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Inside our First Project
In honor of 25 years in the business, sit back and enjoy the story of how it all began for High Monkey Consulting, Inc.
September 28, 2023
Reading time: 5 min
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Digital Experience Strategy
The original source, High Monkey
Celebrating a Quarter-Century of Solutions
High Monkey is thrilled to be celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, and it's an occasion filled with gratitude. We're thankful for everyone who's helped us get to this point because, as they say, we didn't get here overnight. It's been a journey marked by resilience, hard work, and the support of our clients and team.To honor our past and share a piece of our history, we want to take you back to where it all began—the story of our company's very first project. It was a moment that made us realize we were moving in the direction of being more than just an idea; we were on our way to becoming a company.
Starting off
Let's rewind the clock to 1999—a time when the internet was still just starting to grow, and the digital consulting landscape was yet to be fully explored. Virgil Carroll, High Monkey’s founder, was on a mission. Armed with a Master's degree in instructional design from the University of Alabama - Birmingham, Virgil had already begun to seek business opportunities under the name of MedicBid (today known as High Monkey).In those early days, Virgil set off on a digital pioneering journey into eLearning, collaborating with the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) to develop some of the first online training programs for medical professionals. But as any entrepreneur will tell you, the path to success is paved with challenges, and Virgil was no exception.
A turning point
Financial hurdles began to surface, and keeping the business afloat became more and more difficult. It was a moment of uncertainty, a time that would test Virgil's determination and adaptability.Then, suddenly, a turning point arrived. Virgil had a friend who reached out with an opportunity. This connection led to the exploration of a big project—creating online sales training for Ruan's sales team.
At the same time, Virgil rebranded the business from MedicBid to MedicMedia Group, signaling a shift towards medical online learning. Alongside his first employee, Bill Gunter - who worked on animation and graphics, Virgil worked night and day for two weeks to create an eLearning CD-ROM on strategic selling for Ruan.
First pitch… is a strike!
After weeks of hard work and preparation, Virgil hit the road and headed to Des Moines to pitch their project. As young entrepreneurs, this opportunity was a pretty big one. He stayed in the tallest hotel in the city, and when it came time for the project pitch, he navigated his way through the city's skyways and up to the very top floor of Ruan Center, where Ruan's Sales Board was waiting for them to hear about their CD-ROM.Below is an image of the CD-ROM's original cover from 1999:
The Ruan Executive Board was thoroughly impressed by both the CD-ROM and the presentation itself. Virgil and Bill's dedication and hard work towards a user-centered eLearning program paid off, and they were able secure the project (the first pitch was a strike). This marked a pivotal moment in High Monkey's history—it was not only our very first deal but also the point at which we truly began our journey as a company. This project was us dipping our foot into the digital consulting landscape, laying the foundation for a quarter-century of growth, innovation, and the honor of serving our clients.The Ruan Executive Board was genuinely impressed by both the CD-ROM and the presentation itself. Virgil and Bill's unwavering dedication to creating a user-centered eLearning program paid off, and they successfully secured the project (or should we say, the first pitch was a strike!). This marked a pivotal moment in High Monkey's history—it was not only our very first deal but also the point at which we truly began our journey as a company. This project served as our initial foothold in the digital consulting landscape, laying the foundation for a quarter-century of growth, innovation, and the honor of serving our valued clients.Reflecting
These events in 1999 showcased High Monkey's persistence and adaptability while navigating the early challenges of running a new business. Virgil laid the groundwork for the future of High Monkey Consulting, and the rest was history.Stay tuned for more content celebrating 25 years of service!
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