Tugboat Institute

At Tugboat Institute®, we celebrate Private, Purpose-driven companies that prioritize their people and long-term success. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Andesa! As a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), Andesa Services has been delivering innovative administrative solutions to the life insurance and annuity industry for nearly 40 years. Their commitment to empowering employees and maintaining independence reflects their deep Evergreen values. As a Certified Evergreen® company, Andesa Services exemplifies: → Purpose: Driven by their mission to support clients with exceptional service while fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. → Private: Remaining privately held to focus on long-term goals and staying true to their values. → Innovative: Constantly evolving their technology and services to meet the changing needs of their industry. → Employee Owned: Empowering their team through ESOP, ensuring employees share in the success they help create. Andesa proves that Purpose-driven companies can innovate, thrive, and leave a lasting impact on their industry and people. Want to learn more about Andesa Services’ Evergreen journey? 👉 Check out their story in the link below. #AndesaServices #EmployeeOwned #PurposeDriven #Innovation #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen

We were honored to have Paul Mears III, President & CEO of Hello! Destination Management, speak at Tugboat Institute® Summit 2024. Paul’s heartfelt talk explored the challenges of building a successful business while striving to stay present for his family. With honesty and vulnerability, he shared how he created harmony between his demanding professional life and his role as a husband and father. His presentation highlighted: → Routines That Work: How small habits, like morning school drop-offs and date nights, helped keep his family connected. → Finding Harmony Over Balance: Integrating work and family life instead of keeping them separate. → Lessons Learned: Recognizing the importance of “hanging out” time and creating lasting family memories. Paul’s story is a must-watch for leaders looking to create harmony between their professional and personal lives. 👉 Click the link in the comments to watch Paul’s full presentation! #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #Leadership #WorkLifeHarmony #FamilyBusiness

At Tugboat Institute®, we celebrate Private, Purpose-driven companies that prioritize their people and long-term success. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Motz! For over 45 years, The Motz Group has been a leader in designing and building high-performance sports fields. Their commitment to quality, sustainability, and their people has earned them recognition as one of the Best Evergreen Companies™. As a Certified Evergreen® company, The Motz Group embodies: → Purpose-Driven Work: Delivering innovative sports field solutions that bring communities together through athletics. → Paced Growth: Expanding thoughtfully to ensure long-term success while staying true to their values. → Community Impact: Supporting local initiatives and sustainability efforts that make a lasting difference. The Motz Group proves that Purpose-driven companies can grow sustainably while positively impacting the communities they serve. Want to learn more about The Motz Group’s Evergreen journey? 👉 Check out their story in the link below. #TheMotzGroup #SportsFieldInnovation #PurposeDriven #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen

Turning values into action is no small task. In our latest Evergreen Journal® article, John Ende, President & CEO of Great Lakes Dental Technologies, shares how he brought the company’s long-standing values to life by connecting them with specific, teachable behaviors. Through a collaborative process, John and his team identified 27 fundamental behaviors that empower employees to embody the company's Evergreen values daily. Key insights from John’s article include: → Think and Act Like an Owner: Fostering accountability and pride through an employee-owned structure. → Never Compromise on Quality: A relentless focus on excellence to meet the needs of their demanding clientele. → Do What’s Best for the Customer: Prioritizing long-term relationships over short-term gains. Want to learn how Great Lakes Dental Technologies is turning values into action? 👉 Click the link in the comments to read the full article. #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen #Leadership #EmployeeOwnership #ValuesInAction

At Tugboat Institute®, we celebrate Private, Purpose-driven companies that prioritize their people and long-term success. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Rincon Consultants, Inc.! For 30 years, Rincon Consultants has been a leader in environmental consulting, urban planning, and engineering. Their dedication to creating positive change for healthy communities and natural environments sets them apart as a Purpose-driven organization. As a Certified Evergreen® company, Rincon Consultants exemplifies: → Purpose: Focused on inspiring positive change and creating a lasting legacy for future generations. → Private: Remaining privately owned, allowing them to prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains. → People First: Building strong relationships founded on trust and fairness, ensuring employees and clients feel valued. → Innovation: Delivering cutting-edge solutions in environmental consulting and planning to meet evolving client needs. Rincon Consultants proves that Purpose-driven companies can lead with integrity, innovate sustainably, and make a meaningful impact for generations. Want to learn more about Rincon Consultants’ Evergreen journey? 👉 Learn more about Rincon in the link below. #RinconConsultants #EnvironmentalConsulting #PurposeDriven #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen

