Leading Technology Incubator Honors Extraordinary Entrepreneurs

HOUSTON, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston Technology Center (HTC), Texas' largest technology incubator and accelerator, hosted its 9th annual gala, "A Celebration of Entrepreneurs." The event honored local entrepreneurs that have made a significant impact on the region's economy; and developed lifesaving and revolutionary technologies.

The Houston Technology Center named Beth Williams, CEO of TechTrans International, Inc., as this year's honoree. As the Founder and CEO of TechTrans International, Inc., Ms. Williams leads TechTrans International, a leading provider of international integration services to government and commercial clients with project experience in over 100 countries and 60 languages.

Additionally, HTC also recognized the following Lifetime Achievement Awardees:

AEROSPACE: Sandy Johnson – President & CEO, Barrios Technology
ENERGY: William Keith Maxwell, III – Founder & Chairman, Spark Energy
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Bob Peebler – Executive Chairman, ION Geophysical Corporation
LIFE SCIENCES: The Honorable S. Ward Casscells, MD - Tyson Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Public Health, UTHealth
NANOTECHNOLOGY: Chris Coker – President & Co-Founder, Oxane Materials

"Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy and have built Houston to be a dynamic and diverse city well known for our energy, aerospace, life sciences and technology sectors. We are pleased to continue our annual tradition of celebrating these outstanding entrepreneurs," said Walter Ulrich, president and CEO of the Houston Technology Center.

This year's celebrated entrepreneurs included:
Juuhi Ahuja, Wise Men Consultants
John Allen, G & A Partners
Terri Ammerman, The Ammerman Experience
Lew Arend, McKinley Arend International
Cindy L. Boyd, CBM Enterprise Solutions, LLC
Gale E. Burkett, GB Tech Inc.
Laura Capper, CAP Resources
Russ Capper, The BusinessMakers Radio Show, The EnergyMakers Show
Mike Clark, RedHouse Associates LLC
Lee Cook, Phonoscope Services, Inc.
Doug Erwin, RedHouse Associates LLC
Kim Evans, Emerald Economy
Kemal Farid, Merrick Systems, Inc.
Samina Farid, Merrick Systems, Inc.
Paul Frison, Houston Technology Center
Harry Gee, Law Office of Harry Gee Jr. & Associates
Michael Holthouse, Holthouse Foundation For Kids
Rick Jones, Bluware, Inc.
Tom Kraft, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
Keith Kreuer, RedHouse Associates LLC
Carlos Lara, Lara & Associates LLC
Jerry Lasco, Lasco Enterprises, LLC
David Lee, Covelo Group, LLC
Sherman Lewis III, The Lewis Group LLP
Martin Lindenberg, Newport Board Group LLC
Jack "Mack" McIngvale, Gallery Furniture
Chris Melson, Vendor Safe Technologies, Inc.
Phil Morabito, Pierpont Communications, Inc.
Edelmiro Muniz, MEI Technologies, Inc.
Dan Parsley, Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Consulting
Arun Pasrija, CHR Solutions, Inc.
Stewart Pisecco, Psychological Software Solutions
Eric J. Pulaski, SmartVault Corporation
Ashok Rao, Whodini, Inc.
Arthur T. Sands, MD, PhD, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Hugh Sazegar, PhD, Techcess Group
Richard Scruggs, Salient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jeffrey J. Sheldon, CitareTx Investment Partners
James Taylor, CHR Solutions, Inc.
Dr. Jaye Thompson, Opexa Therapeutics, Inc.

Platinum sponsor of this year's gala was Gallery Furniture.

Gold sponsors included Barbara & Paul Frison, BMC Software, Chevron, Comcast Business Class, Comerica Bank, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Holthouse Foundation for Kids, ION Geophysical Corporation, MEI Technologies, Inc., Don and Jean Nigbor, Oxane Materials, Palmetto Partners, Ltd., Phonoscope Services, Inc., PKF Texas, RedHouse Associates LLC, Shell, and TechTrans International, Inc.

Silver sponsors included Air Liquide, AT&T, Bank of Texas, Bluware, Inc., BoyarMiller, DFJ Mercury, Doyle Restrepo Harvin & Robbins LLP, Energy Ventures US, Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, Charles Flournoy, Frost Bank, G & A Partners, John and Marianne Gibson, Vijay and Marie Goradia, The Harris Foundation, NRG Energy, Inc., Oceaneering International, Inc., Pierpont Communications, Inc., Rice University, Spark Energy, UTMB Health, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Verizon, and Wilson. Media Sponsor: Houston Business Journal.

About Houston Technology Center
Named by Forbes as one of "Ten Technology Incubators Changing the World," the Houston Technology Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is Texas' largest technology incubator and accelerator, advancing the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston area. As a catalyst for change, economic growth and development, HTC's focus is to assist entrepreneurs within several key sectors: energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology, and NASA/aerospace. For more information visit http://www.HoustonTech.org or connect with HTC on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter @HouTechCenter.

Houston Technology Center Contact:
Maggie Joplin
Director, Marketing and Communications
Houston Technology Center
832-476-9235
[email protected]
HoustonTech.org

SOURCE Houston Technology Center