Today we’d like to introduce you to Neri Centeno.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey in the events industry began in 2011, when I attended a free balloon-decoration course. From that very first class, I felt a special connection—balloons and I simply clicked. I discovered not only a way to express my creativity, but also an opportunity to transform spaces, celebrate meaningful moments, and connect with people.
At the time, I was working as a public accountant for a mining company. Alongside my full-time career, I began pursuing professional training in the events industry. Whenever experienced decorators traveled to my country’s capital to teach, I found a way to attend their classes. The more I learned, the more excited I became, and the more clearly I could see that this industry would become an important part of my life.
Eager to share what I had learned, I began offering free decorating classes in my city. A few months later, I opened a store in a shopping mall that sold supplies for balloon decorators and also operated as a gift shop. At that stage, children’s parties were my specialty. I decorated events, managed the store, and taught classes to train aspiring decorators.
In 2012, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. After a 15-year professional career, I left my accounting position to devote myself fully to my decorating and gift business. It was a decision that came with many challenges, but it also gave me the opportunity to pursue what I truly loved.
I continued my education and earned my CBA designation as a Certified Balloon Artist. I also joined the Qualatex Balloon Network, one of the world’s leading professional networks in the balloon industry. Gradually, my work became known beyond my hometown. I began receiving invitations to teach in different cities and states throughout my country, eventually gaining national recognition. Later, opportunities arose for me to teach internationally in Colombia, Brazil, Aruba, and the United States.
In 2016, I immigrated to the United States because of political persecution in my home country. Starting over was not easy. I arrived with experience, professional training, and many dreams, but I also had to adapt to a different culture, learn how a new market operated, and work tirelessly to rebuild my career. That same year, I had the honor of being invited to teach at the Globo-Con convention in California. That experience confirmed that my knowledge and passion could transcend borders.
In 2017, I established EnglobArt Events Inc. in Kansas City. While building the company, I worked at a restaurant and drove for Uber. I am not ashamed of that part of my story; on the contrary, it reminds me that meaningful growth begins with humility, perseverance, and a willingness to do whatever honest work is necessary to move forward.
In 2020, I became certified as an International Master Wedding & Event Planner, allowing us to expand our services and support our clients through a more comprehensive event experience. Over the years, I have also had the privilege of training hundreds of balloon decorators throughout Kansas City and the surrounding areas. My instruction goes beyond decorating techniques: I also teach sales strategies, customer service, and professional development because I want every student to have the tools to turn their talent into a genuine opportunity for growth.
In 2022, I launched my training program for wedding planners, further establishing an educational academy focused on the events and balloon-decoration industries. The academy continues to grow with a mission to educate, encourage, and support other entrepreneurs—especially those who need someone to recognize and believe in their potential.
In 2024, after years of building a strong client base, my husband, Freddy Bideau, and I acquired Sunflower Events Hall in Kansas City. The venue represents much more than a business to us. It is the fulfillment of a dream—a place where families celebrate unforgettable moments and where we can provide a complete experience, from planning and design to décor and event production.
Education has been the foundation of every chapter of my life. I deeply believe that knowledge is power, but I also believe it becomes even more valuable when it is shared. For that reason, one of my greatest sources of fulfillment is not simply creating beautiful events, but helping others develop their talents, strengthen their confidence, and build paths of their own.
In addition to my experience in the events industry, I am a Master Life Coach. Listening to, guiding, and supporting people is one of my greatest strengths and passions. When I look back, I see a story built one step at a time: first as an accountant, then as a balloon artist, instructor, entrepreneur, wedding planner, and event-venue owner. It has not been a simple or perfect journey, but it has been filled with learning, faith, perseverance, and gratitude.
I still feel that I am writing this story. I continue to learn, grow, and work with the same excitement I felt during that first free balloon-decoration class in 2011.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has definitely not been an easy journey. Immigrating meant much more than moving to another country. It meant leaving behind an entire life—a well-established career, my business, my professional reputation, my relationships, and everything I had spent years building.
