Hayden Warlick

Hayden Gregory Warlick
In the early morning of April 8th, 2023, Hayden passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, in Denver, Colorado. Hayden was 28 years old.
Hayden was born in Northridge, California at 1:14 PM on December 18th, 1994. He was the first child of Marni Paule and Stanley Warlick.
Marni had a difficult delivery with Hayden. After several hours in labor the doctor made the decision to utilize a vacuum cup device to help the delivery. This caused his head to be temporarily misshapen. When Hayden’s grandpa, Ralph, saw Hayden later that day he said, “he looks like the kid with two brains!” Little did they all know that Hayden’s brain capacity would later seem to be the equivalent of two.
Hayden was always a happy little boy. There was a special gleam in his bright blue eyes. The dimples in his cheeks accented a grin, a smile, and of course his wonderful laugh. His grandpa Sam recalled as a toddler, Hayden would react to the music on a show or cartoon and start dancing. He loved to watch Courage the Cowardly Dog and laugh with his grandma Marlyn. There was always an element of whimsy in Hayden. When he was about 5, while on a family outing, he was asked by his dad if he was hungry. He responded by pulling a sandwich from his pocket. That sandwich was completely unwrapped, but he was prepared for when he got hungry! Grandma Nikki recalled the time the kids had been at her house swimming. Nikki had just gotten a couple of kittens. At the end of the day, Marni picked up the kids and took them home. Later, Nikki got a call from Marni asking if she was missing anything. It turned out that Hayden really liked those kittens and decided he would like to have them… he had smuggled them out of the house and into his mom’s car.
Hayden’s stepmom, Sharon, recalled being told a sweet story. Hayden was about four years old. Stan, Marni, Hayden and Amanda were driving up the 101 freeway through Camarillo. It was a cold and sunny winter day with lots of white puffy clouds in the sky. Hayden was sitting behind his dad. He looked over to his left. He saw an industrial building with a big stack expelling white steam into the air. He thought about what it could be. He then said “look, daddy. There’s the cloud factory!!” The wonderful imagination of a little boy.
Hayden was always very inquisitive, and interested in just about any topic that would come up. When asked by his dad, “Hayden, why do you ask so many questions?” Hayden replied, “because I’m trying to learn.” Typical Hayden common sense. Anyone who spent even a little time with him would come away noticing that he was a very bright little boy. Nikki recalled a time while she was studying for her master’s degree in child psychology. Hayden was about 2. Nikki was going over a child aptitude test for kids older than Hayden. She decided to give Hayden the test. Before long, he was answering the questions and finishing the sentences before his grandma could finish them.
One Sunday when Hayden was three or four, Marni and one of her friends were going to take all the kids to the park for a picnic. Stan had the day off and was watching football. When they were getting the kids into the minivan, Hayden threw a fit and wouldn’t get in. He was really upset and crying. He had decided that he didn’t want to go. Finally, Marni brought him back into the house. When asked why he was so upset Hayden said that if everyone went to the park his dad would be alone, and he didn’t want his dad to be lonely. So, Hayden and his dad spent the day together watching football.
Hayden attended White Oak and Madera elementary schools, and Valley View Middle School. All in Simi Valley. During those years he played youth baseball for the Simi Valley Little League, and football for the Simi Valley Vikings. Hayden became an avid reader during his middle school years. He was also quite interested and adept in IT.
As Hayden’s freshman year of high school approached, his stepmom, Sharon and his dad Stan, learned of Santa Susana High School. A school rated in the top 5% of all high schools in the country. While SSHS had a much smaller student body enrollment than the two big high schools in Simi Valley, it also had a large faculty to student ratio. They offered a Schools and Academy structure with Schools of Digital Arts and Technology, and Performing Arts. Hayden chose SSHS for the opportunity to advance and certify in Digital Arts and Technology. Hayden flourished in all ways during his 4 years at SSHS. He was placed in charge of the school’s website for his senior year. While in high school, Hayden worked at the Vons grocery store around the corner from his family’s home. He saved money and got a credit card. When the prom came along, Hayden and his friends wanted to take a stretched limousine. Hayden found and hired the limousine company on his own and paid for it with his credit card. His friends divided the cost and reimbursed him. Hayden attended, along with his classmates, their senior trip to a resort in Nassau, Bahamas. He raved on about what a great time they all had. It was his first trip out of the country.
