Eden Autism Services, 2 Merwick Road, Princeton 08540. 609-987-0099. Jennifer Bizub, interim executive director. www.edenservices.org.
Peter Bell, president and CEO of Eden Autism Services since 2014, is stepping down as of April 30 to pursue another job outside of New Jersey. The nonprofit group has appointed Jennifer Bizub, Eden’s chief operating officer, as interim executive director, until a replacement is found.
“Under Peter’s leadership, Eden made significant headway in executing our strategic plan, expanding our residential program; positioning Eden as a leader in the new fee-for-service funding model; expediting capital improvements to residential and day facilities; and securing numerous new job placements for the individuals Eden serves,” said Patrick Tadie, chair of Eden’s board. During Peter’s tenure, Eden also received two of its largest contributions leaving our endowment on very solid footing.”
Bell said it was an honor to have worked at Eden. “I am very proud of our accomplishments on behalf of our families and employees in pursuit of our mission to improve the lives of individuals with autism. I have no doubt that Eden will continue to be a force in the autism community and a beacon of hope for member families,” he said.
Eden provides services for individuals with autism. Its Eden School provides a 12-month education program for ages 3 to 21. Eden Adult Services provides support to individuals as they age out of school yet require continued support. Eden Outreach provides early intervention therapy, professional development, and consultations.
WWFM-The Classical Network, Mercer Community College, Box B, Trenton 08690. 609-587-8989. www.wwfm.org.
Peter Fretwell, general manager of the Mercer County Community College-based WWFM/89.1, is stepping down after a decade leading the station, which is the flagship of the Classical Network of regional broadcasters. He is leaving to become general manager for KHSU Aarcata, a network of radio stations owned by Humboldt State University in California.
Fretwell became head of WWFM at a time when it was the only station of its kind between New York and Washington D.C., and could rely on the steady support of a donor base. But soon after he took over, the Great Recession hit, and donations dropped off. He had to scramble to find new ways to keep the network on the air, including fundraisers, benefit concerts, and reaching out to online listeners. (U.S. 1, June 3, 2009.)
He oversaw an aggressive expansion of the network that saw it claim a foothold in New York and a potential 20 million listeners by partnering with Columbia University’s WKCR-FM. (U.S. 1, September 14, 2011.)
By moving to the West Coast, Fretwell is returning to his roots. He grew up in Washington State with a father who was a minister and factory worker, and cut his teeth in radio while earning a bachelor’s in organizational management at John Brown University in Arkansas. He later earned an MBA from Amberton in Garland, Texas, where he worked on nonprofit radio management and leadership issues.
When he heard about a job opening in Trenton, he moved east with his wife, Becky, and daughter, Debbie. Tom Taylor, a trade journalist who writes a daily newsletter about the radio industry, credits Fretwell with creating much of WWFM’s local music programming, drawing from Westminster Choir College and other regional groups.
