Bell
Eden Autism Services named Pennington resident Peter H. Bell its new president and CEO.
Bell’s appointment is set to begin Feb. 1, when current president and CEO Thomas P. McCool retires from the post he has held for eight years.
For over a decade, Bell, who is the father of a 20-year old son with autism, has been a leader and compassionate voice within the autism community.
As executive vice president for Programs and Services of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, he founded and directed all activities of the Government Relations and Family Services departments for six and a half years and played a pivotal role in establishing the Autism Treatment Network.
From 2004 to 2007, Bell served as president and CEO of Cure Autism Now. His notable contributions while at CAN included passage of the federal Combating Autism Act of 2006. Bell championed CAN’s merger with Autism Speaks and served a valuable role in the integration of the two organizations.
Bell has also represented the autism community by fulfilling a White House appointment as a citizen member to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, chairing the Consumer Advisory Committee of the International Society for Autism Research and serving as chair/vice chair of the Autism Research Program for the Department of Defense.
Bell replaces McCool, who expanded school and adult services enrollment, strengthened the organization’s operations and earned income opportunities, and led the effort to fund and build a model education and outreach center during his tenure at Eden.
“It’s been a privilege to work with Eden’s remarkable staff. I am proud of the work that we have accomplished in partnership with the Eden Board of Trustees and our families,” McCool said in a statement. “Peter’s expertise and experience will help ensure our efforts continue to bring real benefit for individuals with autism and their families.”
Bell, 49, earned a Bachelors of Science from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He and his wife Liz live in Pennington with their three children.
