ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley is getting ready to welcome a new chief executive officer.

Melanie Kohler will become the nonprofit’s new CEO May 4.

In a news release Wednesday, the organization said Kohler’s initial goals for strengthening the nonprofit are expanding the number of community members served, improving the financial outlook, fostering connections with donors and the community, and increasing volunteer participation.

The nonprofit says Kohler will replace interim CEO Joenel Torrillo, who stepped into the role in August 2025.

“I’m honored to join Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley and build on the strong foundation already in place,” said Kohler.

“This organization plays a vital role in ensuring our neighbors have access to nutritious meals and meaningful connections, and I look forward to working alongside the team, volunteers and community partners to expand that impact.”

Meals on Wheels says Kohler has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in nonprofit management, aging services, and economic development.

During her five-year tenure at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Kohler advanced from chief technology officer to chief transformation officer, where she led an enterprise-wide strategy that drove innovation, entrepreneurship and regional economic growth, according to the news release.

Before that, Kohler launched and led a multi-county aging services program at Phoebe, enabling older adults to age through coordinated care and community-based services, the nonprofit said.

Meals on Wheels says Kohler serves as committee co-chair for the Lehigh Valley Women’s Summit. She also serves on the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley and the DeSales University Forum for Ethics in the Workplace. 

Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley says it will hold a welcoming ceremony for Kohler later this spring. 

“When we started the search for our next CEO, Melanie immediately stood out to us. She brings strategic vision and a wealth of experience in community engagement,” said Bankim Bhatt, board president of Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

“As we enter this new chapter, I’m excited to see how Melanie’s vision and leadership will grow and deepen our impact in the community.”