Senate Resolution No. 3398

BY: Senator BONACIC

COMMENDING Susan Hawvermale upon the occasion her
retirement after 25 years of distinguished service
as Director of Tourism for Orange County

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family, and who enhance the stature of the State of New
York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Susan Hawvermale upon the occasion her retirement after 25 years
of distinguished service as Director of Tourism for Orange County; and

WHEREAS, A native of Nyack, New York, Susan Hawvermale has always
had a love of travel and tourism; for a few years, she was a senior
editor for a NASA division, and from 1983-1989, she served as both a
conference planner and marketing director in New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, Susan Hawvermale then returned to the Hudson Valley to
assume the title of the first and only Director of Tourism for Orange
County, a position from which she officially retired in November of
2017; and

WHEREAS, Since Susan Hawvermale helped establish the department in
1992, tourism spending has grown 162 percent to a $475 million industry
in 2016 from an inflation-adjusted total of $181 million; each year,
approximately 4.5 million tourists visit Orange County, not including 13
million shoppers at Woodbury Common; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Susan Hawvermale has increased
attendance at the Storm King Art Center and West Point; she has also
been instrumental in promoting the craft beverage industry, and various
natural attractions for fitness and nature enthusiasts; the proposed
Legoland theme park in the Town of Goshen is expected to attract
millions of fun lovers each year; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Susan Hawvermale diligently worked to change
the exit signs along Route 17 to feature town names instead of just
street names; this dynamic woman also led the New York State Tourism
Industry Association, and Hudson Valley Tourism, a regional group of
county tourism associations for 14 years; and

WHEREAS, In her much deserved retirement, Susan Hawvermale looks
forward to spending more time at her Forestburgh home with her husband,
John Cayea, and visiting with her five children and seven grandchildren;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Susan Hawvermale upon the occasion her retirement after 25 years
of distinguished service as Director of Tourism for Orange County, and
to wish her continued success in all her future endeavors; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Susan Hawvermale.