Carmen Smith

Carmen Smith's passion for all things water developed earning her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Central Arkansas and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law. She was admitted to the Arkansas State Bar in 2008. Carmen currently serves as Senior Corporate Counsel for DataPath, Inc. in Little Rock and was previously associated with Turner & Associates, P.A., law firm in North Little Rock.

Commissioner Smith’s professional career has included corporate and transactional law, as well as employment law, employee benefits law, licensing, and compliance guidance on matters involving the federal regulatory agencies, including the SEC, DOL, HHS and IRS. She has extensive experience providing advice and cousel on ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act. Carmen is a member of and has served on committees for the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation and the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators.

Carmen joined the Board of Commissioners for Central Arkansas Water in the summer of 2010 and is currently serving her second, 7 year term. Her other civic and public service affiliations include the Arkansas Children's Hospital Auxiliary, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law Alumni Association, and her passion: fundraising, speaking and volunteering for the Arkansas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

As an avid runner, Commission Smith regularly hits the pavement in her native city of North Little Rock and participants in various races from 5Ks to marathons. She also enjoys hiking, camping, fishing and exploring the beautiful state of Arkansas with her husband and young son.