2025 -- H 5097 ======== LC000450 ======== S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N HONORING AND THANKIN G DAVE PERTUSO FOR THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF DEDICATED AND EXEMPL ARY SERVICE TO THE RHODE ISLAND ZOOLOGIC AL SOCIETY AND ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Diaz, Kennedy, Fogarty, Serpa, Boylan, and Noret Date Introduced: January 21, 2025 Referred To: House read and passed WHEREAS, Dave Pertuso, Chief Administrative Officer at Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1 which is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society, is retiring after having 2 dedicated more than three decades to the growth and success of the Roger Williams Park Zoo; 3 and 4 WHEREAS, Roger Williams Park Zoo is the number one, most-beloved family and 5 tourist attraction in Rhode Island, and is a leader in conservation efforts and environmental 6 education; and 7 WHEREAS, The growth and success of Roger Williams Park Zoo is dependent on 8 myriad factors, not the least of which is the Zoo’s financial health, which Dave Pertuso has 9 nurtured and cultivated throughout his years of service, most notably his leadership and guidance 10 through the financial challenges occurring during the pandemic; and 11 WHEREAS, In addition to his financial prowess and love for the Zoo, Mr. Pertuso has 12 consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and professionalism which has assisted 13 the Zoological Society to develop support and education for endangered species and general 14 conservation issues to the benefit of all mankind; and 15 WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure with Roger Williams Park Zoo, Mr. Pertuso has 16 earned the respect, admiration and gratitude of his colleagues and clients through his unwavering 17 dedication and positive attitude; now, therefore be it 18 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby join 19 LC000450 - Page 2 of 2 together with the Rhode Island Zoological Society Team in extending heartfelt best wishes to 1 Dave Pertuso and wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement, the best of health, and success 2 in all his future endeavors; and be it further 3 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 4 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Dave Pertuso. 5 ======== LC000450 ========