Current Title:
Founder and CEO at Anne Cate ()
Accessories & Manufacturing
Degree(s):
Fashion Merchandising, B.S., with a minor in entrepreneurship (2018, ¹ú²úÂ×Àí)
Career Bio:
Anne (Catherine) Johnson is the owner and founder of , a made-in-America accessories brand and manufacturing firm specializing in skyline silhouette purses and pillows. A proud ¹ú²úÂ×Àí graduate, Anne has grown her business from a single sewing machine in her college dorm room into a full-scale manufacturing studio, employing full-time staff and empowering others to build success with their hands.
Anne Cate products are distributed through both B2B and B2C platforms, with a client portfolio that includes major brands such as Hulu, KeyBank and Goodyear.
Anne has been recognized as one of WAWAK’s Finest Sewists, named a NEO Mover & Shaker, and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She was honored as a Notable Entrepreneur in Crain’s Cleveland Business and has received Cleveland Magazine’s Best of Cleveland award for three consecutive years (2021–2023). In 2024, Anne was awarded the Distinguished Honors Alumni Award from ¹ú²úÂ×Àí.
Anne’s favorite part of her work is bringing joy to her customers. To them, Anne Cate products are more than just purses or pillows—they tell personal stories, represent meaningful places and hold memories close.
When she’s not creating, Anne enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to New York City for inspiration or relaxing on the shores of Lake Erie.
"¹ú²úÂ×Àí is woven into the story of Anne Cate. Many of the mentors and connections I made at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí are still people I work with and turn to today, and those hands-on experiences taught me how to recognize opportunities, take risks and turn an idea into a business."
