Ozarks Profile - Tim Watson

Tell us about your company.

James River Web design, which provides Web hosting and design services, has been in business for three and a half years, Watson said. The company is owned by Joel Dannelley, and it has two locations. The Springfield location, where Watson works, is at 333 Park Central East. The Joplin location houses the company's Web servers, he added.

What specific things do you do in your work?

"I work with graphic designers, marketing personnel and sales departments, taking their ideas and making (them) into something that will work on the Internet," Watson said. He added that he builds Web sites that are easy for clients to keep updated. Watson does a variety of photographic work, much of it done with Photoshop.

What sparked your interest in this field?

Watson said in 1994, he found himself wanting to change careers. "At that time I'd had been processing film for professional photographers for 16 years. I started hearing about the World Wide Web and I fell in love with the ability to be able to build a Web site and have anyone in the world see it," he said.

How do you stay abreast of all the changes in the field?

Watson said he has learned much of what he does in his work by watching how other people build Web sites, by reading books on the industry and visiting Web sites."I read a lot of e-mail. I belong to 10 or 15 e-mail lists and I visit 10 to 15 Web sites a week to find out about the latest and greatest technology that is out there for Web design," Watson said.

What's most interesting about your work?

"Instant gratification when I'm working on a site and the client can sit in their own office and see changes as they happen," Watson said. He added that most of the company's clients are repeat customers who want more functionality for their Web sites, such as user tracking and more sections on the site, including calendars and newsletters.

Tell us about your family.

Watson said he and his wife, Tina, have been happily married for the last 14 years. "No children, but we have one cat and four dogs," he said.

How do you like to spend your free time?

"I like watching a good movie. Both my wife and I really like to watch cooking shows," he said.

by Maria Hoover