Almayana Collins is the President and CEO of Women Empowered Entrepreneurs CT Summit LLC | WEE CT Summit 

Growing up in Hartford, CT, Almayana was guided by her hard-working single mother. She attended local schools until she became part of the Project Concern program, a local busing program that transported inner-city children to suburban schools. In middle school, she unknowingly had her first experience as an entrepreneur. While some children offered lemonade, Almayana had a year-round business selling penny candy she purchased from the local newsstand store.

Almayana has always been a planner and had the honor of co-chairing her family reunion in Hartford, CT. She loves working with and encouraging others to achieve their personal or professional goals.

Almayana arranged a trip to see a Broadway play in 1983. This was genesis for her organization A. COLLINS & F.R.I.E.N.D.S, LLC, which provides guests with first-class travel to arts, entertainment, educational, and cultural events along the East Coast. The word FRIENDS in the title stands for Faith, Relationships, Integrity, Excellence, Networking, and Dedication Services.

She encourages entrepreneurs on the trip and use this platform to promote their business. Her expertise in planning and attention to detail made her business successful with many repeat clients.

Almayana is a woman of faith and takes pleasure in seeing others succeed, especially after they have overcome social, racial, physical, or other obstacles. Almayana is known in her area for her generosity, volunteerism, and encouragement.

For the past decade, she has had the honor of serving in the Bereavement Care
Ministry at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, CT. What makes this role so special is that it is usually only open to members of the Diaconate ministry. As a result of her work within the church community, she was given the unique opportunity to join, becoming the first person to receive this honor without being a Deacon.  She approaches these responsibilities with great respect and a sense of humble gratitude.

Some of her other noted accomplishments include:

2001: Volunteered with Rebuild Together, an organization that helps revitalize
the community and provides essential home repairs to local residents in need.
Served as an Executive Board Member of the World without Limits Health Fair
for five years, where she helped bring preventative health care services and self-care education to the Greater Hartford Community at no cost to the participants.

2022: Served as the Event Fundraiser Coordinator for the esteemed National
Council of Negro Women, Inc. She also had the distinct honor of being an
honoree recipient of the 100 Women of Color Award Class of 2022.

​

She is at her best when she is helping others to live their best lives and achieve their goals.