Her Story
About Charlotte
Charlotte Russell is an accomplished entrepreneur and staffing executive with nearly 20 years of experience in workforce solutions, primarily within the hospitality industry. Her passion for staffing and service began early, as her parents owned a restaurant in Colombia where she grew up immersed in food and beverage operations. After relocating to the United States, hospitality continued to provide for her family, and she began working alongside her parents at a young age. Through hands on experience, she learned the business from the ground up, refining her skills over time and transforming that foundation into a thriving professional career. Charlotte is the Owner of CBR Staffing Services Inc., a company she founded in 2012 to provide tailored staffing solutions aligned with each client’s unique needs. She brings a strategic blend of recruiting and human resources expertise, identifying the right talent, ensuring operational efficiency, and maintaining payroll accuracy and compliance. Her daily responsibilities reflect the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship, including running workforce reports, verifying time and attendance, processing weekly payroll, managing bookings, preparing invoices, and negotiating contracts. Over the past six months, her company has experienced significant growth, marking one of the busiest and most rewarding periods of her career. Among her notable achievements is providing staffing services for a Prime Minister, an experience that stands out in her portfolio. However, she considers her greatest accomplishment to be sustaining consistent work opportunities for her staff during an unprecedented period of demand. Charlotte earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Florida International University in 2013 and later completed her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Regent University in Virginia Beach in 2019. Throughout her academic journey, she remained deeply engaged in staffing and hospitality, continuously expanding her industry knowledge while strengthening her leadership capabilities. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Charlotte combines operational precision, cultural fluency, and entrepreneurial drive to lead her organization with a strong commitment to reliability, responsiveness, and service excellence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Charlotte
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say resilience and determination. No matter what challenges come my way, I keep moving forward. I always say, either you're on my train or not, but my train is moving. I always say that in Spanish. I also don’t shy away from challenges; I adapt quickly and find solutions. I’ve built my business from the ground up, and I’ve always believed that if you stay consistent, treat people right, and put in the work, results will follow. I also care deeply about my team—I want them to have opportunities and stability, and that mindset has helped me grow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is simple: don’t be afraid to take the jump. If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never start. I’ve learned that taking risks, staying consistent, and figuring things out along the way is what leads to real growth.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to trust their instincts, take initiative, and not shy away from leadership opportunities. Learn every aspect of the business, from operations to client relations—so you can lead with confidence and credibility. Surround yourself with people who push you to grow, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries and standards for how you want to be treated in the workplace. Remember to stay humble and treat people with respect—your reputation will take you far.
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04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the hospitality and staffing industry right now is workforce retention and finding reliable, qualified talent in a constantly changing environment. The industry is extremely fast-paced, and businesses are navigating labor shortages, changing regulations, rising operational costs, and high client expectations all at once. Constant immigration laws and changes in legislature have also affected the industry in different ways. In South Florida there is also a constant demand for experienced hospitality staff for hotels, luxury events, conventions, and large-scale productions, which can make staffing and retention very competitive.
At the same time, I believe there are tremendous opportunities for growth. Major events like Formula 1, Art Basel, conventions, and international tourism continue to bring business into the South Florida market, creating strong demand for hospitality professionals and staffing support. Companies that can adapt quickly, build dependable teams, maintain professionalism, and provide consistent service will continue to stand out. I also believe technology, better training, and investing in employees will play a major role in shaping the future of the industry
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, responsibility, and reliability. In this industry, your word and your reputation are everything. I believe in being transparent, following through on commitments, and holding myself and my team to a high standard. Building trust with both clients and staff is at the core of everything I do. I believe in treating people with respect, working hard, and doing things the right way, even when no one is watching. Those values have guided me both personally and in growing my business.
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