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CELEBRATING OUR FIRST 25 YEARS

A little spark.
A bear-sized
journey.

From BeareWare’s beginnings in 2000 to a recognized Middle Tennessee web design and digital agency. This is our story—25 years of creativity, change, and people who made it all possible.
Explore our 25-year story
Nashville roots. Wilson County connections. A world of possibilities.
25
YEARS OF BUILDING
SOMETHING TOGETHER
Team Bear at our office at Center 615 - Circa 2018-2020 - 1
Team Bear at Center 615 in East Nashville · Circa 2018–2020
WELCOME TO BEAR JUBILEE

Technology changed. Relationships endured.

It began with the excitement of seeing a printed club newsletter become a website—something people could visit from anywhere in the world. For founder Peter Beare, that moment opened the door to a new career and a new business. In May 2000, BeareWare was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

Over the next 25 years, that small startup grew into Bear Web Design, serving businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations across Middle Tennessee and beyond. Along the way came new designers and developers, new technologies, new services, and countless opportunities to help our clients tell their stories.

Bear Jubilee brings that journey together in five eras. Explore the websites, people, places, and turning points that shaped our company—and enjoy a few familiar faces and blasts from the past along the way.

FIVE ERAS. ONE EVOLVING STORY

Take a walk through the years.

Start at the beginning or jump into an era. Each chapter opens the full archive on Bear Web Design.
CHAPTER 01

2000–2003

BeareWare: The beginning

A startup in Hillsboro Village, a passion for programming, and a belief in what the web could do for small organizations. Our early work connected sports clubs, community groups, and businesses to a wider world—with Microsoft Publisher, hands-on problem solving, and plenty of enthusiasm.
Early websites · Community connections · The first clients
Explore 2000-2003
CHAPTER 02

2004–2011

BeareWare: Taking root in Middle Tennessee

From our move to Gladeville to Vicki Payne’s creative influence, this was an era of possibility. Mambo and Joomla brought content management to our clients, training helped them take charge of their websites, and connections throughout Wilson County grew into lasting partnerships.
Creative design · Joomla & CMS · Client education
Explore 2004-2011
CHAPTER 03

2012–2016

A new name. A stronger foundation.

BeareWare officially became Bear Web Design in 2012. Custom website design became a hallmark of our work, while responsive websites and growing demand for online shops opened new opportunities. Behind the scenes, better support and business systems helped us care for a growing client family.
Bear Web Design · Custom design · Responsive websites
Explore 2012-2015
CHAPTER 04

2017–2021

Embracing change. Moving forward.

WordPress and YOOtheme Builder began a new chapter for our design team. Led by Jennifer Folsom, we migrated more than 125 client websites from Joomla to WordPress. Cloud hosting, stronger website monitoring, and a resilient team helped us support clients through rapid change and a worldwide pandemic.
WordPress · YOOtheme Builder · Adaptability & resilience
Explore 2017-2021
CHAPTER 05

2022–2025

Great websites. A whole lot more.

Our first 25 years culminated in a broader digital agency: website design and management joined by social media, content marketing, SEO, and Google and Meta advertising. AI opened new possibilities, and our Automattic agency partnership and international WordCamp experiences deepened our connection to the WordPress community.
Digital marketing · AI & innovation · Global connections
Explore 2022-2025
CONNECTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

From internet cafés to WordCamp.

Peter Beare at a Cyber Cafe In New York City

Staying connected, circa 2000.

Internet cafés were our lifeline for serving clients while traveling.

Still learning, still exploring, 2025.

WordCamp Europe in Basel, Switzerland—part of a worldwide community.

TO EVERYONE IN OUR STORY

You helped make these 25 years possible.

To our clients who trusted us with their businesses, our team members who brought their talent and care, and our partners, friends, and community who supported us along the way—thank you.

This celebration is about more than the websites we built or the technology we adopted. It is about the people behind every project, the relationships that lasted, and the shared excitement of seeing a new idea come to life.

We’re proud of where we started, grateful for how far we’ve come, and excited about the next chapter.

Peter Beare & the Bear Web Design team

The story continues.

See what Bear Web Design is creating, managing, and marketing today.
Visit Bear Web Design