Meet the Officer Team
Carmen Avogaro, Treasurer
Carmen holds a degree in Accounting from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. She has held positions as Treasury Manager for Countrymark Cooperatives for 15 years and Logo Athletic (a division of Reebok International) for 7 years.
She has experience in preparing budgets, managing daily cash, and reconciling bank accounts. Carmen was also responsible for managing a 200M seasonal line of credit.
She worked the last 13 years I worked for Bayer (formerly Monsanto Company) as IT support to the Treasury department, which was responsible for cash management, FX transactions and loan activity. For the last 3 years, she also supported the Accounts payable department which allowed her to get a thorough understanding of the payables process.
Carmen has also dedicated time to volunteer work. Carmen was volunteer Treasurer for 3 years at Tuscany Estates located in Centerton. In that role, she was responsible for collecting POA dues, issuing invoices, making vendor payments, reconciling bank accounts, and preparing financial statements. Additionally, she is currently the treasurer for an investment club started with former colleagues about 20 years ago, which has grown to assets of +200K. Carmen also volunteers at the XNA airport in the information desk.
Carmen is originally from Venezuela and has lived in the US since 1980. She is married to Milt Whipple and they have four children, Derek (Tyson Co.), Travis (AD for Fort Lewis University, CO), Carlos (Master Sargent Army, currently stationed in Tacoma, WA), and Ceci (IT analyst for Collin County, TX). Carmen and Milt also love to travel, walk and bike.
Please join us in welcoming Carmen—we are fortunate to have her expertise and dedication!
Patty Thomas, Vice-President
With a passion for community building and a deep commitment to serving neighbors, Patty brings both heart and experience to her role as Vice President of the Cottages at the Park Property Owners Association. A resident of Springdale for over 3 years, she has served the POA in helping open the club house and pool and serving on the landscape committee during the developer control period.
Patty holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on Operations Management from DePaul University. She currently is a Director of Engineering and Technology at J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. supporting the Final Mile business unit. Patty’s background in engineering management has equipped her with strong organizational and communication skills, which she now puts to use by coordinating neighborhood initiatives and supporting the President in ensuring smooth operations across the POA.
When she's not working on POA business, Patty enjoys weekend getaways to see family and friends, crafting and textile arts. She also serves as a member of the Altar Guild and LWML at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fayetteville. She is also a space nerd, having worked as a contractor at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility for 14 years and is always happy to connect with neighbors to hear their ideas, concerns, or just share a friendly conversation about the space shuttle or other STEM topics.
Patty is the dog-mom to Gemma, the calmly disobedient diva Old English Sheepdog and Biggles, the very spazzy rescue Sheepadoodle-boy from Oklahoma. She has family nearby in Branson and Dumas which is why she chose to relocate to NWA from New Mexico.