Meet the CMWP Founders & Team

In 2018, the Collaboration of Minority Women Professionals (CMWP) was born through a collective effort of various likeminded Black professional and entrepreneurial women in New Haven, CT. Black women are proven leaders, and you can expect nothing short from the CMWP Co-Founders. As a result of their headstrong and tenacious ideas and interests, the CMWP Co-Founders decided to be leaders of the networking and empowerment movements. Originating in the local New Haven area, the CMWP Co-Founders worked effortlessly to create a space for you.

In the spring of 2020, CMWP went NATIONAL! Currently, with members throughout the US and Europe, CMWP has actively been facilitating virtual and online events for members throughout the country! Come grow with us!

This is your community of Black and Brown sisters who will hold you accountable, lend a listening ear, collaborate with you on projects, and financially support your endeavors. We got you!

Samantha Williams
CMWP Founder & President

Samantha (Sammi) is a distinguished content engineer with over twenty years of executive-level, corporate, and professional writing experience. She is also a recognized business coach and social media manager who is committed to supporting the Black community.

Sammi specializes in business writing, content development, editing, proofreading, blog/email/newsletter development, social media management, branding, graphic design, and website development, maintenance, strategy, and training. Sammi is also a respected business coach and entrepreneurial advisor.

As an astute businesswoman and serial entrepreneur, Sammi has launched several companies, including Sam’s Word, Melanated Business Coaching, and 628 Digital Design. Sammi is the Co-Founder and President of the Collaboration of Minority Women Professionals (CMWP), with a mission to increase the visibility, capacity, and business profitability of professional minority women. She is also the Creator and Program Manager of KNOWNpreneurs Growth Lab, which provides targeted mentorship and training to BIPOC business owners.

Samantha is the recipient of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce 2020 Women’s Achievement Awards for Community Impact. Sammi sits on the Board of Directors and serves as Board Secretary for the Black Business Alliance (BBA). Sammi is also a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC), the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA).

Latisha Douglas
CMWP Founder & Vice President

Latisha is an avid and vocal member of the New Haven, Connecticut community. In addition to being the Vice President and founding member of the Collaboration of Minority Women Professionals (CMWP), Latisha also serves on the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families Board of Directors (CAFAF). Latisha also facilitates financial literacy training for teenagers, young adults, members of the community, and business professionals.

As an accomplished technical and analytical professional, Latisha is a data scientist in the aerospace industry. Prior to this, Latisha devoted over two decades of her talents to Prudential Financial until 2020. Latisha’s career with Prudential included an exciting evolution from her early days as an intern. Later progressing into increasingly challenging roles at the former Prudential Securities in New York City and Gibraltar in Tokyo, Japan. Latisha’s final role was as a Senior Database Specialist, where she helped manage and maintain system data and servers for new and existing financial services applications.

Latisha is now a small business automation and data analytics consultant.

Latisha completed a dual Master’s degree in Data Analytics and an MBA in Technology from the University of Connecticut (UCONN), Latisha also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Seton Hall University. Latisha is a graduate of the Data Science For All (DS4A) fellowship program and is also a MongoDB Certified Database Administrator.

Latisha is also committed to her family, and enjoys including her daughter, Kaylee, and son, Kaiden, in her career and passion of stock market and real estate investment.

Randi McCray
CMWP Leadership

Randi Renee McCray (Gregory) is the founder and owner of RM Consulting Services, CT, where she gained experience working with non-profit organizations in Connecticut on feasibility studies, audits and assessments,
strategy development, interim leadership, recruitment, and operational improvements. Randi has a diverse skill set that is the result of her experience working in the nonprofit, business, and academic sectors over the past 20 years. Among her specializations are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Antiracist practice, facilitating Courageous Conversations, strategic planning, and coaching. She also has a desire to improve organizational effectiveness through the lens of equity, social justice, and anti-racism practice. Randi thrives in partnerships that embrace courageous and relational approaches to achieve the goals of the group.

Past CMWP Founders

Ndeye Fall

Ndeye, fondly known as “Nay,” is a dedicated banker with nearly 20 years experience, serving 10 of these years in Bank Leadership and Management. She uses her extensive financial background and networking skills to provide clients with the resources needed to build and increase their business portfolios. Nay is also a loving and supportive wife to her husband, and a nurturing, devoted, and caring mother to her daughter and son. Nay is an avid traveler and enjoys vacationing in France and Senegal, her native country. Nay is also fluent in French, English, and Wolof.

Sydney Simpkins

Sydney is well-known and well-respected pillar of the local New Haven community. Sydney is a Compliance expert and Owner of Simpkins Associates, where she oversees contract compliance for major construction projects. Sydney earned her Master’s in Community and Urban Planning and Development through Southern Connecticut State University and her Bachelor’s in Human Services and Social Work through New Hampshire College. Sydney is also a graduate of Turner School of Construction Management, and she earned a Title Abstracting / Title Search Certification from Fairfield University. Sydney has also completed the New Haven Middlesex Real Estate School’s Principles & Practices of Real Estate program.

We are committed to your success and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

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