Meet Our Team

Kristin Ruge Hutchins is President at Ruge's Automotive. A third-generation owner with over 100 employees in three locations, Kristin has worked to expand the company while working daily to carry out its guiding principles, all of which are rooted in the company's vision of being the most sought-after, unique vehicle sales and service experience in the Hudson Valley region.

Kristin has also served in myriad leadership and volunteer roles over the course of her career. Currently Vice President of the Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce, Trustee for the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation Board, and active member of the Millbrook Business Association, Kristin has also been actively involved in the Rhinebeck Rotary Club and has supported a wide range of area nonprofits through participation in fundraising events.

Kristin's leadership extends to her role within the industry as well; she was recently named Chairperson of the Retail Women's Network 20 Group and member of the Regional Women's Network.

As a young boy, Lewis Ruge watched his dad build a vehicle sales and service business, Ruge's Automotive, in the heart of his hometown. By 1963, after serving his country as an Officer in the United States Air Force, Lewis was extended an opportunity to become an official partner. He accepted, and Ruge's has since grown exponentially in reach and in popularity with Lewis at the helm; the company is now known for offering small-town appeal with big-brand appeal.

Lewis has also worked to ensure that his hometown of Rhinebeck and the entire Hudson Valley region are successful as well. He has given generously to dozens of nonprofits and today serves on the boards of Frost Memorial Foundation, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Northern Dutchess Hospital, Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation, and M&T Bank.  

To get in touch with Lewis, email lewis@rugesauto.com.

In 2015, Scott Hutchins joined his wife Kristin as Vice President at Ruge's Automotive Group, bringing over three decades of global career experience to the historic Hudson Valley community they call home. After years of working in manufacturing in the US and overseas, Scott now heads up all Finance, HR, and IT operations for each of the three Ruge's stores. With an innate ability to identify solutions to challenges and opportunities for growth, Scott has promoted business development and expansion, helped solidify a long-term vision and organizational strategy, and supported rebranding efforts - all while working alongside his family and their staff to protect the guiding principles that make Ruge's Automotive so well-respected throughout the region. 

Jim King, Director of Fixed Operations, knows the value of hard work and dedication and applies that to everything he does at Ruge's. As supervisor of the parts and service teams at each of our three stores, Jim ensures that his staff have exactly what they need to deliver our signature Ruge's experience to customers every day, working closely with the group to maintain a focus on goals and objectives while removing any inhibitors.

Raised in the small town of Ridgebury, New York, Jim started working in the Pine Island onion fields at age 12, and his first gig in the automotive space was pumping gas at a Hess Station when he was just 16. After attending Orange County Community College for Electronic Technology, Jim was hired by IBM in 1981, where he held various positions during a 34-year career there, including a two-year assignment in Dublin, Ireland. By 2016, he made the choice to "leave Corporate America" to work for Ruge's, and says he "couldn't have made a better decision." Jim and his wife of over 30 years have one son, one daughter, and a granddaughter who he calls the "cutest baby ever." They enjoy tech-free weekends hiking, boating, waterskiing, and fishing at their cabin in the Adirondacks.

With over 38 years of experience, Rob joins the Ruge's team as Parts Director for all four of the dealerships. 

Rob was born and raised in Wappingers Falls, New York. He is the youngest of three boys. His first full time job was working at a local Exxon station where he pumped gas and washed windshields; this is where his love of cars began. 

He then started working at a local parts supply store as a delivery person, working his way to parts counter person. After a few years, he moved into a G.M. Dealership Parts Department where he was able to learn from the ground up, the ins-and-outs of the running a Parts Department. Rob then became a Parts Manager, which provided him with knowledge of the critical role that parts departments play in the success of a dealership. 

He currently resides in New Paltz, New York with his wife and family. Rob is a big sports fan and in his spare time he likes to play golf.

Since joining our team in 2012, Director of Digital Marketing Patrick Downes has used his expertise to help us share the unique Ruge's story with colleagues, customers, and our community. A former art school student who studied photography, Patrick is ever creative in his work managing our internet sales, marketing initiatives, websites, and social media channels.

Born in London, Patrick became a New Yorker when he enrolled at Hunter College. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Communications in 1984, he worked for several New York City advertising agencies before landing a role as Vice President and Publisher of Audubon Magazine. Patrick has traveled to over forty countries on five different continents, but is right at home here in the Hudson Valley, having relocated here in 2000 so that his son could live at Anderson Center for Autism. He is a happily married father of four.

Get in touch by emailing: pdownes@rugesauto.com.