May 28, 2013 (Seattle, WA)- Ray’s Boathouse, Café and Catering, announced a leadership change at the helm, as Maureen “Mo” Shaw, General Manager, will step aside in mid-June before undertaking a new leadership role in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Shaw came to Ray’s Boathouse in 1997, following a five-year stint as Senior General Manager for Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.   What she initially envisioned as a five-year position at Ray’s turned into 16 years of dedication to the restaurant that brought profitability and growth, alongside impressive service and training standards.

During Shaw’s tenure, the restaurant published a cookbook, Ray’s Boathouse: Seafood Secrets of the Pacific Northwest, received “America’s Most Classic” award from the James Beard Foundation, earned an “Award of Excellence” from the Wine Spectator for 16 consecutive years, and a “DiRoNa Award of Excellence” bestowed upon North American fine dining establishments that pass a rigorous and anonymous inspection process. The Washington Restaurant Association honored Shaw in 2008, as “Full Service Restaurant Operator of the Year” and she received the “Walter Clore Honorarium Award” in 2011.  In 2012, Shaw led a five-month renovation, repositioning and grand reopening of Ray’s Boathouse, which had not been undertaken for nearly 12 years.

“While I never originally envisioned that I would spend 16 years in this position, I am very proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved and the team that I have built here,” Shaw said. “Ray’s Boathouse is a hospitality leader, an icon for waterfront and seafood dining in Seattle.  I feel honored that I have been able to maintain our incredible reputation, nearly 40 years since we opened, and that Ray’s achieved great success during my tenure.  I will miss our team and guests greatly, but I look forward to my next position that will offer a challenge for additional personal growth and increased responsibility.”

Russ Wohlers, one of the four Ray’s Boathouse owners, shared his gratitude for Shaw’s work on behalf of the ownership group. “We have been very lucky to have Mo for as long as we have,” Wohlers said. “She is a terrific operator, and has repeatedly demonstrated how to build and maintain excellence from her team.  It is an understatement to say that she will be missed.  We wish her all the best in her next venture and we thank her for her many years of service to our organization.”

In mid-June, Shaw’s successor, Doug Zellers, will take the reins at Ray’s. Zellers joins Ray’s after serving as General Manager at Palisade Restaurant in Seattle the past two years.  Previously he was the Director of Food & Beverage Operations at the Washington Athletic Club (WAC) and also served as the General Manager of the Triple Door Theatre.  He received the 2010 Washington Wine Commission “Walter Clore Honorarium” for his demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the Washington wine industry. Zellers anticipates this opportunity and realizes the shoes that he will have to fill.

“Mo is legendary in this town,” Zellers said. “Our industry knows what a great job she has done at Ray’s and her team really respects her. I look forward to transitioning with her in the coming weeks and hope that I can add as much as she has to the Ray’s experience.”