Russ: This is The BusinessMakers show, heard here and online at thebusinessmakers.com, and continuing on at the Gulf Coast Innovation Conference and Showcase in downtown Houston at the Hyatt Regency. I am with the founding CEO of HTC, and presently executive vice chairman of HTC, Paul Frison. Paul, welcome back to The BusinessMakers show.

Paul: Thank you very, very much, Russ. It's always a pleasure, and I'm very, very pleased that you're here with us today.

Russ: Well, it's great to be here, and I sort of sense this higher level of energy at this thing.

Paul: Well, I feel that way, too. It's interesting, you know? We have more people signed up. The first time we've been totally sold out. Couldn't even add any more extra tables. We have more companies presenting than we've ever had. Everything is just blowing and going, and all the university presidents here, and it's been great.

Russ: Fantastic. Now, I always worry that there's not enough people in our community that know what's happening, and there's so much happening.

Paul: I agree with that. When we recently, here in April or so, were recognized by Forbes magazine as being one of the top ten business incubators, technology incubators, changing the world -

Russ: Which is just incredible, and I was gonna get to that, which is unbelievable.

Paul: How did that happen? We're thrilled that we were recognized and it was noticed, but we're in the fourth largest city in the United States. We have yet to begin. It's wonderful to be recognized, it's great, but boy, we have so much more to do, and that means the opportunities, and obligations, are enormous, and so it's great. But you know, still, most people don't even know who we are. I mean it's expanding, but that's good news. That's not bad news, that's good news.

Russ: Absolutely. When you kind of look back over the years, where you started this initiative, and I know you have quite a few success stories in your background, this one is probably a little unique. I would assume this is the only non-profit one that you have in your background.

Paul: Yes, it is the only one, other than when I was a boy doing paper drives and doing lemonade stands, but my only professional not-for-profit. But I think, in a lot of ways, once I got over the idea there wouldn't be an equity position and there wasn't gonna be anything like that, which that was a new change, I bet have enjoyed this as much or more than any single job I've ever had. Working with all of these, for the most part, bright, young minds. There are a lot of people that are old, like yours truly, that are doing some of these things. They're young at heart, young at mind. But working with all of these young people with their enthusiasm and their drive, and all that, that's just neat. I love it, and I love being the smallest, teeny-weeny part of any success they might have.

Russ: Well, you're a huge part, though, of the whole initiative, and, Paul, you just have to feel great about the difference in this and a startup is that this like pulling a train. Man, it's a long-haul thing, and where the center is today compared the startup, you have to be just enormously proud of that.

Paul: Thank you very much for any recognition of me about that, but I am very, very pleased and proud, and I really am sincere. It's not just any words that I'm saying. We have so much more to do. I'm just tickled that we've been able to do as much, and the reason is we've been able to engage so many people in this great fourth largest city in the United States. It's just wonderful all the people that give time, give their expertise, give their background, volunteer the hours and time, let alone their financial assistance, because, as you know, we don't have any funding, per se. We're not backed by the federal government, the city, by a university; by anything you could name. It's by the people in this city and the companies that work with us, and all of those great things, but it's a lot of fun.

Russ: Well, Paul, thanks for giving us some of your time.

Paul: Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Russ: You bet.

Paul: Thanks for being here.

Russ: You bet. That's Paul Frison, the founding CEO of the Houston Technology Center, the center that, once again, Forbes rated as being in the top ten incubators changing the world. You're listening to The BusinessMakers show, heard here and online at thebusinessmakers.com.