National Instruments manufactures innovative hardware and software products that outfit computers to control and replace scientific instruments and automate processes in factories and industrial plants. The corporation is an Austin high-tech success story, maintaining an impressive streak of 22 consecutive years of double-digit growth. They now have more than 1,600 employees in 22 direct offices worldwide, with record sales in North America, Europe, and the Asian Pacific. The company experienced $274 million in sales in 1998.

Worth magazine and 100 top Wall Street analysts named National Instruments' CEO, James Truchard, one of the "50 Best CEOs in America." Where did the University of Texas engineer get the idea to start his company?

In his garage.

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