Adrienne Burgos on Her Staffing Agency and Creating Meaningful Experiences

​​Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

Hi, I’m Adrienne Burgos, the founder and CEO of CEA Staffing, a nationwide experiential staffing agency based in Chicago. I launched the company in 2008 when I was just 24 years old, driven by my passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to create meaningful brand experiences.

With a background in event staffing, I saw a need for an agency that truly understood both client expectations and the power of amazing brand ambassadors. Over the years, I’ve grown CEA into a respected agency that’s partnered with brands like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Heineken, and Lifeway Kefir to bring dynamic, high-energy staffing solutions to events across the country.

Beyond business, I’m a proud single mom doing my best to balance it all, and a dog mom, too! My life is equal parts hustle and heart, filled with school runs, client calls, and dog walks (often all before noon). It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Outside of business, I’m a proud single mom and a dog mom, my life is full of chaos, purpose, laughter, and a whole lot of multitasking. I’m just out here doing what I need to do to build the life I dream of for myself and my daughter. And that’s what keeps me going every single day.

Who are your customers?

CEA Staffing partners with both major brands like Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Heineken, as well as smaller emerging brands and entrepreneurs looking to make an impact. We also work closely with experiential marketing agencies, event producers, and trade show organizers who are looking for the best event staff to bring their vision to life. Whether it’s a large-scale activation or an intimate brand experience, our team helps organize, staff, and elevate events by providing professional, engaging individuals who enhance the overall experience—from brand ambassadors and registration teams to onsite support and sampling experts. We also support companies hosting any type of event who need reliable front-of-house staff, directional support, greeters, or even costume characters to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for guests.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I started my career studying fashion design at Columbia College, drawn to creativity and visual storytelling. Along the way, I shifted gears into marketing and advertising, realizing I was just as passionate about building brands as I was about designing them.

While I was in college, I worked as a brand ambassador to help pay the bills. I quickly fell in love with the energy of events, the power of consumer connection, and the behind-the-scenes work that brings a brand to life. That’s when everything clicked, I’d experienced both sides: working in the field and understanding the goals of the client.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I started CEA Staffing when I was just 24 years old, but the idea had been forming long before that.

While I was in college studying fashion design and later marketing and advertising, I worked as a brand ambassador to make ends meet. I loved the energy of the work, the people I met, and the thrill of bringing a brand to life. But I also saw the challenges, the lack of communication, late payments, poor treatment, and how little value some agencies placed on the people actually doing the work. That stuck with me.

I always knew I wanted to start a business of my own. I had a gut feeling that I was meant to build something, something meaningful, something better. I didn’t have a roadmap, but I had experience, passion, and a vision: to create an agency that truly values both its clients and its staff. So I took the leap.

At 24, I registered my business, got my first few clients, and hustled like crazy, working events myself, managing schedules late into the night, and building relationships one conversation at a time. I wanted to prove that you could run an agency that was professional, people-first, and rooted in respect.

Starting this business wasn’t just about staffing events. It was about raising the standard, for clients, for staff, and for myself. And that’s the foundation CEA Staffing has been built on ever since.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Growing up, I watched my parents work together on small businesses, and even as a kid, I was constantly dreaming up ventures of my own. I started my first “company” making pillows and selling them to family friends. Then my best friend and I started making bracelets and went door to door in the neighborhood to sell them. I was always creating, crafting ideas, branding them in my head, and imagining how to bring them to life.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

With no funding and just a vision, I hustled hard, working events to get onto trade show floors, collecting business cards on my breaks, and building a network of BAs through word of mouth. I cold-called and emailed nonstop, built my first website on iWeb, and eventually created my own national database in 2016 to manage talent across the country. I’ve been on both sides, the staff and the client, and that dual perspective shaped everything I built.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been building and sustaining a business completely on my own. I didn’t have investors, a business partner, or a roadmap, I had to figure out everything from contracts to client acquisition to operations through trial and error. There were moments of uncertainty, burnout, and financial strain, especially in the early years. But what I’ve learned is that resilience, consistency, and resourcefulness matter more than having it all figured out. You don’t have to know everything, you just have to be willing to learn, adapt, and keep showing up.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is staffing the COVID-19 vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago. For five months straight, seven days a week, we had up to 60+ staff onsite each day. It was a massive logistical challenge with nonstop scheduling, last-minute changes, and high expectations, but my team showed up, stayed professional, and got the job done every single day. It proved just how reliable, capable, and hardworking our network truly is

