Kato Wake talents and skills are far reaching: she has achieved success as a graphic designer, art teacher, painter, wine educator and restaurant service trainer.

Kato’s experience includes over 25 years in the restaurant industry. She has worked in numerous high end restaurants, taught dining room service for the Stratford Chef School, and instructed hospitality staff about 'the art of service' in almost every Canadian province.

Kato paralleled her 'restaurant life' with a self-employed career in art and design. She operated a store in Stratford for seven years where she designed and manufactured promotional materials, graphics and illustrations for clients including the Stratford Festival.

After moving to Toronto in 1996, Kato taught graphic and new media design for three years at the International Academy of Design. A graduating from the Canadian Film Centre's new media program, she was creative director/designer of ‘The Great Canadian Story Engine’ – an on line story-telling project which traveled the country in a computer equipped airstream trailer.

Since 2001 she has worked with wine writer/critic Billy Munnelly of Billy’s Best Bottles fame – heading up print and web production and education development. Their innovative wine concepts – ‘The Wine Dating Game’, ‘Becoming a Wine DJ’ and ‘Wine by Mood’ – have been embraced by over 6000 ‘students’ Canada-wide.

Kato continues to freelance in graphic/web design (www.katowake.com). Each summer, aspiring painters can check out her colour course at the Dunedin Creativity Retreat near Creemore.