Graham Weston is a native Texan and born entrepreneur. He grew up on a cattle ranch outside San Antonio, where he saw business opportunities in everything around him.

Weston’s first serious business venture was in seventh grade, when he began marketing organic pork. “Go Hog Wild,” read his newspaper ads. His entrepreneurial spirit continued into high school, where he launched a photography business specializing in livestock show photos. That business continued to thrive throughout his college years. Weston graduated from Texas A&M in 1986 with a degree in agri-business.

In the early 1993, at the age of 28, Weston organized and led a group of investors to acquire a 30-story office building in downtown San Antonio. Originally built to be the headquarters for the City’s largest commercial bank, the National Bank of Commerce, it was the largest high-rise in San Antonio. Renamed Weston Centre, today it is owned by Weston and his family and houses some of San Antonio’s best-known businesses.

In 1998 Weston’s interest in the Internet led him to provide venture capital for a business idea pitched by three local Trinity University students; they called it “Rackspace.com.” After six months of rapid growth, Graham joined the enterprise as CEO and remained in this position until 2006 when he became chairman. While serving as CEO, Graham was named a 2006 “Best Boss” by Fortune Small Business magazine and was recognized as regional Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Also under his leadership, Rackspace grew from 11 to 1100 Rackers (employees) and annualized revenue grew from $1m to $100m.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (RAX), today Rackspace is the world’s leader in hosting with over 2500 employees and 2007 revenues of $390 million.

In 2005, he was honored by the City of San Antonio for converting one of his vacant properties into a temporary shelter for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nicknamed the “Hilton of Shelters,” by the Denver Post, it housed more than 2500 people. Graham’s proudest moment was when his fellow Rackers awarded him the most coveted Rackspace honor, the Straightjacket Award, for leading them as they assisted with the Hurricane relief efforts.

Weston is proud to be a champion of innovative ideas and today he continues to act as an advisor and mentor to numerous budding entrepreneurs.