George Ruther

Housing Director, Vail, Colorado

George Ruther is the Director of Housing in Vail, Colorado with more than 25 years of mountain resort community experience.  Capitalizing on his extensive experience, George was called upon to transition to lead and direct the Town of Vail’s newly formed Housing Department. Under his leadership, the Housing Department is directly responsible for policy development; housing regulation implementation, compliance and oversight; lottery administration; program administration; and developments and initiatives which increase the overall supply and availability of housing opportunities within the community and throughout the region. Since its creation in 2018, the Housing Department has helped the community realize a 74% increase in the total number of deed-restricted homes in Vail. The availability and affordability of housing remains, however, the #1 most critical issue facing the Vail community.

Over the course of his public sector career, George has regularly been called upon to lead and direct the successful outcome of Vail’s most complex, challenging, and critical community initiatives.

George earned a B.S. degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, HousingColorado, and the Urban Land Institute.