Honor Tourism Director Retirement

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

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.