Miranda Monahan, 38

Persistence to Miranda Monahan isn’t just a refusal to take no for an answer.

It’s about seeking more every day.

That’s what she did back in 1999, when she was a front desk receptionist at a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based hardware technology sales firm. Monahan eventually persuaded her bosses to give her chance at sales, in fill-in roles for others in the company.

That job led to more sales jobs, to the point where Monahan built up a decade of inside and outside sales success for companies that included Hewlett-Packard.

But Monahan still sought more. So in 2011 she founded M-PowerTech, an electronic waste and e-recycling business. The six-employee firm, based in Manatee County, has grown fast, from less than $1 million in 2012 sales to around $4 million in 2013. Monahan says the firm could double revenues in 2014. A large chunk of that growth comes from landing work with Office Depot/Office Max. Says Monahan: “We are very blessed to have that account.”

Now Monahan has another challenge: To turn the growth into brand awareness of M-PowerTech among large potential corporate clients. “The only way we will stay competitive in this business,” Monahan says, “is to continue to grow our market share.”

— Mark Gordon

Q&A

City of residence: Bradenton

Twitter handle: @MPowerTechLLC

Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Years on the Gulf Coast: Seven years

Marital status/children: Married with three children

Alma mater: Attended three years at Colorado University but did not graduate.

Best place to network: Any tech event.

Coolest business experience: Giving a presentation to Viacom/MTV in Times Square at their headquarters on National Recycling Day. They asked me to address the proper recycling and data destruction for end of life material. It was the first time I was call an “expert” in my field.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Always treat people well, one blow up and it can be detrimental to a relationship. All business is, is relationships.

One website that makes your job easier: LinkedIn.

One community group you’re most involved with: The Tidewell Hospice 5k run.

Favorite off-hours activity: Spending time with my family and friends doing anything.

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King Jr.

Best award you ever received: No. 36 Woman-led business in the state of Florida for 2013.

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Start my own business

What’s at the top of your bucket list: I want to go to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, I’m not a biker, but for some reason I’d like to experience it.

What new skill would you like to learn: To be more diplomatic but I probably wouldn’t be me then.

Who would play you in a movie about your life: Melissa McCarthy

If I had a magic wand I’d: I turn my wand into two so I’d have two wands to better the world with.