Welcome From The Co-Founders
Mitch Possinger
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, CULINESSE
Mitch Possinger, co-founder and managing partner at Culinesse, is a long-tenured hospitality leader in the senior living, healthcare, hotel, and commercial restaurant segments.
A graduate of Muhlenberg College (B.A.) and Lehigh University (MBA), Mitch began his foodservice career as a teenager working for a family-owned dairy and food vending company in the Poconos. After serving as his college fraternity’s steward at Muhlenberg, he joined ARA Services, advancing to regional sales manager and later to executive vice president of operations at The Wood Company.
In 1996, Mitch founded Cura Hospitality, a Pennsylvania-based provider of dining services for senior living and acute care organizations, recognized as a Top 50 Contract Company by Food Management. He later assisted in the founding of Parkhurst Dining Services, part of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group. In 2015, Cura became part of Elior North America, where Mitch helped strengthen operational excellence and expand community impact.
A committed volunteer and leader, Mitch has served on the boards of Phoebe Ministries, the Presbyterian SeniorCare Foundation, and numerous other nonprofit and educational institutions. His contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the Phoebe Ministries Deaconess Award, the Grant Harrity Award for Exemplary Service to the Aging, the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Corporation of the Year, and the ELCA NEPS “Love in Action” Award.
Previously, Mitch served on the boards of Muhlenberg College, The Highlands of Wyomissing, Diakon Social Ministries, Philadelphia and Gettysburg Seminaries, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, and A’viands Food and Service Management. He currently serves on the boards of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Three Oaks Senior Dining, and Culinesse.
Mitch is married to The Rev. Jami Possinger, an ordained minister serving a parish in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania. They are the proud parents of three and grandparents of five, residing in Paupack, Pennsylvania.
LISA SCHAIRER, MBA, RDN
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, CULINESSE
Lisa Schairer, co-founder and managing partner at Culinesse, is a respected executive with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and senior living dining services. Her career combines clinical expertise as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with advanced leadership roles in large-scale food and hospitality operations.
A graduate of Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Lisa completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Iowa, earning her RDN credential in 2002. She later earned her MBA in Organizational Leadership from Aurora University, followed by advanced executive education at the Kellogg School of Management, where she strengthened her expertise in strategic operations and leadership innovation.
Lisa began her career in hospital-based nutrition and foodservice management, gaining firsthand experience in how quality dining influences healing, satisfaction, and well-being. She later joined Cura Hospitality, a member of Elior North America, where she rose to serve as President and Managing Director. In this role, she led a multi-state portfolio of senior living and healthcare accounts, guiding teams to achieve operational excellence, technology integration, and sustainable growth.
At Culinesse, Lisa provides leadership in culinary innovation, organizational strategy, and client partnership. With a people-first approach, she works closely with operations teams to enhance efficiency, strengthen workplace culture, and identify opportunities for cost savings while delivering dining experiences that nourish the body, mind, and spirit.
Lisa serves on the boards of directors of Three Oaks Senior Dining and Culinesse.
Lisa resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Gavin, and their two children.
