10th Annual Cougar 100 Honors Hines College Alumni

Decade-long tradition spotlights UH's top alumni owned and operated companies

By Stephen Schad

On February 27th, the University of Houston and the University of Houston Alumni Association gathered on campus at the Moores Opera House for a milestone year honoring UH's fastest-growing alumni-owned and operated business. The 10th annual Cougar 100 Awards recognized exemplary Cougar-run businesses and connected alumni from around Houston, supporting the idea that "Cougars should be doing business with Cougars." 

Every year, companies are ranked by the percentage of compound annual growth in sales or revenue across three years with gross revenues above $250,000 and having been in business for five years or more. Those companies showing advancement and success make it into the top Cougar 100.

Alumni from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design took their place in the Cougar 100 again this year. For a complete listing of this year's Cougar 100 recipients, visit the University of Houston Alumni Association. Hines College alumni recipients are highlighted below. 

 

2024 Cougar 100
UH Hines College Alumni Recipients

#13 Aria Signs & Design, LLC
Shaya Attaei (B.Arch. ’13, M.Arch. ’15), Owner
Aria Signs is one of the fastest-growing signage companies in the city of Houston. The company designs, fabricates, and installs interior and exterior signage for major leading companies such as retail stores, restaurants, hospitals, shopping centers, and stadiums.

#34 H4 Architects and Engineers, LLC
Allan Hensley (’03, M.Arch. ’04), Owner
Sherie Hensley (’98), Owner
H4 Architects and Engineers provides full-service architecture and MEP engineering. They strive to exceed client expectations and develop long-lasting relationships.

#55 SMC Landscaping Services
Sonia Chavez ('02), Owner
Lupe Gonzalez ('00), Project Manager
SMC Landscape Services serves the greater Houston area. They provide full-service landscape maintenance for commercial and residential properties. Their personalized services include maintenance, as well as enhancement of your property. They focus on being good environmental stewards and helping their customers conserve their natural resources. They understand the importance of water conservation and keep this in mind when selecting plants and trees that thrive in our native landscape.

#79 Element Architects, LLC
Michael Graham (B.Arch. ’99), Owner
Element Architects is a growing Texas-based firm specializing in architecture and interiors. Their talented team has extensive experience in the education, multifamily, active adult, healthcare, mixed-use, and retail industries. EA strives to provide exceptional design services with a lasting positive impact.

#83 PhiloWilke Partnership
Steven Schultz (B.Arch. ’80), Owner
In 1985, Roger Philo and Dana Wilke created PhiloWilke Partnership, a firm with the specific expertise to react efficiently to the complex research and medical design needs of institutional, system, and academic clientele. Dedicated exclusively to you and your communities, the firm specializes in responsive design for technologically complex, interconnected healthcare and health science environments. Their design philosophy drives a process valuing collaboration, practical design, and strategic consensus-building to help their clients achieve their goals.