Michael D. Proper is among the most distinguished graduates of the school of hard knocks.

When he was 10, Proper's mother abandoned him at a day-care center. He spent the next several years moving from one foster home to another, separated from his siblings.

But Proper kept his love for life and optimism that he could make things better. He sought role models and mentors, eventually landing at the age of 16 in a job working for a start-up technology company. At the time, he did not know how to turn on a computer.

He learned quickly.

A little more than a decade later, Proper is president and chief executive officer of Lindon-based DirectPointe, which provides business technology to small and medium-size firms.

DirectPointe was founded with a simple premise, displayed on the company's Web site: "We manage your technology, so you can manage your business." Proper filled a void in this market for services that help small and medium-size companies, which often lack the resources of larger firms but need technology services even more.

Under Proper's leadership, DirectPointe focuses on creating value based directly on customers' needs. Proper started the business using his own savings, hiring management team members who also invested their own money. He has endeavored to continue that culture of commitment as the company has added employees, which now number about 70.