Editor's note: February has wrapped up with several top stories of Houston innovation, from a new innovative process at the airport and top workplaces in Houston to new medical facilities rising in the Texas Medical Center.
3 Houston innovators to know this week
Alex Robart, Lindsay Huelse, and Joel Cowley are this week's Houston innovators to know. Courtesy photos
This week's roundup of Houston innovators couldn't be more varied. Among the movers and shakers in tech in Houston are a serial energy tech entrepreneur, a fitness leader taking her empire mobile, and the leader of a decades old organization looking for the technology of the future. Continue reading.
These are the events to attend each day during the Houston Tech Rodeo
Houston is hosting a bit of a tech takeover week during the first week of March. Photo by Zview/Getty Images
Houston Exponential has tapped into the Houston innovation ecosystem to coordinate a week of events to speak to the city's startups, investors, and startup development organizations.
The week, called the Houston Tech Rodeo, will take place March 2 to 6 — in coordination with the start of the Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo — all across town. From panels and meetups to office hours and pitch events, there's a lot to navigate in the inaugural week. For a complete list of Tech Rodeo events (most of which are free and all over town), head to the website.
Here are the events you should make sure not to miss. Each featured event is free and open to the public.Continue reading.
Texas A&M University reveals plans for $546M medical complex in Houston
Texas A&M University is planning a three-building project to bring parking, housing, retail, and more to the Texas Medical Center. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University has announced a new three-building project in the Texas Medical Center that will bring a renovated space for its Engineering Medicine program, student housing, parking, retail, and more.
The $546 million complex will be funded in part by a public-private partnership, according to a news release from the university. The project includes one 18-story building to be purchased and renovated for $145 million, and an additional $401 million will go toward constructing two new buildings. Continue reading.
3 Houston employers clock in among Fortune's 100 best companies to work
Three Houston companies have been recognized for their superior work environments. Getty Images
Hunting for a job in Houston? A new ranking from Fortune magazine suggests you might consider three local companies.
Camden Property Trust, David Weekley Homes, and Hilcorp Energy Co. all rank on Fortune's 2020 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, published February 18.
Fortune bases its annual list of the best workplaces on a nationwide study done by analytics firm Great Place to Work. This time around, the study featured input from more than 4.1 million U.S. workers who responded to over 60 survey questions. Continue reading.
Houston airport first in Texas to be selected for facial recognition program
Hobby Airport was one of five airports selected nationally to use a new facial recognition software. Image via fly2houston.com
International travelers coming in and out of Hobby Airport are being processed now completely with facial recognition as of last week. The technology is expected to shorten wait times and streamline safety.
"Hobby Airport has taken a big leap into the future of travel," Houston Aviation Director Mario Diaz says in a news release.
Houston was one of the five airports picked by Homeland Security — and the only in Texas — to have Simplified Arrivals, a full biometric entry and exit for international passengers going through United States Customs and Border Protection inspection checkpoints. Continue reading.