Joel Baglien takes one last ride

High Monkey is bidding farewell to one of our co-founders, Joel Baglien, as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement journey. With over two decades of commitment and contributions to the company, Joel’s departure marks the end of an era. In today’s blog post, we celebrate Joel’s journey with High Monkey, as well the lasting impact he leaves behind.

A history lesson

Joel’s journey with the company started the week after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 (although the name High Monkey did not exist yet at the time). Virgil Carroll, High Monkey’s CEO, was here in Minnesota but was supposed to catch a flight home to Alaska a couple days after 9/11. Due to the extended travel pause after the attacks, Virgil’s travel plans fell through and he stayed in Minnesota.

It was during this time that business consultants connected Virgil and Joel. They ended up collaborating on a project together, and after understanding that they shared a common goal, they forged a partnership. The newly formed duo would go on to complete hundreds of more projects, weather two and a half recessions, and navigate the good and bad times with resilience and determination.

Joel’s contributions to High Monkey

Throughout his tenure, Joel was a primary driver of High Monkey’s success. Initially involved in client-facing work, Joel’s skills in project management, leading discovery sessions, UX testing, and card sorts helped deliver exceptional results to clients. Around a decade ago, Joel transitioned into Sales, where he continued to thrive and display his prowess. With a remarkable ability to empower and guide others, Joel also played a big role in nurturing the talent within the company.

Joel’s dedication extended far beyond the office walls (and pixels). He spent countless hours attending events, networking, and traveling, proudly representing High Monkey wherever he would go. Those close to High Monkey know that Joel and Virgil have always been considered a “tag team”, together representing the company’s values and culture. Their lasting partnership not only drove the success of High Monkey, but allowed them to establish a remarkable rapport, often characterized by lighthearted banter.

From motorcycles to mixology

Beyond his professional achievements, Joel brought his vibrant personality and passions to the High Monkey family. Joel’s quick wit and humor helped brighten the company’s atmosphere and established him as High Monkey’s residential dad joke guy. Additionally, Joel’s expertise as a cocktail connoisseur enlightened office members at social gatherings with details of signature creations.

An avid motorcycle enthusiast, his journeys on two wheels have always been a hot topic with the team. Although we likely won’t see him roll up to the High Monkey lunches in his motorcycle anymore, we can thankfully still follow his adventures through his YouTube channel. We are all looking forward to hearing about the places he goes.

The next chapter begins

As Joel prepares to embark on his retirement journey, High Monkey bids him a fond farewell. Where we will (mostly) miss his presence, we are all proud of the legacy he leaves behind. Since every day is now a Saturday for him, there should be no shortage of motorcycle adventures that lie ahead. Joel, thank you for everything.