MOORESTOWN - Christopher Miles launched his technology company in 1997 with three part-time employees, including himself. Revenue that year was $50,000. The company was housed in his basement.

Seven years later, Miles Technologies has moved to a 28,000-square-foot commercial center on Route 38 anchored by Cornerstone Bank. Miles bought the property last year for $1.8 million.

Miles Technologies provides computer and Internet services, including Web site design and related products. Revenue was $3.1 million in 2003, a 44-percent increase over $2.14 million in 2002, Miles said.

At 33, Miles is company president. He employs 33 and said he will add 14 more workers this year. He said his enterprise has averaged a profit of about 15 percent each year since inception.

"People the past four years have said the economy is bad, but we definitely didn't feel it," he said.

Joe Falkenstein, a partner in the New Jersey Technology Council's Venture Fund, said profit above 10 percent for a technology firm is excellent, given the business environment during the past three years. The technology council is headquartered in Mount Laurel.

The venture fund provides both public and private dollars to start-up companies.

From 2000 to 2003, technology firms took double hits from the recession and investment uncertainties, analysts have said.

Miles, a Medford Lakes resident and 1988 Shawnee High School graduate, received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Delaware. He attributed his success to targeting small- and mid-sized businesses neglected by larger companies.

He said his firm avoided specializing in one industry and has written software for the financial, construction, medical and retail sectors. Among his clients are Lipinski Landscaping Inc. in Evesham and Murphy's Supermarkets in Medford.

Miles stressed the importance of hiring and retaining the right employees. "There is not a single person who doesn't belong here," he said, adding he weeds out many hires in the first 60 days.

"If John Lennon worked for me, I'd fire him. He's a musician and that's what he should be doing," Miles said, referring to the late rock musician.

The company's rapid growth has gotten some recognition.

It was cited in three annual surveys by Philadelphia Business Journal and Rowan University as among the 100 fastest growing private businesses in the Delaware Valley. It earned the No. 1 spot in the journal's 2000 survey.

Before starting Miles Technologies, Miles already had ex-perience in both technology and business.

He said he became fascinated with computers at age 12. By the time he was 17, Miles had started his first venture, Majestic Design, a Medford construction company, and ran it with the aid of computers.

He said it made sense to combine his business experience and computer knowledge to found his own technology company.

Miles Technologies was started with cash from Majestic Design, without outside venture capital, he said. Venture capital is a common funding method for new companies, especially in the technology field.

Miles said he will open a second, 3,000-square-foot operations center in his building later this year to accommodate the increased workload and new employees.

The company moved to the Cornerstone Bank building in November from a 2,000-square-foot office at Marlton Crossing on Route 73 in Evesham.

Despite the early risks, Miles said his work is finally paying off with the increased revenue and expansion.

He's also cut back on his hours. "I don't work as long as I used to. I put in 50 hours. I go home. I didn't used to," said Miles, who has a wife and baby daughter.

Email: cbishop@phillyBurbs.com