Meet Michelle
Michelle Bouchard, a life-long Republican born in Liberty, Texas, is no stranger to hard jobs. For decades, she juggled big projects, big personalities, and big checkbooks to accomplish the nearly impossible, and enjoyed doing it.
For fourteen years, Michelle served as the President of HealthCorps, a national non-profit with evidence-based programs focused on building mental and physical strength in teenagers. Working closely with founder Dr. Mehmet Oz, currently President Trump’s appointed Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, she scaled a two-state project into twenty-three states, improving the resilience and grit of more than 2.5 million high school students. In addition to meeting all the other demands of that job, Michelle raised more than $70 million to keep the mission thriving in places like Sharpstown High School, Jack Yates High School, Lamar High School as well as high schools within the Chickasaw Nation.
Michelle managed multi-million dollar budgets, forged unlikely partnerships, including Fortune 500 companies all the way to the CDC, and persuaded a room full of government officials to agree on something, an event as rare as snow in July.
Michelle’s career includes political campaigns, government redevelopment projects, and community activism. She served as VP of Finance & Administration of Governor’s Island, New York, appointed by then-governor George Pataki, where she oversaw first 4 years of Operating/Capital Budgets ($123 million) and funding agreements with City and State for the public benefit corporation subsidiary. She was a candidate for public office in New York during 9-11, endorsed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani, and George Pataki, and won a historic vote in an impossible race, proving she can bridge chasms as wide as Big Bend's canyons.
At home in Houston, Michelle is an active Republican Precinct Chair, a co-founder of Red Riders Houston, a board member of North Montrose Civic Association, a member of Magic Circle Republican Women’s Club, Greater Houston Pachyderm Clubs, Northwest Women’s Republican Club (associate), St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, and Lady Washington Chapter DAR. She is a former board member of Log Cabin Republicans of Houston and The Hobby Center for Public Policy (University of Houston) and a co-founder of SaveMontroseLiveOaks. She also co-founded The Alta Arts, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to furthering culture and the arts in Gulfton and Sharpstown.
Michelle is blessed with a twenty-one-year-old daughter, a thirty-five-year-old son, a twenty-year-old cat who runs the household, and an eight-year partnership with the best man she’s ever known. Michelle is a proud, eighth-generation Texan and direct descendent of Joseph Hyland, an early Texas Ranger who fought at San Jacinto, and the Reverend John Haynie, first chaplain of the Republic of Texas. She knows the difference between “barbeque” and “just grilled meat.” She says “y’all” three ways and knows which one is the right “y’all” for every occasion.
 On Fox26 discussing the impact of HealthCorps programs in Houston-area schools. |  Training with the Marines at Camp Pendleton During JCOC (Joint Civilian Orientation Conference) after she was nominated by the Secretary of Defense. |  Campaigning for local Republican candidates. |  Michelle receiving Mayor Rudy Giuliani's endorsement when she ran for NY City Council during 9/11. |
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 With Dr. Oz at HealthCorps Gala where we netted over $1.2 million. |  Celebrating Easter with partner and daughter. |  Michelle with her son during Christmas. There were always pets in the house. |