Allentown, PA-based Phoebe Ministries has appointed Robert Richards, CPA, to executive vice president and chief operating officer. The skilled nursing and senior living organization also appointed Thomas Baer, CPA, senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer.
Lisa Fichera retired from the organization in December after 43 years of service. That move triggered the latest appointments.
As the new COO of Phoebe Ministries, Richards is responsible for the overall management of healthcare services, pharmacy services operations, marketing, human resources and affordable housing operations. Richards also serves as a staff liaison to Phoebe’s governing board and board committees. He is a member of the subscriber committee for the Phoebe Reciprocal Risk Retention Group.
Phoebe Ministries hired Richards in 2015 as senior vice president of finance and promoted him to CFO in 2017. Previously, Richards was a vice president at Good Samaritan Health System and Montgomery Hospital, both in Pennsylvania.
He graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, formerly Philadelphia University, with a bachelor of science in accounting.
Baer, the new CFO, oversees the billing and revenue cycle department. He is responsible for directing the finance, contract services and information technology departments. Additionally, he serves as a staff liaison to Phoebe’s Governing Board and works closely with the audit, finance and investment committee. He is a member of the subscriber committee for the Phoebe Reciprocal Risk Retention Group.
Hired by Phoebe Ministries in 2007 as the corporate controller, Baer was promoted to executive director of finance in 2014. He previously worked for tax and accounting firm Campbell, Rappold, and Yurasits, LLP. He earned a bachelor degree in accounting from Shippensburg University.
