitment to grow our community. 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 Bitler
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.
Becca Bitler
Becca manages the day-to-day financial operations and HR administration at Tugboat Institute. She also assists with corporate compliance functions. A graduate of Millersville University, holding a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, she is excited to be a part of the Evergreen movement. When Becca is away from the office, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her 4-pound tea-cup Chihuahua in tow.
Lauren Burson
Lauren 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 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 Drew
Ryan heads the creative development, strategy and distribution of Tugboat Institute’s curated content, 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.
Chauncy Gardner
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.
Jackie Hawkins
Jackie leads the strategy for Tugboat Institute’s curated content, executive education, and the development of new products. Jackie brings over 12 years of leadership content development experience to her role at Tugboat Institute, having previously serving as a leadership consultant and executive program designer at institutions such as Duke University’s Corporate Education arm, the George W. Bush Institute, and the World 50 Group. Jackie has a B.A. in History and Political Science from Auburn University in Alabama, and worked in Washington, DC at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and for a lobbying firm before leaving politics for her business roles. In her personal time, you will find Jackie either reading, cheering on one of her favorite sports teams, or traveling to explore a new part of the world.
Christine Kirby
Christine leads the marketing initiatives at Tugboat Institute. As a new member of the Tugboat team, Christine is deeply inspired by the Evergreen movement and excited to contribute to the growth and strength of this powerful community. Previously, Christine played a key leadership role in a second generation, family-owned company for over 20 years where she helped to develop a globally recognized luxury brand through a wide variety of marketing and sales programs. Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from University of Washington. As a former city slicker turned mountain town lover, when not in the office, you’ll find Christine enjoying time biking, running, skiing, and traveling with her two teenagers, family and friends.
Dr. Gary Kunkle
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 Smidinger
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.
Annie Van Fossan
Annie leads the Member Services Team for Tugboat Institute and oversees Tugboat Institute Forums. 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 Whorton
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 the long-term strategy for Tugboat Institute, recruiting Evergreen CEOs and Presidents to Tugboat Institute and the Evergreen movement, evolving and curating the experiences and programming, and evangelizing and celebrating the importance of Evergreen companies in the world. Dave considers Evergreen company leaders and their businesses to be 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 is happily married to Lisa, and has two children Briggs and Rylee. He enjoys hiking, golfing, cycling, reading, movies and travel.
Esther Williams
Esther leads as Tugboat’s Director of Events and is passionate about bringing inventive artistry and creativity to in-person experiences. Prior to joining Tugboat Institute, Esther was the founder and owner of a full-service event, design, and production company. She spent several years as Creative Director for the Sun Valley Film Festival, and Special Events Coordinator for the Sun Valley Museum of Art. Esther was born in the Wood River Valley, and raised to appreciate independent education, innovation, and travel. A decade of living around the world from Australia and Thailand to the Caribbean and New York’s Fifth Avenue, cultivated her sensibilities in culture, art, design, music, and event planning, eventually leading her full circle to successful entrepreneurship in the Wood River Valley.
