Joel is a native of Newton, Iowa.  His love of flying began when he and his Dad went on an airplane ride when he was 5 years old. At the age of 20 he earned his fixed-wing pilot license and later, he and a good friend built an experimental airplane.  Joel says he started in ballooning ”like most bad habits, a free sample from a friend”.  Joel, his wife Karen and daughter Adena crewed for a local Indianola pilot during the 1998 National Balloon Classic. In 2003, Joel and Karen purchased their first used hot air balloon and Joel went on to earn his commercial license in 2004.  Since then Joel has accrued 600 hours of flight time as pilot in command of a hot air balloon. Joel is passionate about flying hot air balloons and loves sharing the experience with others.