Jody and Jeff Rutter At Your Service
/A Journey of Passion, Professionalism, and Hospitality
Jeff and Jody Rutter
Spend just a few moments with Jody and Jeff Rutter and you will know why they are so well suited to their chosen career in the hospitality industry. The owners of At Your Service, an event planning and management company in Henderson County, are engaging, affable, and clearly the kind of people you would want to trust with details of your special day.
Both born and raised in Pennsylvania, the couple found their way to the Carolinas in 2016 and have built a reputation as two people who can be trusted with organizing the details of weddings, private parties, corporate events, remembrances of life, or any other event that requires the involvement of professionals to make sure your event goes off as planned.
In short, Jeff and Jody are two of the most hospitable people you are likely to ever meet.
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Jody Lynn Kauffman grew up in a small town in Lancaster County, Pa. After college she took a job as a travel agent in Allentown, PA. At the same time Jeff, who grew up near Pottsville, PA had moved to Allentown pursuing his dream career of being a professional cyclist. Allentown was host to one of the few velodromes in the country and Jeff honed his skills on the track and the many rural roads in the area.
Jeff’s hard work and natural ability led to success as a professional cyclist which required him to travel all over the United States. As a result, Jeff frequently employed the services of the travel agency where Jody worked - although his regular agent was another employee of the company. Destiny, however, stepped in one day when Jeff called to make travel plans and his regular agent was busy on another call. Jeff’s call was forwarded to Jody and, as she says with a smile, “The rest is history.” Jeff was 22 and Jody 21.
Jody and Jeff in 1988
The first four months of their relationship were conducted via phone as the couple spent their conversations working out the logistics of Jeff’s travel plans – a harbinger perhaps of a future career together. The relationship was bolstered by Jody’s access to her company’s 1-800 number and a shared interest in the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Eventually, Jeff suggested they should meet in person and invited Jody to lunch. The connection was immediate and undeniable. Five years later, in 1988, Jeff and Jody were married.
The early years of their marriage involved a lot of travel as Jeff raced competitively throughout the USA and in venues as far-flung as South America, Ireland, New Caledonia, Italy, and Sweden. At the same time, Jody had landed a job with a television production company that allowed her to travel and frequently coordinate trips to cheer her husband as he pedaled his way towards the finish line. It was a whirlwind – but one with an unavoidable finish line for a professional athlete.
At age 40, Jeff decided to step away from professional competition and he and Jody contemplated their next career move together. With their future wide open, Jeff asked Jody to think about what she was most passionate about. “I wrote down what my strengths were, and we realized that I’m really good at hospitality,” says Jody.
As fate would have it, a favorite Country Inn in Allentown was hiring a new innkeeper and Jody accepted the position. Later, when a wedding hosted by the inn was short-staffed, Jody pressed Jeff into service. That proved to be a turning point in their lives. “That's where the hospitality focus of our life started,” explains Jody. She called Jeff and told him to put on his black pants and white shirt and come help with the wedding. He demurred, saying he didn’t know anything about fine dining. Jody’s response was accurate and prophetic. “We can teach you that part. The part you need to have is in your soul.” She concludes the story with, “And he did.”
Realizing that they shared the same business philosophy when it came to hospitality, Jody and Jeff established their own company, appropriately named, At Your Service, in 2006. During the first 10 years, they perfected their skills in event planning and working with caterers. They handled every detail except the actual food preparation. Today, At Your Service handles event planning for any occasion including weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, birthday and anniversary parties, corporate events, and end-of-life celebrations.
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In 2016, the couple came to another fork on the road of life when an opportunity arose that would ultimately bring the couple to the Carolinas. Jeff’s contacts from his days as a professional cyclist led to a job offer at Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest, SC. The couple was intrigued by the possibility of the move. During their travels over the course of Jeff’s cycling career, they thought they could see themselves living in the Carolinas eventually. The people were friendly, and very importantly, the winters were less challenging than those in Pennsylvania.
Jeff on the cover of a bike racing magazine in 1986
They took the job and, although the job did not work out as planned, it did open doors for At Your Service – and the biggest door opened was in Flat Rock.
During their time working in Travelers Rest, the couple would occasionally venture north to visit a quaint little village just across the state line referred to as "The Little Charleston of the Mountains." They soon found their way to the patio at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse. “We liked barbecue,” says Jeff. “And we always like to eat outside.” They were impressed with both the food and the people they met at the restaurant – including Hubba Hubba’s owner, Starr Teel.
Realizing that their job at Hotel Domestique was not exactly what they expected, the wheels began turning for the couple. They saw an opportunity to bring their professional expertise to assist Starr and his growing restaurant as Hubba Hubba began to venture more into catering as part of its business model. “We had to stalk him for a while until he hired us,” recalls Jody with a laugh.
Starr’s team at Hubba Hubba had delicious food perfect for many catered functions, but not always the time or experience to put together all aspects of the events. Enter At Your Service and a successful business partnership was launched. “It's a good marriage,” says Jeff. “The chef was putting out great food and Jody and I could take it and run everything off-site.”
Eight years later, Hubba Hubba remains the principal client for At Your Service and the working relationship with Starr and his team has blossomed into a successful business that benefits both parties – and the many happy clients who have contracted with AYS through the years. Jeff and Jody stay busy with an ever-growing number of repeat clients.
Most importantly, Jody and Jeff love what they do.
Jeff points to the freedom provided by their chosen career path. “We enjoy the flexibility of it. We're our own bosses and we can make our own schedule.” After 25 years of being a professional cyclist, he concedes he’s not well suited for a desk job. “We are not good with too much structure. With catering, you learn something new and do something different with every event.” Then he adds with a smile, “We never get bored.”
Jody particularly enjoys the challenge of meeting people’s requests. “We're ‘Yes!’ people. If you really want something to happen, it might be a little extra effort, but yes, it can happen!” She also loves the compliments that frequently come their way. “The job has nothing to do with being rich and famous. It’s about the appreciation of our clients when we meet or exceed their expectations.”
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After more than 40 years together, Jody and Jeff have perfected the delicate dance of combining marriage with careers that involve working together for long – and frequently very late - hours. “Everyone asks, ‘How can you do that?’”, says Jody. Their secret is shared values and the ability to communicate – sometimes without saying a word. “After all these years, we can just look at each other and we know what the answer is, or we know what the next step is.” Jody looks over at Jeff and they share a silent knowing smile. The connection between two people who have loved and worked together for decades is palpable.
Jeff and Jody’s journey from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas was a leap of faith with some unexpected turns. With perseverance and a belief in each other, however, they have managed to build a successful career in their new mountain home. And, despite their deep northern roots, Jeff and Jody Rutter embody the spirit of Southern hospitality, combining their love for detail, dedication to service, and a passion for creating memorable experiences for all those they encounter.
In the end, the story of Jody and Jeff Rutter of At Your Service is not just one of a successful marriage and business partnership. It is also a testament to the transformative power of pursuing one's passions and embracing new opportunities with open hearts.
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Read more about At Your Service at www.jandjatyourservice.com
