By Akers Editorial
40 Under 40: Miranda Starling
What drives me: My family and the community that raised me. I want my daughters to see that a meaningful life is one built on service, gratitude and hard work.
My legacy: I hope people remember that I led with heart, lifted others and helped show the next generation that public service can be impactful and fulfilling.
Fun fact: I learned to fly a plane before I learned to drive a car thanks to years in the Civil Air Patrol at the Leesburg Airport.
Miranda Starling’s story begins exactly where she still chooses to be, in Lake County.
Growing up here shaped nearly every part of her life, from the summer backpack programs that sparked her love of reading to her first job at Carter’s Ace Hardware where she learned the value of hard work. She never imagined that one day she would help lead one of the county’s largest public service offices.
One unexpected opportunity set her on that path. At 21, while working at that very Ace Hardware, Miranda was offered a position with the Lake County Tax Collector after David Jordan noticed her work ethic. She laughs when she remembers that day.
“I didn’t even know what the tax collector’s office did,” she says. “But Bob McKee took a chance on me and I’ve been there ever since.”
Today, as director of operations, she oversees teams, streamlines systems and serves thousands of residents each year.
“It’s amazing how one small decision can change everything,” she says.
Her love of aviation began even earlier. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol in middle and high school, Miranda learned to fly before she ever learned to drive. She even flew on a C-130 as a teenager, a memory that still lights her up.
“I still nerd out about aviation,” she admits. “It taught me how capable I could be.”
The defining theme of her life is belief in the power of mentors and in the idea that the right people show up when you need them. Miranda grew up relying on school programs and facing challenges that could have easily limited her view of what was possible.
“I didn’t always believe in myself,” she says, “but I had people who did, and that made all the difference.”
Those experiences shaped her leadership philosophy. She wants to give the same kind of encouragement she received, especially to young people who may not yet see their own potential. It’s why she volunteers with the Education Foundation of Lake County and why she never misses a chance to teach students what the tax collector’s office actually does and how much impact public service can have.
Miranda hopes people will remember how she served with empathy, kindness and purpose.
“At the end of the day I just want my daughters to know that I made a difference in the same community that once made a difference for me,” she says.
