Eden Autism is pleased to announce four new members to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2026. Denis Boyle, Constance Mercer Myers, Paul Prior, and Robert Rich join seventeen other board members to provide Eden with guidance, leadership, and strategic counsel.
“We are very happy and proud to welcome four accomplished individuals to our Board of Trustees. Their expertise and shared commitment will strengthen and further our mission to improve the lives of individuals with autism,” said Eden Autism President & CEO Michael Decker.
After more than 20 years of experience in tech, banking, and venture capital, Dennis (Denny) Boyle provides executive and leadership coaching for a range of fields, from high-growth startups to established banks and investment firms. He is a co-founder of Here Now, an online community for parents and caretakers of children on the spectrum. Denny’s 13-year-old son, Andrew, has attended the Eden School since 2020.
Connie Mercer Myers is the founder and was the CEO for thirty-one years of HomeFront, one of NJ’s most innovative and largest providers of shelter and rehabilitative services for families in crisis. She has been inducted into NJ’s Hall of Fame for her work on homelessness and economic development, has been honored at the White House and in 2021 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Princeton University.
Paul Prior is a Partner with the firm Hinkle, Prior, Fischer & Oberweis Attorneys at Law. Paul has spent his entire career representing people with disabilities. As the younger brother of a long-served participant at Eden, he has a life-long commitment to disability law. His legal work has focused on special education, guardianship, financial entitlements, and access to appropriate services. A substantial part of his practice is devoted to assisting families in estate and trust matters. He has successfully argued leading cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court, Third Court of Appeals, as well as other state and federal courts. Paul served as a federal monitor overseeing conditions at state operated institutions.
Paul holds a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Arc of New Jersey, and Autism New Jersey. Previously he served on the Board of Special Olympics New Jersey. He is a member of the Family Advisory Committee for the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey, on the Professional Advisory Board of ASPEN, and a member of the Elder Law Section of the New Jersey Bar Association. Paul writes and lectures frequently on topics concerning the law and disability, as well as issues affecting siblings. His brother, David, resides in an Eden group home and participates in the day program. Paul has served as chair of the Eden Board of Trustees and currently serves on Eden’s audit and risk management committee.
Robert (Bob) Rich was a Managing Director and Partner at the PFM Group for over 20 years, the nation’s leading financial and investment advisor to governments and nonprofits entities, serving on key committees such as Strategic Initiative, Risk Management, and Employee Advisory. He has extensive experience in financial transactions, negotiation, and marketing. Bob has been engaged in advocacy work throughout his life and has testified before the New Jersey Legislature regarding autism services and to other state legislatures, and the US Congress on work-related issues. He was awarded Autism NJ’s Action Advocate of the Year in 2006. Bob’s son, Alex, began at Eden 31 years ago and now resides in an Eden apartment and participates in the day program.
In addition to welcoming the new members, Eden would also like to Robert Fava, Claude George, Tara Palamarik, and Frank Piazza for their service on Eden’s board as their terms have ended.