When I arrived in the United States, the only tools from my profession that I could bring in my suitcase were a balloon inflator and a few balloons, along with several changes of clothes. Materially, it was very little. However, I carried something that could not be left behind: my knowledge, experience, faith, and determination to begin again.
Being an immigrant made the journey especially challenging. I had to learn a new language, understand a different culture, and find my place within a multicultural market. I also had to discover new ways to communicate, promote my services, and earn people’s trust. Although I already had experience and professional training, I was virtually unknown here and had to prove myself all over again.
The lack of startup capital was another significant obstacle. I did not have the financial resources to begin the way I would have preferred, so every small step forward required sacrifice, creativity, and hard work. While building my company, I worked at a restaurant and drove for Uber. There were exhausting days and moments of uncertainty, but I understood that those jobs were part of the process of supporting my family while moving closer to my purpose.
Building a client base from the ground up required me to develop my full potential and place it genuinely at the service of every person who trusted me. Each event became an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of my work. I did not always have extensive resources, but I consistently offered excellence, responsibility, personalized attention, and deep respect for my clients’ dreams.
One of my greatest challenges was accepting that, despite everything I had accomplished before, I had to begin again. However, I also learned that starting over does not necessarily mean starting from zero. I brought years of experience, knowledge, discipline, and a vision that no circumstance could take away from me.
God has been the key to overcoming every obstacle. My faith sustained me when the road was uncertain and gave me the strength to continue when the results were not yet visible. I cannot say that the process was easy, but every challenge strengthened my character, reaffirmed my purpose, and taught me to appreciate every door that opened.
Today, I look back with humility and gratitude. That suitcase may have appeared to carry very little, but it actually contained the essential tools I needed to rebuild my life: a balloon inflator, a few balloons, my preparation, my faith, and the decision never to give up.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Englobart events Inc?
EnglobArt Events Inc. is a full-service event planning, design, décor, and production company based in Kansas City. We specialize primarily in weddings, quinceañeras, social celebrations, and corporate events. We also provide professional balloon décor, floral arrangements, rentals, entertainment, and other services that allow us to support our clients from their first idea through the final execution.
Our mission extends far beyond creating beautiful spaces. We want every client to feel heard, supported, and confident throughout the entire process. We understand that organizing an event can feel overwhelming, especially when someone does not know where to begin, how much to invest, or how to coordinate multiple vendors. Our role is to transform a vision—even one that is not yet fully defined—into an organized, meaningful, and memorable experience.
What sets us apart is our combination of creativity, strategic planning, and deeply personal service. To us, excellence is not found only in the décor or the major visual elements. It is also reflected in punctuality, organization, communication, the kindness of our team, and the peace of mind our clients feel knowing that someone is carefully managing every aspect of their celebration.
We use an effective planning system that helps us organize every stage, anticipate needs, and coordinate vendors carefully. We also make the most of technology to develop visual proposals, manage processes, maintain clear communication, and create more personalized experiences. In addition, we have developed structured systems for marketing, sales, and customer service that allow us to serve our clients in an organized, welcoming, and consistent manner.
However, no system can replace empathy. Behind every event is a story, a family, a dream, and often years of sacrifice. We listen carefully, respect each client’s budget and priorities, and seek solutions tailored to their needs. We want our clients to enjoy not only the day of their celebration, but also the journey leading up to it.
One of the brands I am most proud of is Sunflower Events Hall, the event venue my husband and I acquired in 2024. This space has allowed us to bring our planning, design, décor, and production experience together under one roof and provide more comprehensive celebrations. I am also deeply proud of our educational academy, through which we have trained hundreds of decorators and aspiring event professionals. To me, success is not only about growing our own company; it is also about helping others discover their talents and turn them into meaningful opportunities.
