Alumni Spotlight: Thad Bay

Thad is a Northeast Indiana native who grew up in Kendallville, Indiana. He graduated in 2004 from IU Fort Wayne with a BS in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing. After graduation, he worked at a local bank. A postcard in the mail about an upcoming MSW information session caught his eye, and along with his wife Nicole, they learned about the 2014 MSW cohort. Thad immediately felt a pull toward the program, and with the support of his wife, made the decision to enroll in the part-time cohort which was a three-year commitment. In 2015, he was elected as the Allen Township Trustee in Noble County, a position he still holds today. Thad was tasked with finding creative ways to connect with residents during COVID, a time of extraordinary need in Avilla.

Thad graduated from the IU School of Social Work Fort Wayne in 2017 after completing practicums at the Bowen Center and the Northeastern Center. Following graduation, he accepted a permanent position at the Northeastern Center which he held for four years while preparing for licensure.

After obtaining his LCSW, Thad worked at Dunn & Associates for a year before fulfilling his life-long dream of owning his own private practice. In July 2022, Thad opened Bay Mental Health located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, bipolar, self-esteem issues, trauma, couples therapy, anger management, substance use, and more.

Thad and Nicole were high school sweethearts who continued their college educations at IU Fort Wayne. Nicole graduated with a BA in Political Science and a BS in Accounting. In their downtime, Thad, Nicole, and their son Kellan enjoy spending time on Big Barbee Lake.

Thad is a consistent presenter in Northeast Indiana on mental health issues. More information about Bay Mental Health in Fort Wayne, Indiana can be accessed at Bay Mental Health LLC.