Fellowship Community names new leader

Fellowship Community of Whitehall Township named Mary Kay McMahon, a local health care leader, as the organization’s new president and CEO. McMahon previously served as the senior vice president of health care services with Phoebe Ministries of Allentown.

She assumed her new role on Monday, taking over for Robert Erland, interim president and CEO and chairperson of the board of directors of Fellowship Community.

Robert Zentz, 81, had served as the leader of the organization for more than 22 years and retired in the summer because of health concerns. Zentz passed away in October.

McMahon said she is looking to build upon and expand the organization.

At Fellowship Community, McMahon oversees an organization that has 360 employees and about 500 residents.

The health care campus provides Christ-centered care for seniors and includes independent living and townhouses, along with services for personal care, nursing care and memory care.

“I looked at it as a fantastic career opportunity for me,” McMahon said. “It was opportunity to lead what I believe and feel is a great organization.”

She said she served at Phoebe Ministries for 23 years and is looking forward to serving more seniors in need at Fellowship Community.

McMahon said she would also like to see if there’s a way to change how to serve the new generation of seniors.

“I think baby boomers have higher expectations than the silent generation,” McMahon said. “I think affordability is one of them, especially for independent living.”

These seniors also have concerns about what amenities, activities and dining options are available, she added.

Aside from providing leadership, she is looking to work with people within the organization and the larger community to design and develop a business strategy for expanding the services Fellowship Community provides.

“I absolutely enjoy everything about what I do,” McMahon said. “I have a tremendous opportunity. I love the people that I get to work with, the various departments that I oversee. I love the residents that we serve. I really like the responsibility of that.”

A licensed registered nurse, McMahon also is a licensed nursing home administrator.

She has worked in a number of roles in health care, including as executive director of Phoebe Berks, nursing home administrator and director of nursing of Phoebe Richland and assistant director of nursing at Phoebe Allentown.

McMahon said she began her career with Allentown Osteopathic Hospital as a medical surgical nurse, critical care staff nurse and critical care nurse manager.

She has also earned some statewide recognition for her work in the health care field.

Leading AgePA, a Cumberland County-based trade association for nonprofit aging services, named McMahon Leading AgePA Leader of the Year for 2013. She also serves on several health care boards in addition to the advisory council of Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services.

She received her nursing diploma from Pittston Hospital School of Nursing and earned a bachelor’s degree in health arts and a master’s degree in health services from the College of St. Francis.