The most important thing I want readers to know about our brand is that they do not have to plan their event alone. If you have a celebration in mind but do not know where to begin, we will guide you every step of the way. We offer a complimentary initial consultation to listen to your ideas, understand your needs, and help you identify the best options.
We also provide all-inclusive packages and financing plans that make organizing a celebration simpler and more accessible. Our purpose is to help every client experience a meaningful, impeccably executed, and stress-free event, supported by a passionate team that cares for their celebration as if it were our own.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Ningún logro se construye en solitario. A lo largo de este camino he tenido la bendición de contar con personas que han creído en mí, me han sostenido en los momentos difíciles y han contribuido, de diferentes maneras, al crecimiento de nuestra empresa.
En primer lugar, deseo reconocer a mi esposo, Freddy Bideau. Además de ser mi compañero de vida, es mi socio, mi apoyo constante y una parte esencial de todo lo que hemos construido. Profesionalmente es conocido como DJ Freddy, un reconocido DJ de Kansas City que comenzó su trayectoria cuando era adolescente. Su experiencia en la música y el entretenimiento, junto con su capacidad para conectar con las personas, ha complementado mi trabajo de una manera extraordinaria. Hemos aprendido a unir nuestras fortalezas y a convertir nuestros sueños individuales en una visión compartida. Sunflower Events Hall y EnglobArt Events Inc. también son el resultado de su esfuerzo, sacrificio y confianza en mí.
Mi hijo también merece un reconocimiento muy especial. Él es una de mis mayores fuentes de inspiración y el motor que me impulsa a seguir adelante. Muchas de las decisiones que he tomado y los sacrificios que he realizado han estado motivados por el deseo de construir un mejor futuro para nuestra familia y enseñarle, mediante el ejemplo, que los sueños requieren trabajo, perseverancia, fe y disciplina.
Estoy profundamente agradecida con todo nuestro equipo de trabajo. En cada evento dejamos de ser personas con funciones individuales y nos convertimos en un solo equipo con un propósito común: crear momentos felices para nuestros clientes. Decoradores, coordinadores, meseros, bartenders, personal de producción, proveedores y colaboradores aportan su talento y dedicación. Cada celebración impecablemente ejecutada lleva detrás muchas manos, largas horas de preparación y personas comprometidas con hacer bien su trabajo.
También reconozco a todos los maestros, mentores, asesores y profesionales que han aportado un granito de arena a mi educación y formación. Cada curso, consejo, corrección y palabra de ánimo me ayudó a crecer, tanto en el ámbito profesional como en el personal. Una parte de lo que hoy comparto con mis propios estudiantes nació de la generosidad de quienes estuvieron dispuestos a compartir primero sus conocimientos conmigo.
Finalmente, quiero expresar mi más profundo agradecimiento a nuestros clientes. Ellos han sido fundamentales en esta historia. Confiaron en mí cuando estaba comenzando nuevamente en un país diferente, recomendaron mi trabajo y nos permitieron formar parte de algunos de los momentos más importantes de sus vidas. Cada familia que nos entrega sus sueños también nos entrega una enorme responsabilidad, y esa confianza nunca la damos por sentada.
Si hoy puedo mirar todo lo construido con orgullo y gratitud, es porque muchas personas caminaron a mi lado. Aunque a veces una empresa lleva el nombre o el rostro de una persona, detrás de cada logro existe una comunidad entera que creyó, colaboró y ayudó a hacerlo posible.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies depending on the type of event, guest count, services selected, and level of customization. We offer flexible options, all-inclusive packages, and financing plans designed to accommodate a range of needs and budgets. Our pricing is transparent and publicly available on our website. We invite readers to visit [INSERT WEBSITE ADDRESS] to explore our packages or schedule a complimentary consultation. During the consultation, we help each client identify the best options for their vision, priorities, and budget.
- For current pricing and package details, please visit www.sunflowereventshall.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunflowereventshall.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunflowerevents_kc?igsh=ZDZ0Y2FqdXBkYXk2&utm_source=qr
