"Thalia exemplifies outstanding leadership skills; a strong commitment to the values and ethics of her profession and a personal enthusiasm for serving her clients and the community. She is always willing to share her knowledge and insights and is a caring and compassionate woman," said Bernadette Beyer, LLP, LMFT, RPT-S, one of Ferenc's colleagues who wrote a letter of support.

"Her efforts have spread solid professional service to people far beyond what she could have done alone and has achieved outstanding results," she said.

In 2010, Ferenc and her husband moved to Charlevoix, where she established her current solo private practice. She pro-actively founded the multi-discipline Women Therapists' Network for females who provide psychotherapy or counseling services and have a master's or doctoral degree. She saw a need for informal peer supervision, speakers to keep social workers updated on area resources and new techniques, referral sources, as well as mutual support from the unique perspective of other women. In doing so, Ferenc provides a tremendous support program for Northern Michigan social workers and therapists across several disciplines.

The National Association of Social Workers is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 135,000 members in 56 chapters nationwide.

The association works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.

http://http//www.petoskeynews.com/charlevoix/news/community/charlevoix-resident-named-social-worker-of-the-year/article_9021a13e-08a7-5bc5-9b05-b301a0c25d78.html