MADISON – James and Jarrod Parkes, University of Alabama in Huntsville seniors, didn’t waste time to enter the business world. Their lifelong interest in technology led to founding Parkes Twins LLC.

James Parkes and Jarrod Parkes are owners of Parkes Twins LLC, a Madison-based software development company. (CONTRIBUTED)

Parkes Twins, a Madison-based software development company, designs websites, mobile applications and general software. “Alongside those types of products, we also provide web hosting, design logos and other auxiliary services associated with software development,” Jarrod said.

They strive to design unique software that adapts in the constantly changing marketplace.

As Bob Jones High School students, James and Jarrod programmed as a hobby. “Eventually, people wanted to pay us (for) similar projects,” Jarrod said. “Since it’s much easier for tax reasons to pay an entity instead of an individual, the Parkes Twins LLC was formed.”

“It’s still weird to consider ourselves business owners. We’re just doing what we enjoy,” Jarrod said.

Their technology penchant started as eight-year-olds when they first saw the Nintendo 64. “We were hooked,” Jarrod said. Gaming led them to programming at Bob Jones and then conventional majors in computer science at UAH.

Their parents are John and Lisa Parkes. John works as an IT professional at Agile Information Systems. “He has definitely been an influence in introducing us to technology,” Jarrod said. Lisa works as a clerical aide at Bob Jones. “She has taught everything we know about how to treat people right.”

James and Jarrod will graduate in May 2014. “We’re both weighing options of several potential jobs. A possible move won’t mean the end of the company. Ideally, we’ll continue working until Parkes Twins is profitable to be (our) only job,” Jarrod said.

At Bob Jones, James and Jarrod played football team and were SGA president and vice president, respectively. In Alpha Tau Omega, they helped their UAH chapter raise $14,000 for cancer research and with the Battle of the Buffalo. They serve on the fraternity’s advisory board.

For information, call 256-886-8276 (Jarrod) or 256-886-8268 (James) and email to jarrod@parkestwins.com or james@parkestwins.com. For a client portfolio and more information, visit parkestwins.com.