MERRILLVILLE, IN—White Lodging has tapped Jason Druso as its new VP of restaurants, working on improving the company’s food and beverage operations and revenue growth of its outlets.
“The strength of our restaurants is one of the differentiators for White Lodging,” said Keith Daub, COO, full service. “We are excited to have someone of Jason’s experience and caliber to head up this initiative.”
Druso is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio with a B.S. in finance and. 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 GM at Waterfront, a 300-seat steak and seafood restaurant with 5,000 sq. ft. of banquet space.
Druso later served as assistant GM during the opening of Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse. He then went on to be opening GM at Carlo and Johnny, a 215-seat steakhouse. 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.
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 GM of the Marriott Cincinnati Northeast, GM at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Riverfront and opening GM of the Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown and Top of the Park rooftop event space.
“I’m excited to start my dream job with White Lodging,” Druso said.