A native of San Antonio, Joella Mach moved to Houston 17 years ago after marrying Steve, who is a 4th generation Houstonian.
Joella currently serves on the executive committee of the Houston Museum of Natural Science board and on the boards of Houston Ballet Foundation, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, and Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. She also sits on the President’s Advisory Board at the University of St. Thomas, and enjoys participating in the National Charity League with her eldest daughter, Priscilla. She is a lifetime member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Houston Symphony League, March of Dimes Guild, Texas Children’s Hospital Ambassadors, and was selected by Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America as a 2014 ABC-13 Woman of Distinction.
Beyond board assignments, she has taken on various roles in fundraising events in recent years, including as Couture co-chair for Reflections on Style Luncheon benefiting the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Co-chair of the Nutcracker Market Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon for Houston Ballet, and Co-chair of Magical Musical Morning for Houston Symphony.
Joella and Steve co-chaired the Symphony’s Centennial Ball with his parents, Cora Sue and Harry Mach. They are chairing the 2015 Crime Stoppers Gala and the 2016 Houston Museum of Natural Science Ball.
Steve presently serves as President of Houston Symphony’s Board of Trustees and was appointed in 2013 by Governor Rick Perry as a Commissioner for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He is also a trustee and serves on the executive committees of the boards of Trinity University and the Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas. Steve is a member of the Steering Committee for Men of Distinction of Greater Houston and has chaired the boards of Family Services of Greater Houston and the Houston Symphony Endowment. He recently completed a 6-year term as a Trustee for River Oaks Baptist School, where he also served as Chair of the school’s successful $22-million endowment campaign.
Joella and Steve have three children, Priscilla, Bennett, and Evelyn, who all attend River Oaks Baptist School.