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is getting the opportunity to work with some of the biggest and most respected brands in the world, names like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Heineken, and Lifeway. But one that stands out most is a one-day event we staffed for Delta Airlines in our very first year working with them. We staffed over 130 people for that event, an ambitious number for any agency. The event was such a success that the following year, Delta came back to us and hired CEA to staff 250 people. Moments like that are incredibly validating, they prove that when you deliver with excellence and heart, clients remember and come back.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Next for CEA Staffing, we’re focused on growing our footprint in large-scale events, specifically staffing for major sporting events, conferences, and trade shows across the country. We also have plans to develop our own technology to better support our clients and staff, with tools that improve scheduling, communication, and reporting.

What is your top productivity tip? 

My top productivity tip is to focus on progress, not perfection, and to time-block everything. I’ve learned that trying to do everything at once leads to burnout and inefficiency. Blocking specific chunks of time for emails, calls, planning, and deep work helps me stay focused and actually move things forward. Even 30 minutes of uninterrupted effort can make a big impact when you’re consistent.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

To avoid burnout, I’ve learned to give myself permission to pause. As a business owner and single mom, it’s easy to feel like I have to be “on” all the time, but I’ve realized that rest is productive too. I set boundaries around my time, I delegate when I can, and I remind myself that everything doesn’t have to happen in one day. Taking breaks, stepping away when I need to, and finding small moments to recharge is what keeps me going for the long haul.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

My approach to work-life balance is all about intentional integration. As a business owner and single mom, I know there’s no such thing as perfect balance, but I make it a priority to create space for what matters most. That means setting boundaries around work, carving out quality time with my daughter, making time for friendships, and knowing when to fully remove myself from work mode. Whether it’s a weekend with family or a simple dinner with friends, stepping away helps me recharge and show up better in all areas of my life.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

One thing I wish I had known when I started my Entreprenista journey is that it’s okay to ask for help, and that doing it all on your own doesn’t make you stronger, just more exhausted. In the beginning, I thought I had to figure everything out myself to prove I was capable. But over time, I’ve learned that building the right support system,  whether through mentorship, partnerships, or delegation, isn’t a weakness, it’s a strategy. You grow faster, smarter, and with way less burnout when you don’t try to carry it all alone.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

Tell me about your work life balance!

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family:

Yes, I’m definitely a Mamaprenista! Managing a business and a family isn’t easy, but my best advice is to drop the guilt and embrace the juggle. Some days your business will need more of you, and other days your family will, and that’s okay. The key is to be present wherever you are, stay flexible, and create systems (even small ones) that give you breathing room. Also, don’t be afraid to lean on your village, whether it’s family, friends, or hired help. You’re not supposed to do it all alone. Give yourself grace and celebrate the wins, no matter how small.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

My favorite business tool is hands down LinkedIn. It’s been one of the most powerful platforms for building real connections, growing my client base, and showcasing the work we do at CEA Staffing. I’ve used it to find decision makers, pitch partnerships, and even recruit top-tier talent. What I love most is that it’s not just a networking tool, it’s a space to tell your story, share your wins, and position yourself as a leader in your industry. It’s been a game changer for growing my business and brand.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

My advice for aspiring Entreprenistas is simple: start messy, stay consistent, and trust your gut. You don’t need the perfect plan, the perfect logo, or all the answers to begin, you just need to start. Take small steps every day, stay committed even when it’s hard, and don’t be afraid to pivot. Most importantly, surround yourself with people who uplift you. Having the right mindset and support system, it’s also one of the most empowering things you’ll ever do.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!

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