SMITHFIELD, RI - With deep regret, we inform you of the passing of Raymond Fogarty ‘79, Executive Director of Bryant’s Chafee Center for International Business, yesterday. He was 61.
Through Ray’s long association with Bryant, first as a student and then an administrator, he was a devoted Bryant ambassador, cultivating relationships with faculty, students, and leaders throughout the business community. Ray was named Bryant’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1991.
As the Executive Director of the John H. Chafee Center for International Business, Ray was instrumental in providing business with the resources to embark in international commerce, and successfully supported the International Business program, working collaboratively with faculty and the business community to provide internship opportunities for Bryant students.
Dedicated to international trade for more than 30 years, Ray was honored as the 2016 recipient of the NASBITE (National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators) International John Otis Lifetime Achievement Award.
While serving as associate director of the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center in 1983, he incorporated international services into the offerings. In 1986, he drove the launch of the state’s first World Trade Day which has grown to be the largest such annual event in the country with more than 600 attendees. In 1988, he founded the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center at Bryant University, which focuses on international trade activities including market research, international training, international trade shows and trade missions. That year, he also assisted in the formation of NASBITE, and in the creation of the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) credentials.”
Ray also helped drive the formation of the Eastern Trade Council, an accelerator for regional trade development and policy in 1999. In addition, he served on the State International Development Organizations, dedicated to supporting state international trade agencies. An advocate for international trade programs, his initial proposals for a nationwide trade effort helped the U.S. Small Business Administration develop the State Trade Export Promotion program.
Also in 2016, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker presented the Chafee Center with the President’s “E” Star Award for Export Service to Ray. The award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
For more than 35 years, Ray and his team have supported Bryant University’s mission to provide global undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs through collaborations with faculty and students. The Chafee Center has trained and assisted thousands of individuals and businesses, providing market research, corporate training, and strategic consulting on international business matters.
Details about memorial arrangements will be forthcoming. Please keep Ray’s wife, Phoebe, and his family in your thoughts during this difficult time.
