Dallas, October 25, 2025
News Summary
Ross Perot Jr. has been named the first recipient of the Legacy of Innovation Award at the seventh annual Innovation Awards program, honoring innovation in North Texas. A total of 80 finalists have been announced for the 2026 Innovation Awards, showcasing diverse sectors that include healthcare, real estate, and logistics. All finalists will be recognized in upcoming publications, while the winners will be revealed at a special celebration.
Dallas
Ross Perot Jr. named inaugural Legacy of Innovation Award recipient; 80 finalists announced for 2026 Innovation Awards
Ross Perot Jr. has been awarded the inaugural Legacy of Innovation Award as part of the seventh annual Innovation Awards program celebrating innovation across North Texas. Organizers D CEO and Dallas Innovates have also announced a total of 80 finalists for the Innovation Awards 2026, representing companies, CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping the region.
Key event details and timeline
All finalists will be recognized in the January/February issue of D CEO magazine and online at DallasInnovates.com. Winners will be revealed at a private awards celebration in January 2026. The awards program seeks to highlight the transformative impact of innovation across multiple industries in North Texas.
Why Ross Perot Jr. was honored
This year’s program introduces the Legacy of Innovation Award, with Ross Perot Jr. as its first recipient. Ross Perot Jr. is the founder and chairman of Hillwood, a respected real estate development firm established in 1988. Over four decades, Perot has transformed the economic landscape of North Texas and positioned it as a global model for development.
Hillwood built the country’s first purely industrial airport, which laid the groundwork for AllianceTexas. AllianceTexas spans 27,000 acres and has generated over $130 billion in regional economic impact, creating 66,000 jobs. The site has become a hub for innovation in autonomous vehicles, mobility, and logistics technologies. Recent milestones at AllianceTexas include a rare-earth magnet plant built by MP Materials and Texas’s largest film studio, established through collaboration with Taylor Sheridan.
Perot has led other key projects such as Victory Park in Dallas and Circle T Ranch in Westlake. His residential development arm, Hillwood Communities, has helped create over 40,000 home lots across North Texas.
Finalists and sectors represented
A total of 80 finalists for the Innovation Awards 2026 have been announced, showcasing diverse sectors and innovations. Notable finalists include:
- Logan Fisher (JustPark)
- Chitra Herle (GM Financial)
- Albert Karam (Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation)
- Michael Welch (Aligned Data Centers)
- Nicholas Whitney (MTX Group)
- Charlie Calise (Imaginuity)
- John Carona (Associa)
- Chakri Gottemukkala (o9 Solutions)
- Lindsey Tyra (Children’s Health)
- Devin Charhon (Blue Jeans Golf)
- Rayyan Islam (8090 Industries)
- Tejasvi Mano (Shield Seniors)
- Suresh Narayanan (Jets MRO)
- Conor Butts (hōm neuro)
- Calvin Carter (Matic)
Other finalists represent leading companies such as AT&T, Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, and Baylor Scott & White Health. The finalists span industries including real estate development, healthcare, logistics, data centers, senior care, advanced manufacturing, mobility technologies, and entertainment production.
Program purpose and impact
The Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize leadership and technological progress that contribute to North Texas’s emergence as a national innovation hub. Finalists were selected to represent a range of business sizes and stages, from startups to established corporations, reflecting cross-sector collaboration and regional economic development.
What happens next
All finalists will be recognized in the January/February issue of D CEO magazine and online at DallasInnovates.com, and winners will be revealed at a private awards celebration in January 2026. The awards and recognition aim to draw attention to projects and leaders driving measurable regional impact.
FAQ
Who received the new Legacy of Innovation Award?
This year’s program introduces the Legacy of Innovation Award, with Ross Perot Jr. as its first recipient.
How many finalists were announced?
A total of 80 finalists for the Innovation Awards 2026 have been announced, showcasing diverse sectors and innovations.
How will finalists be recognized?
All finalists will be recognized in the January/February issue of D CEO magazine and online at DallasInnovates.com.
When will winners be revealed?
Winners will be revealed at a private awards celebration in January 2026.
What is Hillwood and when was it established?
Ross Perot Jr. is the founder and chairman of Hillwood, a respected real estate development firm established in 1988.
What role did Hillwood play in AllianceTexas?
Hillwood built the country’s first purely industrial airport, which laid the groundwork for AllianceTexas.
What are AllianceTexas’s scale and impact?
AllianceTexas spans 27,000 acres and has generated over $130 billion in regional economic impact, creating 66,000 jobs.
What recent milestones have occurred at AllianceTexas?
Recent milestones at AllianceTexas include a rare-earth magnet plant built by MP Materials and Texas’s largest film studio, established through collaboration with Taylor Sheridan.
Key details at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | Innovation Awards 2026 (seventh annual) |
| New award | Legacy of Innovation Award — Ross Perot Jr. as its first recipient |
| Finalists announced | A total of 80 finalists for the Innovation Awards 2026 have been announced, showcasing diverse sectors and innovations |
| Finalist recognition | All finalists will be recognized in the January/February issue of D CEO magazine and online at DallasInnovates.com |
| Winners revealed | Winners will be revealed at a private awards celebration in January 2026 |
| Hillwood founding | Ross Perot Jr. is the founder and chairman of Hillwood, a respected real estate development firm established in 1988 |
| AllianceTexas scale | AllianceTexas spans 27,000 acres and has generated over $130 billion in regional economic impact, creating 66,000 jobs |
| Recent AllianceTexas milestones | Recent milestones at AllianceTexas include a rare-earth magnet plant built by MP Materials and Texas’s largest film studio, established through collaboration with Taylor Sheridan |
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Additional Resources
- Dallas Innovates: 80 finalists announced for 2026 Innovation Awards
- D Magazine: Finalists announced for the Innovation Awards 2026
- North Dallas Gazette: Dallas College wins National Technology Pioneer Award
- PR Newswire: Integrity leader recognized as CTO of the Year
- Wikipedia: Ross Perot Jr.
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