2024 -- H 8054

========

LC004008

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING MARK HAYWARD ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS

RHODE ISLAND DIRECTOR FOR THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Fenton-
Fung, Shallcross Smith, Cortvriend, Costantino, Lima, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: March 12, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, For almost thirty years, the citizens of the Ocean State have been the

beneficiaries of the abiding dedication to the belief that “Small business is the engine of

America’s economy” as well as the knowledge, experience, and talent that Mark Hayward has

brought to his job each and every day as the Rhode Island Director for the US Small Business

Administration (SBA); and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure in that capacity, Mr. Hayward considers his greatest

accomplishment to have been “helping people build their business and seeing their dreams come

true.” He also successfully navigated the most arduous task of providing support, initiatives and

programs during the COVID pandemic that wreaked havoc on Rhode Island’s small business

community and most recently, finding ways to assist businesses impacted by the Washington

Bridge closure on 195 West; and

     WHEREAS, Previous to his position as Rhode Island Director of the US SBA, Mr.

Hayward held myriad federal positions. He entered government under the leadership of President

Ronald Reagan and has worked through seven Presidents, holding positions with the

Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, Department of Commerce, and

ultimately spending a total of thirty-four years with the Small Business Administration; and

     WHEREAS, Over the course of his career, Mr. Hayward has assisted with economic

policy development and with bilateral aviation negotiations, and economic policies in the US and

former Trust territories of the Pacific Islands. He has also testified before Congressional

committees, and created numerous policies that continue to benefit small businesses across the

country; and

     WHEREAS, A man of many accomplishments, Mr. Hayward was elected as the youngest

Mayor in East Providence history previous to his federal career; and

     WHEREAS, Mark Hayward leaves his mantra “Failure is Not an Option” as his legacy

for the SBA and his commitment to the people of this State and his accomplishments to the

betterment of the small business community are enormously worthy of our emulation and

acknowledgement; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

recognizes and thanks Mark Hayward on the occasion of his retirement after almost thirty years

as the Rhode Island Director for the US Small Business Administration and a career that

encompassed almost forty-one years of steadfast and unselfish service to the people of the State

of Rhode Island and the United States. We wish him good health, fulfillment and continued

success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mark Hayward.

========

LC004008

========

LC004008 - Page 2 of 2