Lisa Fichera, Phoebe Ministries COO, Retires After 43 Years of Service

Lisa Fichera, chief operating officer of Phoebe Ministries,based in Allentown, Pa., retired at the end of December after 43 years of dedicated service to the seniors of Eastern Pennsylvania. Fichera was hired in 1978 by Phoebe Ministries, known then as Phoebe Home. She started her career in an entry-level position in human resources, and later served in various HR roles, including director of human resources and vice president of human resources. In 1999, Fichera was promoted to senior vice president, Administration, and later became executive vice president, administration and health care services. In 2011, she was appointed to executive vice president, chief operating officer.

At the time of her hire in 1978, Phoebe served 235 seniors in its Allentown Health Care Center and provided 131 affordable apartment units in the nearby Phoebe Apartments. During Fichera’s instrumental tenure, Phoebe has grown to encompass four continuing care communities, eight affordable housing locations, three pharmacies, and several other community-based services. 

Born in Iowa, Fichera’s family moved to Pennsylvania in the 1960s. She moved to Allentown in 1978 after graduating from Salem University in West Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in public administration. Fichera has served on the Board of Directors of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches and as a member of the Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services Advisory Council. She is a member of the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries United Church of Christ, and LeadingAge PA. Guided by her desire to be a servant leader, Fichera entered the Faith Based Leadership Institute of the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries United Church of Christ, predecessor to CHHSM’s Nollau Leadership Institute, and was consecrated as a Diakonal Minister in 2009. In 2015, Fichera was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence Awards program.

When interviewed in 2016 as a “Lehigh Valley Mover and Shaker” by the daily paper The Morning Call, Fichera spoke about her parents as influencers in considering a “career in helping others.”

“I witnessed the rewards they found in their careers as teachers, and when I started working at Phoebe 37 years ago, I learned quickly the profound impact our services have in supporting fullness of life for our residents and their families,” said Fichera. 

“Lisa Fichera has been a tremendous asset to our ministry,” says Scott Stevenson, president & CEO of Phoebe Ministries. “She’s comfortable leading or being a member of the team, and is always selfless in her approach. Her transition is a huge loss for Phoebe.”

To thank Fichera for her extraordinary service, retirement celebrations were held on all four Phoebe campuses as well as at Jordan UCC in Allentown.