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An unexpected conversation with a legendary high school rock star.
Tim Monner's story begins with his early brush with local fame as a high school musician in the Quad Cities. While he humbly denies being a “rockstar,” he played keyboards and guitar in a band that got two songs on local radio, including a patriotic track that resonated with listeners during the Gulf War. Despite the long-haired rocker image, Tim was actually a solid student, balancing academics with music gigs and sound checks, even opening for big acts in local arenas. His bandmates followed creative paths—some into music, others into tech or teaching—while Tim moved on to build a family and a career in marketing and IT.
After high school, Tim attended multiple colleges, including St. Ambrose and Marycrest, eventually earning degrees in marketing and computer graphics, then finishing an MBA. He started in newspapers before shifting to software and infrastructure marketing. His work at Panduit helped launch their first software product, and later, he built marketing teams at hosting companies, eventually landing at Big Scoots, where he helps lead their fully managed WordPress hosting efforts. A recurring theme in his career: marketing only works when it’s ethical and truly benefits the customer.
Outside of work, Tim is a music enthusiast and self-taught musician who recently returned to formal lessons in piano and guitar. He reminisces about growing up in the 1980s, loving everything from Men at Work to Bon Jovi, but he also appreciates music from other eras, especially the Beatles. He and Bud share thoughts on how access to music has changed—from albums and concept records to today’s on-demand streaming—and how that’s reshaped how we discover and experience music.
Tim also shared stories about his family: his wife is a dedicated school counselor in Cicero, and together they’ve raised three strong, talented kids. One works with Tim at Big Scoots, another studies engineering at the University of Illinois, and their youngest daughter, a formidable South Side Chicago athlete, keeps the household lively. Their dynamic reflects Tim’s appreciation for strong personalities, independence, and creative energy—a theme throughout his life.
The episode closes with Tim recommending Kelly Muro, founder of North Commerce, as a future guest. Like Tim, Kelly is doing innovative work—in his case, building an e-commerce platform geared toward small sellers who want an alternative to heavyweight systems like Shopify. Tim’s suggestion aligns with the heart of *Seriously, Bud?*—sharing genuine stories from real people doing meaningful work, often behind the scenes.