2026 ROPOA Board Candidates
Carl Frizzell
Carl is a hydraulics and pump expert with 25 years of experience on various projects throughout the country. He has experience in conducting hydraulic modeling, pump station design, pipeline design, plant hydraulics, and construction management. He has worked for CDM Smith for 21 years and currently is CDM Smith's Pump Station Design Discipline Leader. Carl has a B.S.., M.S., and Ph.D. from Clemson University in Civil Engineering. Carl is an active member of the Hydraulic Institute, and has served the Pump Intake Standard, Pump Piping Standard, Submersible Pump Test, and the Wastewater Collection System Pump Application Guideline committees. He is the current chairperson of the Water Treatment Plant Pump Application Guideline committee and the past chairperson for the Water Booster Pumping Station Pump Application Guideline. Carl is a licensed professional engineer in nine states (TN, FL, GA, NC, SC, AL, TX, MN, and VA).
Carl has been a resident of Royal Oaks since 2017 and has been on the board since 2019. He is a past board president and vice president. Carl and his wife Brooke (ROPOA Social Committee Chair) have four children either college or high school age. Carl and Brooke have enjoyed living in Royal Oaks and volunteering to better our community. Carl looks forward to continuing working with the ROPOA board on development issues and managing our aging infrastructure.
Carol Morris
Please allow me to re-introduce myself and remind you that I ran last year for a seat on the ROPOA Board of Directors. I want to thank the many of you who voted in support of my candidacy. As it turned out, I came in third with only two vacancies to fill and, when a seat was vacated by a Board Member because she moved out of the community, I became the candidate that filled that interim term. Thank you for that honor. It has been a pleasure to serve you by representing your thoughts and wishes for our community to the Board.
While serving on the Board I automatically became involved with the vast Covenants revision project and signature campaign, already in progress due to the labor-intensive work of the Covenants Committee and a team of dedicated, hard-working notaries. A very successful mission! I am also serving as President of the newly developed Clubhouse Condos HOA, an organization established to protect all concerned rights and responsibilities for Royal Oaks and its residents.
Once again, I am a retired Registered Nurse and have spent all my adult life in service. My career has taken me through patient care settings in the hospital, public, judicial and government environments. I have cared for patients from everyday walks of life, veterans, public service workers, national security employees and those who have been harmed by negligent healthcare practices. I have had the opportunity to serve as a Director and Officer on various Boards and Corporations.
I have traveled around the world and lived in Scotland, as well as here in Royal Oaks for the last twelve years, providing me the opportunity to experience many cultures and gain a better understanding of the peoples who make up this great world. Since my retirement, I have volunteered with various public charities and mission trips and am a member of First United Methodist Church. I have also raised two fine sons, have two wonderful daughters-in-law and three adorable grandchildren!
I look forward to further serving you for the upcoming term as Board of Directors member.
Thank you.
Jay Sutherland
I am writing to express my interest in serving as a member of the Royal Oaks Homeowners Association Board. Royal Oaks is a well-established, vibrant community, and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my time, experience, and perspective to help ensure it continues to be a place residents are proud to call home.
Professionally, I have spent my career in senior leadership and operations roles, where I have been responsible for overseeing large, complex organizations; managing budgets; guiding long-term planning; and fostering strong, values-driven cultures. Currently, I am serving as Director of Flight Operations at Cirrus Aircraft in Knoxville, where I lead large teams, have reduced budget deficits,
improved customer satisfaction, and am driving sustainable operational improvements. Across my career, I have consistently worked in environments that require transparency, accountability, collaboration, and sound
decision-making—principles that align closely with effective HOA governance.
While my background is in aviation and business operations, at its core my experience is about stewardship: listening to stakeholders, balancing competing priorities, managing resources responsibly, and making decisions with long-term impact in mind. I am comfortable reviewing budgets, evaluating contracts, supporting policy development, and working through challenges in a respectful and solutions-oriented manner.
As a homeowner in Royal Oaks, I am personally invested in the health, safety, and character of our neighborhood. I value clear communication, fiscal responsibility, and a strong sense of community.
If selected to serve, I would bring a thoughtful, collaborative approach and a commitment to acting in the best interest of all residents.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be honored to contribute to the continued success of Royal Oaks and am happy to provide any additional information or speak further about my interest in serving.
Sincerely,
Jay Sutherland
Darrell Tipton
Teena and I have lived in Royal Oaks since 1993. I am a real estate broker with Realty Executives Associates. I am now finishing my second 3 year term on ROPOA’s board having previously served on the board in the early 2000’s.
My other involvements include serving on the board of the Emergency
Communications District, Chairman of the Blount County Planning
Commission, and 2nd District representative for the Republican State
Executive Committee.
Royal Oaks is a great place to call home and as a member of the Board I
support a responsible budget, improving the infrastructure, maintaining our
streets & common areas, and working to reduce traffic and speeding within
the community.
Being a current Board member, I stand on my record and am willing to serve
another term if you choose to re-elect me.