December 15, 2006

"On behalf of the Board of Catawba County Social Services, I would like to say how thrilled we are that Mr. Boyd has received this national honor because we have known for many years that his leadership has been of exceptional quality and that his overall commitment to helping the citizens of Catawba County has been unequaled," said Anne Wepner, Chair of the Catawba County Board of Social Services.

The prestigious national award recognized Boyd as an incisive, visionary human services administrator committed to excellence. Boyd has led Catawba County Social Services to outstanding achievement for the past twenty-eight years, during which time the organization has attracted state and national recognition for innovation and quality of services. The award recognized that Boyd focuses on people, principles, performance, and prevention that has impacted not only the local community, but also the region and state as well.

Under his watch, the agency developed model programs including: group care for at-risk children; teen pregnancy prevention programs; school social work; an adoption agency; a children’s advocacy center; preventive services; a local family and children’s mental health program; therapeutic foster care; a continuum of services for vulnerable adults and senior citizens; aggressive welfare reform efforts; and prompt, accurate and quality public assistance to respond to the region’s job losses over the past five years. The performance-based programs operate within a quality customer service culture that results in high levels of customer satisfaction.

The award presentation recognized Catawba County Social Services’ best practice focus and a multitude of awards earned over the last number of years.

“For 28 years, Bobby Boyd's passion for public service and commitment to helping people have benefited Catawba County and its citizens,” said Tom Lundy, Catawba County Manager. “He's well respected by his colleagues and peers. He's a leader locally and in the state, and his leadership has helped Social Services adapt to changes in federal and state law and the local economy, while providing service with professionalism, care and innovation. This award is well-deserved recognition of Bobby and all the fine men and women who work in Social Services, and do such a good job.”

Boyd has served Social Services for over forty-one years with tours of duty in Forsyth and Vance counties. He resides in Conover, North Carolina, with his wife, Nancy.