Baton Rouge-based Loadstar has become the first company in Louisiana to earn Certified Evergreen status.
The designation, awarded by the Idaho-based Tugboat Institute, recognizes firms that pledge to remain private for at least a century and remain committed to “purpose-driven, people-first growth.”
Founded in 2021, Loadstar provides product handling and site logistics services to the refining, chemical and marine industries. The company has seen steady growth since its inception, expanding both its geographic footprint and its service offerings. It landed on Business Report’s Best Places to Work lists in both 2023 and 2024, and was a finalist for Company of the Year in the recent Louisiana Energy Awards, presented by Business Report’s 10/12 Industry Report.
Founder and CEO Brian Haymon describes the Evergreen certification as the “highest standard of recognition for companies committed to the Evergreen style of management.”
That management style is guided by the “7Ps,” or the seven defining characteristics of all Evergreen companies: purpose, perseverance, people first, private, profit, paced growth and pragmatic innovation.
Haymon says Loadstar sought the certification in part to publicly affirm its long-term priorities.
“We wanted to state clearly and publicly who we are, and what we stand for,” Haymon says. “A pledge to remain privately held for at least 100 years is a bold commitment, but one we were comfortable making. Evergreen and the 7Ps align perfectly with our philosophy and give us a foundation upon which to grow sustainably, invest with purpose and try to make a difference in the world.”
Haymon says the certification process was “very thorough and detailed” and took nearly a year to complete. That process included evaluations of Loadstar’s financial health, governance, growth strategy, risk tolerance and succession plan, among other areas, as well as an extensive employee survey. It also called for a financial commitment.
“The cost was not insignificant,” Haymon says, “but we felt it was well worth the investment.”
Loadstar is now one of only about 50 companies across the country to have earned Certified Evergreen status.
And while the certification itself marks the capstone of a rigorous months-long effort, Loadstar’s engagement with the Tugboat Institute doesn’t end with the designation. The institute provides ongoing support and networking opportunities for Evergreen companies and their leaders, and Haymon says Loadstar intends to remain active in that ecosystem.
“We plan to stay engaged and continue to learn from other Evergreen leaders who work in every sector of the economy,” he says.
Asked whether more Louisiana companies might follow in Loadstar’s footsteps, Haymon answers with cautious optimism.
“Business leaders are increasingly searching for alternatives to the short-term, exit-driven models that have become very popular over the past two decades,” he says. “Long before the term ‘Evergreen’ was invented, America was built by companies that put people first, invested prudently, planned for the long term and lasted for generations. We see Evergreen as a return to those fundamentals. It’s hard to predict how rapidly the Evergreen movement will grow, but people seem to respond very favorably when we tell the Loadstar Evergreen story. Perhaps our story will inspire others.”
