Jason Druso has been appointed Vice President of Restaurants at White Lodging
Druso is a graduate from Miami University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing where he also played football. Upon graduation, he went to work for Jeff Ruby's Culinary Entertainment, a regional restaurant operator. He started out learning the business working in various hourly and supervisor positions and at age 24 was promoted to Assistant General Manager at Waterfront, a 300-seat steak and seafood restaurant with 5,000 sq. ft. of banquet space. Druso was later promoted to Assistant General Manager during the opening of Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse. He then went on to be promoted again to opening General Manager at Carlo and Johnny, a 215-seat steakhouse, which under his management won numerous awards: "Zagat's highest rated steakhouse in America," "4 out of 4 Stars," in Cincinnati Enquirer, the "Wine Spectator Award of Excellence," Cincinnati Magazine's "Top 25 Restaurants in Cincinnati," and "Best Overall Restaurant in Cincinnati 2002" in Cincinnati Enquirer. While managing Carlo & Johnny he became the Corporate Director of Openings. Druso opened three more restaurants for Jeff Ruby: Tropicana, Coconut Grove and Jeff Ruby's at Belterra Casino. In addition, while at the restaurant, he passed Level II Sommelier Exam, Court of Master Sommeliers. Druso went on to be a restaurant consultant and open his own restaurant Aqua for five years before selling the business and moving into the hotel business. He was assistant general manager of the Marriott Cincinnati Northeast before being promoted to general manager at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Riverfront, and then was promoted to the opening general manager of the urban Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown and Top of the Park rooftop event space.
