Houston works at Cannon Financial Institute, where he serves clients across the country in the financial industry. Houston also consults with Lighthouse Counsel, a local company that partners with nonprofits to increase mission awareness, organizational effectiveness and philanthropic support.

A third-generation Athenian, Gaines graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Terry College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Houston served as student body president.

Houston is a proud member of the Athens Rotary Club and previously served on the Envision Athens Steering Committee, Junior League of Athens Community Advisory Board, LEAD Athens Alumni Association Board of Directors and multiple K-12 and University of Georgia boards. He is a LEAD Athens and Zell Miller Foundation Leadership Institute graduate.