Hayden graduated from SSHS, with several honors, along with his class of 2013. He had a four year perfect attendance record. Unknown to Hayden and his many family members in attendance, at the end of the ceremony the principal was to present the Principal’s Award of Excellence to the top student in Digital Arts and Technology, and Performing Arts. Hayden was chosen for the Digital Arts and Technology award. His family could not have been any prouder of him. When each student walked across the stage to receive their diploma, they were presented with a rose. The rose was to be given to the person the student felt was most integral in their high school achievement. Hayden gave his rose to his grandpa, Ralph.
Hayden’s college experience and education started at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California. He liked it and he did well. He worked his way through school and was careful not to take on student debt. When he had achieved the units and course completions that he wanted, he applied to and was accepted to the California State University, Northridge, David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. Hayden went into the Business Honors Program and majored in Economics. He did so well there that the Dean of the business school hired him as an assistant to the Dean. It worked well for Hayden, working for the Dean while attending business school. He joked that it gave him a great parking spot.
Hayden was chosen as one of 20 students to travel to China for a conference with Chinese students and educators, regarding economics, marketing and public policy. He really enjoyed his trip and got a great deal out of the conference. During his time at CSUN, Hayden also took a vacation trip to Costa Rica with some of his many friends.
During the summer of 2019, Hayden was recommended for an internship at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Arlington Virginia. He did so well there that when he returned home, they offered him a full-time position. He still had about four months to go at CSUN to get his degrees. He accepted the position on the condition that he would start there in January 2020.
Hayden graduated from CSUN in December of 2019. He had earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing. He did not attend his graduation ceremony, because he was already on to his next goal, making achievements in his new job.
The next phase of Hayden’s life, his big move to Alexandria Virginia, started on December 26th, 2019. It was important to Hayden to have his car in Virginia, so he made the decision to drive. His family didn’t want him driving across the country alone and in the winter. So, his dad took the week off from work. It would be a father and son road trip.
They left from Northridge on Thursday, December 26th, heading for Flagstaff. The plan was to drive during the day and stop when it got dark. They took turns driving. Sharon was their travel agent working from home. She booked a room and found places for a nice dinner each night. They stayed the night in Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Memphis, Kingsport, and arrived in Alexandria on Monday, December 30th. They listened to two books that Hayden had downloaded, No Country for Old Men, and The Revenant. There was some bad weather along the way, and a minor car problem that they worked together to fix. Because it was the college football bowl season, Hayden and his dad watched football games together in the room each night. There may have been some adult beverages too.
They got an early start on Tuesday, December 31st. They went shopping for Hayden’s new bed. That was done quickly, so they had the rest of the day free. Since Hayden had spent his previous summer there, he knew the D.C. area well. They took the train to The National Mall. They went through the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Hayden and his dad enjoyed a great lunch from one of the many food trucks. They also went around to the presidential and war memorials. When it got dark, they headed back to their hotel, had a nice dinner, and rang in the new year together. There may have been some adult beverages too. The next morning Hayden took his dad to Reagan National Airport for his flight home. Hayden then went to his new place and started moving in the things he brought in the car. His other things had been shipped and arrived a couple of days later. Hayden and Stan spoke of that trip many times in the years since. They both agreed it was the greatest father and son road trip ever.
The next step was starting his new job as a research assistant at the Mercatus Center. His research interests included regulations and innovation, healthcare policy, and labor economics, as well as many others. Hayden enjoyed working there. He liked his co-workers, some of whom became good friends away from work. He performed well and was promoted several times. He authored several articles that were published in Discourse magazine.
After about a year and a half in Virginia Hayden became uncomfortable being so far away from his family that he loved so much and that he knew loved him so much. In late 2021 he made the decision to move back to southern California. Due to his level of education, work experience and accomplishments at the Mercatus Center, he received several offers of employment in his chosen field of work.
Hayden accepted a position as a research analyst with IBISWorld, ProcurementIQ Research, at their offices in Brentwood, California. He shipped his car and other belongings and flew back home on July 15th, 2021. He had leased an apartment in the Palms community in the Westside region of Los Angeles. He stayed with his family for the next two weeks. He moved into his new apartment on August 2nd and started his new job on August 9th. He jumped right in and got going. He earned a promotion within five months. He was the first analyst at the company to be promoted so soon.
For the next year and a half Hayden continued his climb up the ladder of success. This February he was charged with selecting a research team and being the project manager for the first time. After the project was submitted Hayden told his dad “My bosses were very happy with it.” He loved his job and liked the people with whom he worked. They clearly appreciated, liked and respected him. In a recent condolences email sent to his family, Chief Operating Officer, Jordan Ho stated “Hayden was such a valued part of the ProcurementIQ Research team. His colleagues loved working with him, for his insights and proactive nature. He was the first analyst to be promoted within 5 months and was the consummate professional, with a strong work ethic and desire for excellence. Most importantly though, his kindness and consideration for others were felt by all.”
