Eden Autism, a leading autism service provider since 1975, is pleased to announce two new members to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2019. These individuals were nominated and elected based on their extraordinary commitment to advancing Eden’s mission.
Scott D. Kent and Jeffrey Vamos, DDiv will join seventeen other board members to provide Eden Autism with strategic council and leadership.
“We are thrilled to have these talented, driven individuals join our Board of Trustees,” said Eden Autism President and CEO Michael Decker. “Their expertise, passion for philanthropy, and community knowledge will be an incredible asset to Eden Autism as we further our mission to improve the lives of individuals with autism.”
Scott Kent is an executive with Wawa, Inc., serving as a multi-unit operations leader who oversees 22 general managers and over 600 associates in the Central/Northern New Jersey market. Kent has a long history of community involvement, having worked with numerous organizations to better the lives of individuals with disabilities, including Special Olympics, Eden Autism, IGA Nephrophathy Foundation, and KidsBridge.
Kent, a Hamilton resident, has been involved with Eden for more than 30 years. “I feel Eden was one of the first in the nation to address the needs of individuals who were autistic when there were few players in this field,” said Kent. “I know where Eden came from, and I feel I can assist from a strategic viewpoint.”
Kent holds an undergraduate degree in Organizational Dynamics from Immaculata College and a master’s degree in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph’s university.
The Reverend Doctor Jeffrey A. Vamos is Pastor and Head of Staff of The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, a position he’s held since 2005. He is leading the church through a capital campaign and new innovative forms of ministry, including a community center and job training program for formerly incarcerated persons.
Dr. Vamos is active in the community and currently serves as board chair of Every Child Valued, an afterschool program in Eggert’s Crossing Village in Lawrenceville. He served on the Committee on Ministry for the New Brunswick Presbytery, which focused on forming a collaboration among Trenton-area congregations to explore the future of Presbyterian ministry in the city. He also served on the executive committee of Planned Parenthood of the Mercer Area.
About his desire to serve on the Eden board, Dr. Vamos said, “Our congregation is involved with Eden via employing a person through Eden’s employment program. We are also at the beginning stages of developing a community center, called The Community Well, which would have some synergies with Eden’s mission and programming.”
Dr. Vamos, a Lawrence resident, holds a D.Min., from Wesley Theological Seminary and M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary. He received a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Political Science and Public Policy Studies.
Kent and Dr. Vamos will replace Bonnie Galloway and Curt Emmich, who reached the end of their terms. They each provided Eden with years of extraordinary service.
Eden’s Board of Trustees plays a crucial role in determining the strategic course of Eden Autism, ensuring that the organization continues to operate in the best interest of past, present, and future members. To learn more about other members of Eden’s board, please visit edenautism.org/board-of-trustees.
