About

With origins in the agriculture industry, our name comes from our old family business "Sparks Milling Company," a flour milling operation dating to the 1800's in Alton, Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Jim McLaughlin (Executive Producer) founded our company in 1997 as Option Technologies, Inc., a custom software firm specializing in database systems for manufacturing operations. We helped our clients manage quality, automate processes, and streamline operations at high-tech manufacturers like Hydromat, Inc., and large industrial plants and distribution centers at Archer Daniels Midland, Chrysler/Cassens, and Lanter Distribution.

In 2009, we re-branded as Sparks Milling Digital to highlight our product focus: the design and build of end-to-end digital solutions for business. In short, to build powerful, digital machines that improve marketing, sales, and operations.

Since our founding, we've provided solutions and services to over 400 local, regional, and national clients. See the list.

We're a team of 15 specialists with the talent and expertise to design, build, deliver, and support high-quality digital products that get results. We love what we do, and we sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be of service to every one of our clients.

Learn more about what we build

Meet our senior team.

Jim McLaughlin - Executive Producer at Sparks Milling Digital
Jim McLaughlin
Executive Producer
Julie Willbrand - Marketing Content Manager at Sparks Milling Digital
Julie Ferguson (Willbrand)
Marketing Content Manager
Jon McLaughlin - Senior Project Developer at Sparks Milling Digital
Jon McLaughlin
Senior Project Developer