Employee Spotlight
Senior Accountant Adele Atha to Retire “I can’t think of a better place to have spent 34 years” Adele Atha is not your typical number cruncher. A licensed CPA until announcing her March 2021 retirement, she holds degrees in Accounting and in Finance and Banking, both from the University of Arkansas. But according to Adele, it’s not the day-today management of Butterfield’s accounting needs that has kept her on staff for a remarkable 34 years – it’s been the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships through direct, personal service and nurturing of residents that has cemented her loyalty to the organization. She will be leaving Butterfield not just as the senior accountant, but as a friend to generations of residents and families. Adele began her tenure as Butterfield’s business manager less than a year after the Village opened its doors in 1986. She joined the staff as an expectant mother, taking only a week of maternity leave when her baby daughter arrived a few months later. Occupancy at Butterfield when Adele arrived was less than 40% with 138 residents, compared with more than 400 residents who live on campus today. Enormous Changes Adele’s job has evolved incredibly over the past three decades. When she began at the business office, there was one shared computer in a corner, used to do all accounting functions. Correspondence was done on typewriters, and email was still years in the future. The 1990s eventually brought personal computers to Adele with Santa at BTV workers, along with fax machines and eventually a scanner, all of which greatly impacted productivity. As Butterfield grew, the business office expanded from two to the seven team members supporting it today. The memories Adele amassed at Butterfield are entrenched in both her professional and personal life. She fondly recalls the fun of Halloween in the Village, and bringing her children and grandchildren to enjoy the hospitality of residents. Adele also laughs remembering three bad winters in a row: the 10 BUTTERFIELD LIFE
MARCH + APRIL 2021
Adele and her daughters (L to R) Jenna, Allison and Kristin
2009 ice storm that brought down multiple Emerald Ash trees with sounds resembling gun shots and knocked out campus power for more than a day; a severe cold snap that caused a water issue in 2010 and triggered a flood; and a two-foot snow in 2011 that seems benign compared to the prior two years. “The worst situations bring out the very best in Butterfield staff and residents,” said Adele, describing how everyone would pull together to solve any problem. Baseball and Grandkids Adele looks forward to relaxing and spending time at Baum Walker Stadium to cheer on her beloved Razorback Baseball team with her husband Larry of 42 years. An avid quilter, she is excited to finally have time to devote to her craft, become more involved with several quilt guilds, and attend workshops to hone her skill. And, Adele’s lucky three, small grandchildren will receive lots of doting, along with regular craft-making sessions. Adele is reflective about the career she is wrapping up. “I hope to be remembered for the quality of my work, and hope I have been of service to residents and their families,” she said. “We don’t sell widgets at Butterfield; we sell service and do our very best to go the extra mile. That interaction has been so important to me.” “I can’t think of a better place to have spent 34 years,” Adele said.
