Rob Nicolella, a seasoned administrator at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, has been named the agency’s executive director.

For the past 18 years, Nicolella, of Boyertown, served as the Catholic Charities county administrator, managing government grants and supervising programs such as soup kitchens, adult daycare, community support, and veterans and immigration services.

“Catholic Charities has built a positive reputation as a key community service provider in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties,” Nicolella said.

“Our goal is to continue to expand our reach and our services to those in need throughout the Diocese of Allentown.”

Before joining Catholic Charities, Nicolella was community services manager for the county of Chester.

His previous experience also includes serving as mental health coordinator for Northwestern Human Services, Lansdale; social work supervisor for the Salvation Army, Norristown; and consultant for the Department of Human Services, Philadelphia.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and his master’s degree in social work from Temple University, Philadelphia.

Catholic Charities is a nonprofit social service agency caring for needy people in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties, regardless of their religious affiliation. Among its services are feeding the hungry, helping veterans in danger of becoming homeless, counseling families and students, caring for the elderly, and offering service for pregnant women in need of support.