Sue and Kammaye met in 2006 while pursing their Sommelier certification through the
International Sommelier Guild and, over the next two years, developed a friendship fueled by a common passion, wine! It was not long before they realized that their individual plans for future companies shared a common thread and that their ideals and expertise would prove to be the perfect pairing.
In May of 2008, Sue and Kammaye launched The Somme Group, a joint venture focused on the personal and professional development of all things wine. Now, fully incorporated, this unique partnership has combined the experience and expertise of two driving forces whose innovative spirits have created a true foundation for success.
Behind the Founders, is a diverse group of industry professionals with expertise in wine management, procurement, resturant services and educatonal development. This team is an intergral part of The Somme Group's service portfolio. Together we strive to provide our clients with innovative and state of the art services.
Kammaye Rude
Kammaye began developing an interest in wine more than ten years ago when she and a friend shared a spectacular Napa Cult Cab one night over dinner, that was it, she was hooked! Driven by a love of history, international culture, and travel she began a tireless pursuit of discovery and, glass by glass, embarked on a world tour of the vine.
Kammaye holds her Sommelier Certification from the International Sommelier Guild and the American Court of Masters Sommeliers. Fueled by her passion for wine, she co-founded The Somme Group with Sue Asanto.
Sue is now combining her professional expertise with her passion of wine. She loves to work with both the beginner wine taster to the more experienced and looks forward to helping others develop their own wine appreciation.
Kammaye holds an MBA in International Business and a BA in Communications. Prior to founding The Somme Group, Kammaye served as Director of Operations for a $2B biotech foundation and Executive Liaison for a group of privately held biotech start ups.She has produced premiere charitable events for nonprofit organizations raising more than $3M to support the advancement of innovative medical solutions. Additionally, Kammaye has held the position of Global Account Representative providing sales, global logistics and development support for top tier OEM accounts in the Information Technology Sector.
Sue Asanto
Sue got her appreciation of wine from her parents and has been developing her tasting senses ever since. She holds a BA in psychology and a diploma in public relations. She also holds her Sommelier Certifications from the International Sommelier Guild and the American Court of Masters.
Her 15 years of management, event planning and training experience give her a wealth of knowledge and a diverse background. She has worked on hundreds of small events and large events such as the Olympics, many international athletic events and event planning for the City of Calgary. She has also conducted training seminars for small groups under 10 people to large audiences of over 500.
