Converting Waste into Cash
Nancy Montano
Los Angeles Pumping
Mira Loma, Calif.
Founded: 2004
Age: 22
Nancy Montano always dreamed of having her own business -- and so did her father, Conrad. When she graduated from University of California, Riverside, she partnered with Dad to launch Los Angeles Pumping, a hazardous-waste transporting company.
Since then, she has returned to school and will get a certificate in hazardous materials and waste management from California State University, Northridge, in December, 2005.
The company's biggest success, says Montano, was climbing out of debt this year. The company expects revenues to reach $150,000 this year. Montano's goal: To grow this family business as big as its million-dollar competitors.
Lesson learned:
"Nothing comes easy. Many times you want to give up because you think it's not going to work and there's so much competition. But eventually you see you're starting to get something out of it, and that motivates you."
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