The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association announced one of its staff members received an award from Illinois Park and Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Section at its annual meeting held Jan. 26 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.

Manager of Inclusion Karla Krones, of Glencoe, Ill., received the “Professional of the Year” award. Her parents, Karen and Larry Krones, traveled from their home in Austin to surprise Karla as she was receiving the award.

“This is an exciting time for our agency,” said Craig Culp, Executive Director, NSSRA. “We are thrilled at the well-deserved recognition Karla received in winning ITRS’s ‘Professional of the Year’ award. For nine years, Karla’s creativity, energy and compassion have set an exceptional example at our agency and we feel lucky to have her.”

NSSRA has over 800 recreational, sport, cultural, social, and leisure offerings available to residents of communities it supports in north suburban Chicago throughout the year, creating new experiences, opportunities for skill development, leisure time, and friendship.