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10 Within 10 Recognition

Britney Collins '10

Britney Collins’ first car was an ice cream truck, purchased when she was 16. She always knew she’d be in business.

When her CMU entrepreneurship class required her to come up with a plan for a business, she thought up the “University Hopper,” a bus to inexpensively shuttle college students to other campuses to visit friends.

The Hopper was short-lived because the old bus eventually broke down. But her idea kept simmering.

After graduation in 2010, Collins worked as a branch manager for Chase Bank in Grand Rapids. After two years, the entrepreneur in her busted out. She bought a nice bus and launched Allure Limousine in 2013.

She says she’s the only female African-American limo carrier in Grand Rapids.

When Collins got married and moved to Detroit for her husband’s job, she kept the successful business going in Grand Rapids.

“You have to be willing to put all your money on your biggest dream,” Collins says. “You have to go after it and do everything you can to make it work. But if it doesn’t work, you have to know that it’s still OK.”

Her business is obviously working. Collins just bought a second bus and both are booked weekends for the next few months, often for weddings and bachelor and bachelorette parties.

She gives away a free prom ride every year and a free wedding package. Monday through Thursday, she transports parents to parenting classes for a local social service agency. Before, the agency was paying for costly taxi rides to transport parents.

“When you own your own business, you dictate the good you do in the world,” she says.

“Central is at the core of my business success,” Collins says. “That’s where I learned how to best use my resources. It’s where I learned how to make small dreams bigger.”