Last modified: Sunday, August 29, 2004 12:12 AM EDT Chris Johnson, left, of Norh Attleboro, and Dan Dumanis of Foxboro, have formed a Web design and computer building/repair company despite the fact that they are both just 15. (Staff photo by Mike George) Teens start firm By HENRY REILEY / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO -- Could Dan Dumanis and Chris Johnson be the next Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak? Jobs and Wozniak, of course, built computers in Jobs' parents' garage in the mid-1970s, broke through technological barriers, then went on to found Apple Computer. They, at least, had been to college. Dumanis and Johnson still aren't old enough to drive. But that hasn't stopped them from founding TPA Technologies, a company that builds and repairs computers, does graphic design and builds and hosts Web sites. If the company's needs can't be handled online, there are older relatives willing to drive the budding entrepreneurs where they need to go. Dumanis, 15, of Foxboro, a sophomore at Foxboro Regional Charter School, is president of the company; Johnson, also 15, of North Attleboro, a sophomore at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, is vice president. The teens met at the Foxboro charter school, before Johnson transferred to Xaverian, and learned they shared a common interest in computers. But it was Dumanis who longed to turn that interest to industry. `` I always had an interest in working for myself,'' he said. `` It's never too early to start.'' He began ramping up the company at age 14. Johnson said he was in the right spot at the right time. `` Dan has had the idea of starting the company for some time,'' he said. `` I'm one of his friends. He needed someone with Web skills. `` I'm the Web guy, doing Web design and graphic images.'' Johnson describes Dumanis as `` the numbers guy,'' who keeps track of expenses and revenue. Dumanis said he spends much of his time drumming up business while focusing on customer support. TPA Technologies -- Dumanis said they derived the initials from a piece of computer equipment, and thought it had a `` catchy'' ring -- is targeting small businesses, mainly in the educational and medical fields. So, how's business? `` The company is not losing money,'' Dumanis said. Since its beginning in March, TPA Technologies has built 15 computers and has customers in Foxboro, other Massachusetts communities and even Israel, Dumanis said. The company is registered in the town of Foxboro and has an IRS sales and tax use registration number. Neither Dumanis, nor Johnson seem daunted by the hard work a start-up requires. `` During the summer, I'm at the computer all day, working 12 hours a day,'' Dumanis said. He admits to being a night owl. Johnson said he works for the company an average of 10 to 20 hours a week during school, but has been putting in 50 hours a week, or more, during the summer. On top of that, he is a karate instructor in-training at Best Defense in Attleboro Falls, where he is a junior black belt. `` Karate is more than kicking and punching; it is all about character building,'' Johnson said. `` If it weren't for karate developing me as a person, I wouldn't be doing either activity -- teaching karate or founding a company.'' Johnson said much of his interest in computers stems from his father, Mark, a software engineer. Dumanis said his interest was sparked by a friend who taught him the basics of computing. And he's always had an artistic side: He won a Christmas coloring contest in The Sun Chronicle five years ago. Dumanis said he gets some business contacts from his father, Vitaly. He definitely has a business side, too, and can be hard-nosed, even if he and Johnson are TPA's only employees. Dumanis said since he is self-employed, he can work as many hours as he wants: child-labor laws don't apply. He said he used to have a job at a supermarket, but had to quit work at 9 p.m. or the store would be fined. For more on the company's products and services, check its Web site at www:tpatech.com and for Web hosting, www:tpatech.net.