Practically every entrepreneur faces obstacles on the road to success.

But few face the likes of those overcome by Michael D. Proper, founder and chief executive officer of DirectPointe Inc., a Lindon-based supplier of subscription-based technology management services.

When Proper was 10, his mother dropped him off at a state-run day-care facility and never returned.

Proper spent the next six years moving from foster home to foster home, separated from his siblings. He moved to Utah in 1991 at age 16.

Supporting himself with manual-labor jobs, Proper soon realized he wanted a better life. Luckily, he had had mentors as he grew up, and despite his challenging background remained optimistic and ambitious. He took various technology jobs, learning how companies use technology and how their needs change with growth and time.

After several years, Proper felt ready to start his own company.

DirectPointe's goal is to make technology simple, manageable and affordable for small and mid-sized businesses. The company provides complete computer solutions on a subscription basis. Each client's entire technology needs are continually supplied, supported and updated for the same monthly payment.

DirectPointe's success and quick growth have made it a target of acquisition offers, which Proper has declined. He believes that DirectPointe, with its enhanced Web portal to provide feedback, support and performance data for customers and employees, can be a "billion-dollar" business — no matter what challenges the future brings.