OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Joe Arthur, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Joe Arthur was appointed Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in 2012, after serving four years as Associate Director. Joe also served as a volunteer Board Member with the Food Bank from 2000 through 2005 and served as Board President in 2004 and 2005. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Joe worked for 23 years in finance and accounting management, primarily with Pennsylvania community banks.  

 As the Food Bank’s principal ambassador, Joe presents regularly on the issue of hunger in Pennsylvania and nationally to community groups, legislative gatherings, government partners, prospective donor organizations, and other forums. He is a leader in anti-hunger work through his engagement as a Board Member for Feeding Pennsylvania, Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, and First Fruits Farm. Joe also is a leader in Hunger-Free Lancaster County and a non-profit representative on the Board of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber. Past leadership roles include his service as a national council representative with Feeding America (2016 – 2022) and as a member of the Governor’s Food Security Partnership (2014 – 2022). Joe is a proud alumnus of Penn State University, holding a B.S. degree in accounting.

Joe and his wife Deb are the proud parents of Josh and Tara, also Penn Staters, and share their home with three rescued furry friends in Manheim, Lancaster County, PA. 

Shila Ulrich, President

Shila Williams Ulrich served as the Executive Director for The Caring Cupboard, a choice food pantry aiding the Palmyra, Annville, and Cleona areas before joining the Food Bank team. In 2023, Shila led the effort to assume JOY food pantry in Jonestown.

Shila is passionate about building strong communities through collaboration and has worked in many capacities to realize this vision. She served on the board of Palmyra Interfaith Manor, where she was chair, and on the Lebanon County Housing Authority board. Additionally, she served on the Better Together Lebanon County steering committee for several years and worked on the Healthy Food Access Committee which she previously co-chaired. Along with several other community members, Shila founded Palmyra’s Great Give which has raised more than $200,000 for more than 50 community organizations in 6 years.

Shila was inducted into the Lebanon County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 in the category of Women Demonstrating Leadership. Under Shila’s leadership, The Caring Cupboard was named Partner of the Year Runner-Up in 2018 by Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. She was honored to receive an Alumni Citation this fall from LVC for her work in the community in 2022.

Before employment at The Caring Cupboard, Shila served as a volunteer for 9 years in various capacities. Shila spent the first decade of her career working in community mental health settings, including outpatient and inpatient. Shila earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Lebanon Valley College, holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University, and a Certificate of Non-Profit Leadership from Duke University.

She lives in Palmyra with her husband, Derek and two sons, Noah and Lucas.