After about a year, Hayden was becoming disheartened living in Los Angeles. The high taxes and crime rate along with the politics governing the city caused him to rethink living there. He wanted to find a place that would give him more for his investment. He was beginning a plan to buy a house in the next couple of years. He knew finding somewhere with a lower cost of living would help that. After doing meticulous research, you know Hayden, it was VERY METICULOUS research, he chose an area on the outskirts of southeast Denver.
Continuing to work for ProcurementIQ was very important to Hayden. Prior to committing to a move, he made a request with the company to move to Denver and work remotely. Being so highly regarded, his request was promptly approved by management. So, his next big move was underway.
Hayden negotiated a lease for his apartment in Denver. He hired a moving company to do the heavy lifting. He had decided to drive there. Marni worked hard helping Hayden pack up his apartment. On October 30th of last year Hayden and Ozzy, the cat he adopted while in L.A., left for Denver.
Being the always pragmatic one, Hayden chose a longer route, to lessen the chances of driving in bad weather. He followed the same plan that he and his dad used while driving to Virginia, drive during the day and get a room for the night. Once again, Sharon was the travel agent. While he was driving, she booked his room in Victorville the first night, and Albuquerque the second night. Hayden and Ozzy arrived at their new home on November 1st.
Upon calling his dad to say he had arrived safely, Hayden announced that he had already bought a ticket for a flight home to spend Christmas with his family. That was a great surprise. Hayden flew in to LAX on December 24th. He spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with both his mom’s and dad’s families. When Hayden flew out on December 26th his sister and both of his moms drove him to the airport. They stopped for a nice lunch on the way. When Hayden got out at the departure drop off area, they stayed parked. They watched him go through the glass doors and into the terminal. Sharon has said that she wasn’t going to drive away until after he was out of sight. They knew they would miss Hayden. They had no idea that would be the last time they would see him.
Hayden was an easy child to raise. He was complicated, but even at a very young age, he was someone who you could talk with and work things out. The very few times he needed to be disciplined, he would adjust so the issue would not happen again. He was never one to repeat a mistake. Many were impressed that even as a toddler, Hayden was very comfortable having a real conversation with adults. Throughout his life he was always willing to work hard for his accomplishments. He had done all the right things to be happy and successful. Hayden was quite a character too. He was also a young man of very high character and integrity. He would do the right thing, even if no one was watching. Hayden was truly a difference maker.
Hayden had an amazing sense of humor. He would be quite dry and sarcastic, and then be just outwardly funny. These traits are a rare find in someone with such a high intellect. Hayden was a very special person. He also loved and had a special bond with his many family pets. He was sweet, loving, and caring. He was a very good listener. If he said he was there for you, you never had to think about it again, he was there. All of Hayden’s big family and many friends are so very proud of the boy he was and the man he became.
Lisa Ryder, a loved neighbor and Warlick family friend of more than forty years said of Hayden “I am really proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zones and traveling, moving to different states and trying new things. He was living.”
Life is not fair. Hayden deserved a better fate.
Hayden was preceded in death by his grandmother, Marlyn Warlick. He is survived by his sister Amanda Warlick, his parents Marni Paule-Gersh, Sharon and Stan Warlick, his grandparents Sam Warlick, Nikki and Ralph Loba, Dale Paule, Charleen and Dwaine Martin, his aunts Victoria Reid and Michele Babb, his uncles Greg Warlick, Randy Reid, and Gary Babb, and his cousins K.C. Warlick, Ashlee Warlick, Jarrett Warlick, Thomas Reid, Jesse Reid, Madison Reid, Jack Reid, and Cyan Spencer.
Please see below for: Remembering Hayden from IBISWorld and Hayden’s co-workers…
Remembering Hayden
IBISWorld has sadly lost a valued colleague, Hayden Warlick. Hayden was a Business Analyst from the ProcurementIQ team. Those of us who have truly known and have worked with Hayden will feel the loss of such a remarkable team member!
Shared Memories and Stories of Hayden
Agiimaa -
• When I interviewed Hayden for the analyst role, the call began at 10:00 PM on a Friday night in Mongolia (i.e. 7:00 AM in LA), where I was working remotely from at the time at the height of the pandemic. My best friend was on the office room couch, waiting patiently for me to wrap up work. As I was hanging up, she whispered loudly from the couch: “You have to hire him! He is so impressive!”
