Krista Fiser has been appointed chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Community Services, the nonprofit announced Tuesday. She will assume the role June 2, succeeding Petra Linden, who led the organization for nearly three years.
Fiser previously served as CEO of PREVAIL, formerly Women’s Center–Youth & Family Services, where she led the launch of 10 programs focused on youth homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking. During her tenure, the organization expanded services, diversified funding and gained recognition for trauma-informed, housing-focused care, according to a May 13 press release from St. Mary’s.
Fiser holds a bachelor’s degree in health science from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management from the University of San Diego. She is a member of the Business Council of San Joaquin County and has participated in regional coalitions related to homelessness and victim services, serving as the chair of the San Joaquin Continuum of Care (SJCoC), a collaborative body that coordinates efforts to address homelessness in the region.
As part of that role, Fiser contributed to the development of the 2024 Regional Homeless Action Plan, which outlines strategies to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring in the county.
According to Board President Danielle Mondo, Fiser was chosen for her record of leading community-based nonprofits through periods of growth and transition.
“Her leadership at PREVAIL and her deep understanding of complex social issues make her well suited to guide St. Mary’s through its next chapter,” Mondo said in the press release.
According to the organization’s website, St. Mary’s offers services that address both immediate needs and long-term stability, including meals, shelter, case management, medical and dental care, and legal assistance. Staff aim to help guests transition into permanent housing and healthier lives.
As CEO, Fiser will oversee strategy, program effectiveness and internal operations. Her responsibilities include strengthening infrastructure and staff capacity following the 2023 merger.
In 2023, St. Mary’s assumed operations of the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless to prevent its closure. The merger was supported by $11 million in public funding and aimed to integrate services, expand shelter capacity and avoid disruptions in care. According to Chief Operating Officer Patricia Collier, the combined campus now provides shelter for up to 207 people across multiple facilities, with access to case management, medical care, and housing navigation services.
Fiser said to Stocktonia her focus will be on continuing this momentum while refining programs to better address the full continuum of care. “We’re assessing the needs of those we serve, refining what self-sustainability looks like, and developing more thoughtful and tailored approaches,” she said.
Collier said two major projects are slated to open this year: the Zeiter Navigation Center, which will shelter up to 17 families, and the Pathways Neighborhood, a 202-room low-barrier emergency shelter that includes recuperative care beds and transitional housing. The new capacity will allow the organization to serve an additional 300 individuals.
St. Mary’s is aligning its operations with the Regional Homeless Action Plan through participation in the Continuum of Care and partnerships with CalTrans, behavioral health services and other local agencies. According to Collier, staff work directly with encampments and unhoused individuals to connect them with services and housing options.
The organization uses a range of metrics to evaluate impact, including shelter occupancy, number of individuals served and housing placements. Under Fiser’s leadership, new outcome pillars will be introduced, focusing on stable housing, employment, wellness and long-term support, Collier said.
Public open houses are planned later this year for the Zeiter and Pathways projects to increase community engagement and awareness, according to St. Mary’s leadership.
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