When an optics company opens a preschool, you know there’s a story worth hearing. In the latest Evergreen Journal® article, Joe Hamilton, CEO of Vortex Optics, shares how tackling challenges head-on—a mindset captured by their core value, “Be the Buffalo”—led to the creation of Little Buffalos Preschool. By addressing operational issues with a tenant preschool, Vortex® transformed a problem into an opportunity that’s now their employees’ favorite perk. Key insights from Joe’s article include: → Be the Buffalo: Facing challenges directly, even when they’re uncomfortable, to create long-term success. → Little Buffalos Preschool: Providing subsidized childcare that saves employees time and money, while supporting their families. → Values in Action: How Vortex® applies their commitment to service and loyalty, from their preschool to their VIP Warranty. Want to learn how Joe and his team turn challenges into opportunities with purpose-driven leadership? 👉 Click the link in the comments to read the full article. #vortexoptics #teamvortex #littlebuffalos #bethebuffalo #peoplefirst #perseverance #Evergreenjournal #evergreenCEO #tugboatinstitute

We were honored to have Brad Herrmann, Co-Founder of Text-Em-All, speak at Tugboat Institute® Summit 2024. Brad’s talk was an honest and inspiring look at his journey to employee ownership. From the lessons learned working at his father’s company to building a culture worth preserving at Text-Em-All, Brad shared how creating an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is transforming his business. His presentation highlighted: → The Journey to Employee Ownership: How Brad’s experience shaped his commitment to preserving a thriving culture. → Purpose-Driven Leadership: Building a business where employees feel valued and directly benefit from the company’s success. → A Bold Vision for the Future: Using innovative models to align employee incentives and sustain long-term independence. Brad’s story is a must-watch for leaders looking to create sustainable success and preserve their company’s mission for future generations. 👉 Click the link in the comments to watch Brad’s full presentation! #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #CertifiedEvergreen #Leadership #EmployeeOwnership #PurposeDriven

At Tugboat Institute®, we celebrate Private, Purpose-driven companies that prioritize their people and long-term success. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Torch Technologies, Inc.! Founded in 2002, Torch Technologies is 100% employee-owned and provides superior research, development, and engineering services to support the Department of Defense. Their unwavering focus on mission success and employee well-being has driven their growth and reputation as a trusted partner. As a Certified Evergreen® company, Torch Technologies embodies: → Purpose-Driven: Delivering innovative solutions that enhance national security while prioritizing integrity and excellence. → Employee Ownership: A 100% employee-owned structure fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared success. → Community Impact: Actively supporting education, veteran initiatives, and charitable causes to give back meaningfully. Torch Technologies proves that companies can lead with purpose, grow sustainably, and make a lasting difference for their people and communities. Want to learn more about Torch Technologies’ Evergreen journey? 👉 Check out their story in the link below. #TorchTechnologies #EmployeeOwned #PurposeDriven #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen

How do you build a strong culture when your team changes every season? wade binkley, President of Alaska Riverways, focuses on one thing: Hiring for character. In our latest Evergreen Journal® article, Wade shares how his seasonal tourism business in Alaska has maintained a strong culture through a unique hiring approach. With hundreds of new employees each summer, Wade and his team focus exclusively on character traits like kindness, optimism, and enthusiasm—ensuring the right fit for their culture. Here are the key insights from Wade’s article: → Hiring for Character: Developing interview questions to identify traits that align with their company’s culture. → Rebuilding Culture: How focusing on character helped rebuild their team after losing key return employees. → Universal Lessons: Insights on maintaining culture that apply to both seasonal and year-round businesses. Want to learn how Wade prioritizes character to protect and strengthen his company’s culture? 👉 Click the link in the comments to read the full article. #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen #Leadership #CompanyCulture #PeopleFirst

At Tugboat Institute®, we celebrate Private, Purpose-driven companies that prioritize their people and long-term success. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Text-Em-All! Since 2005, Text-Em-All has specialized in delivering personalized mass messaging solutions that help organizations connect with people at scale. From staffing agencies to healthcare providers, their platform supports meaningful communication with compassion and reliability. As a Certified Evergreen® company, Text-Em-All is dedicated to: → Purpose Over Profit: Focused on making a positive impact by helping organizations connect with people when it matters most. → People-First: Offering team members flexibility, support, and growth opportunities, with policies shaped by transparency and trust. → Community Giving: Proudly donating 1% of profits and dedicating resources to community initiatives, reflecting a deep commitment to giving back. Text-Em-All proves that a company driven by purpose and people can create enduring value while fostering a joyful workplace. Want to learn more about Text-Em-All’s Evergreen journey? 👉 Check out their story in the link below. #TextEmAll #PeopleFirst #PurposeDriven #MassMessaging #TugboatInstitute #EvergreenCEO #EvergreenJournal #CertifiedEvergreen