The Tale Behind Monkee-Boy
In the annals of digital history, there exists a tale of curiosity, camaraderie, and a touch of whimsy—a tale we proudly call the origin story of Monkee-Boy.
Once upon a time in a decade far, far away...
The 1990's
It was a time when the internet was still finding its footing, and the digital landscape was a wild, untamed frontier. Amidst this chaos, Aaron Bramwell found himself at the heart of it all and joined IBM Tivoli Systems' crazy web team, which was affectionately known by some as the “web monkeys.”
Aaron, the newest kid on the block and youngest team member, earned the endearing moniker "Monkee-Boy." Yet, far from being a mere nickname, it symbolized his boundless curiosity and uncanny ability to swing through the digital jungle with agility and finesse.
And word traveled fast...
Word spread of Aaron's digital tinkering, and members of the IBM Tivoli Marketing Department came to Aaron with their internal projects, side hustles, and never-ending referrals. At one point, Aaron single-handedly designed and built the Tivoli Systems website for the 1998 Olympic Games. On another occasion, Aaron introduced the idea of “drop-down menus” to Tivoli.com well before the navigation approach went mainstream.
Fuelled by a passion for pushing boundaries and delivering results, Aaron's journey evolved into a thriving side hustle, where he meticulously managed and supported several of Austin's leading dot-com sites and helped design educational portals for companies like Sony, Yahoo!, CNET, HP, and Gateway Computers.
As the demand for Aaron's expertise and attention to detail grew, he knew he needed a partner to help navigate the ever-expanding digital jungle.
Enter Joe...
This is where we meet the second member of our origin story, Joe Pickerill.
A kindred spirit, longtime collaborator, and the go-to marketing & analytics powerhouse from their days at IBM, Joe joined forces with Aaron to form a dynamic duo, blending Aaron's design & front-end development skills with Joe's strategic insight, data analysis, and marketing superpowers. It was a fusion of talents—the proverbial “you-got-your-chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter, you-got-your-peanut-butter-in-my-chocolate” moment that laid the foundation for Monkee-Boy's ascent.
Fast forward almost three decades of leading organizations to higher ground and helping organizations navigate the digital jungle, Monkee-Boy stands as a testament to their vision—a beacon of innovation, integrity, and, above all, unwavering commitment to their clients.
Now, with families, a team of crazy-talented digital natives, and a fridge adorned with SXSW stickers as badges of honor, Monkee-Boy has earned its place as a trusted partner in the digital realm. At the core of Monkee-Boy's ethos lies a simple mantra: do what's right, do your best, and show people you care.
This philosophy has guided them through the tumultuous digital landscape, earning the loyalty of clients who return time and again. In fact, over 95% of their business comes from repeat clients and referrals—a testament to the lasting impact of their work.
But their journey doesn't end there.
Along the way, Monkee-Boy has amassed a treasure trove of accolades, been recognized as "best in class" across various industries, and been perennially featured in the Austin Business Journal's esteemed 'Book of Lists' as one of Austin's top web designers and developers for over seventeen consecutive years.
As for the name "Monkee-Boy," it embodies the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and a hint of mischief—qualities that transcend race, gender, or background. It's a name that represents the playful yet professional approach Monkee-Boy brings to every project—a reminder that in the digital jungle, success often comes to those who dare to embrace their inner "monkee."
So, as we continue to forge ahead into the digital frontier, we invite you to join us on this extraordinary journey—a journey fueled by innovation, guided by integrity, and defined by the relentless pursuit of excellence. Welcome to the world of Monkee-Boy, where we help our clients navigate the digital jungle and build the web the world needs, one awesome website at a time.