Meet District Governor Karl Ruether.Karl was born and raised in Germany and came to North America in 1986. He has three grown sons and is married to Denise. They live in Peshastin, Washington.
Karl started his career in the Hospitality Industry with a Restaurant Apprenticeship in 1976 at the Sport Hotel, Droste, Germany. As is mandatory in Germany, the required Military Service came next followed by achieving the Serviermeister (Master of Service) Certification in 1984.
In preparation for going to the US he worked as restaurant Manager in Southampton England after which Karl went to Cornell University in New York for the summer program. At the completion of this program, he worked at one of the hotels at JFK airport, followed by moving to Tucson Arizona to open a new All Suite Property.
In 1987 Karl obtained the CFBE (Certified Food and Beverage Executive) designation.From Tucson it was on to Portland Oregon and then Banff, Canada managing various types of hotels. From here it was San Bernardino California and then Leavenworth Washington’s Bavarian Village where being from Germany was not a pre-requisite, but it helped. Here he opened the Best Western Icicle Inn (1992) which is now known as the Icicle Village resort where he is the General Manager/Partner. In 1995 he obtained the CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator Designation) and after a successful career spanning 40 plus years and four countries, Karl retired from Hotel/Resort operations in December of 2019. Yippee I made it!
Along the way came various volunteer/appointed positions with Best Western International as a Regional Governor, a ........
Along the way came various volunteer/appointed positions with Best Western International as a Regional Governor, a board position on the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association board, serving as Chair in 2005-2006. Board member and President Leavenworth Lodging Association. Founding Board member Leavenworth Summer Theater serving here for over 10 years. A Rotarian since 1994 and member of the Leavenworth Rotary Club, President of this Club in 2000. (Presidential Citation Achieved). PDG Jim Adamson Senior was his mentor and friend. Jim sponsored Karl to join Rotary (Thank you Jim). Karl served as Board member of the Leavenworth Chamber of commerce twice, since 1992, and was Chamber Board President for three years.
In July of 2000 he was selected to serve a one-year term on the newly formed Washington State Tourism Advisory Committee. He was the recipient of the ‘Outstanding General Manager of the Year Award’ from the Washington Lodging Association in 2005, as well as, the ‘All Star Governor Award’ in 2003 from Best Western International. Karl accepted several Committee assignments in his role as a Best Western Governor that included the Chair of the Education and Training Advisory Committee, a few years back, and then Chairman of the Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (2015).
On July 1st 2019 Karl was appointed Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 5060, and now he is the DGN District Governor Nominee.
Fellow Rotarians, thank you for the confidence you have placed in me for this important role. I am really looking forward to meeting many if not all of you in this exciting continuation of my Rotary Journey. PDG Marvin Monroe used to say “Rotary is a Journey not a Destination” and it is an honor to serve in this role and work closely with many of you!
Yours in Rotary, Karl and Denise