• Last Friday, during our last communication over Teams, Hayden asked if it’s okay for him to spend 15-30 minutes to put together a guide for analysts to use during rate benchmark CIQ projects, which tend to be abstract. I thanked him for his proactivity and gave him the green light. That was Hayden in a nutshell - always considerate and proactive.
• Every time he was out sick, Hayden would periodically check his Teams messages on his phone, get caught and be reprimanded: “Don’t make me cut off your access to Outlook and Teams!”
• Getting promoted to level II within 5 months of tenure is no small feat, and never happened before Hayden’s class. The accomplishment speaks for itself - a testament to his work ethic and excellence.
• Whenever I would message Hayden toward the end of the day on a Friday, he would immediately inquire: “Do you need me to do something? Do you need my help?” - “Yes, in fact, can you please wrap up for the week? Ok thanks.”
• In March, Hayden received an email assignment from the AU office that neither of us had heard of, and instead of panicking or wondering where this was coming from, he was ready to hit the ground running. When it turned out that the Melbourne manager accidentally CC-ed him instead of a Heydon in the UK office, Hayden joked lightheartedly: “Having an Aidan and Hayden is confusing enough, I cannot imagine being an Andrew.”
• Hayden’s impact on the department and his peers has been immeasurable, and he will be sorely missed.
Ben -
• It didn't take long after he started working here for Hayden to start surprising me. On at least two occasions, I excitedly shared a promising resource with the team that would make our jobs easier. Both times, Hayden spoke up: "Oh, I was actually one of the authors on that paper!" and "I helped create that tool!"
Michelle H. -
• We started a big hiring push in the Spring of 2021, and Hayden was the first applicant I reached out to. In his first-round phone interview, he blew me away with seemingly effortless responses to tricky questions. I remember looking up an article he had referenced on our call after we hung up because it sounded like something our department should know more about. He was already teaching us things before he was an employee! His past research experience and areas of interest aligned so perfectly that it seemed meant to be that he’d come to work with us, and I’m so glad he did.
• When we began our voluntary return to the office, Hayden and I were almost always the only members of Production in the office. It was so nice to have him there to chat with and to be able to run ideas and questions by someone in person. I’m grateful for his presence during that time.
• I have no doubt that part of what made Hayden so successful at ProcurementIQ was his willingness to ask questions and interact with staff members across departments both in person and online.
• Hayden was the ultimate team player and regularly went out of his way to identify the best way to solve a problem and then teach it to others. He was always full of suggestions and creative solutions, which made him a go-to analyst for custom research, quality assurance, and training. On the flip side, he was also a great “student,” inquisitive and happy to learn from others. Moreover, he would regularly offer up praise for his coworkers, shooting me and the other managers quick messages to acknowledge the help he received from someone or the impressive work he witnessed that he thought should be shared. I hope that others in the department will continue to carry on these special qualities as we honor his legacy.
Ayanna -
• Hayden was so impressive in so many ways. He was a remarkable colleague from day one, and never stopped investing in himself and others. Altruism came naturally to him, and most conversations left me inspired by his kindness and compassion.
• My favorite memory of Hayden was formed while discussing his then-upcoming move to Denver. He was looking for a solution to keep his cat safe and secure during the 15-hour or so drive from LA. He hoped not to use a carrier on such a long drive and considered cat seat belts, harnesses, and other comfortable restraints. He eventually found a mesh barrier that attached to the car floor, ceiling, and doors and zipped all the way around, leaving little to no chance of an escape to the driver’s seat. We joked that with the barrier, he’d instead be confining himself to a sort of makeshift cage, and he wholeheartedly laughed before confidently noting that it was better him than the cat.
Michelle E. -
• I worked with Hayden mostly closely through CustomIQ. On one of the in-office days in Summer 2022, Laura J. walked over to the Production side and asked how everyone was doing. With a big grin, he shared that he’d joined the CIQ team to review projects, join scoping calls with clients, etc. His excitement made me all the happier to work with him, and I’m really grateful for that time.
• He was up for any task, any challenge. Join a last-minute client call about which he has next to no knowledge? Sure, why not. Lead department-wide trainings? Of course. Work with two other analysts on our longest and biggest CIQ project ever? Hayden was happy to.
• He consistently went the extra mile and out of his way to help others. I once asked him to write up our general sources and methodology for a certain type of CIQ project. I was expecting a few sentences via email, but instead, he put together a beautifully formatted, client-facing document with crystal-clear explanations that’s been sent to clients multiple times.
• When I’d take client calls related to projects he was involved in, he’d send me a Teams message beforehand to see if I was prepared and if he could do anything to help. His thoughtfulness and consideration were so appreciated.
• I will sorely miss Hayden and his big smile, positive attitude, and kind heart.