Our Team
Why We’re Here
Our team exists to end the idea that work happens apart from life. The four of us spent much of our careers building and living in an award-winning culture that celebrated individual strengths, championed unified systems and prioritized well-being. We designed a people-first workplace where every action was aligned to “gutsy” core values that echoed the lived experiences of real employees. After seeing how delicate and vital a people-centric culture was to the success of the business, we made it our mission to help leaders create organizations where people can breathe, belong and grow.
Shawn Gulyas
humanworks8 was born out of a belief that people matter. Period. Shawn exists to design and facilitate creative experiences that challenge one’s thinking and action – helping individuals and companies find their authenticity, breathe into their well-being, and elevate their people touchpoints. 
humanworks8 was born out of a belief that people matter. Period. Shawn exists to design and facilitate creative experiences that challenge one’s thinking and action – helping individuals and companies find their authenticity, breathe into their well-being, and elevate their people touchpoints. 
After a career filled with growth and learning with The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC) as Vice President of Human Resources, Shawn decided to venture out and get his hands dirty with other organizations in need of bringing their work to life through championing people. Shawn and his team have guided organizations in discovering what is at the core of their reason for being, developing unique performance management practices, enlivening their talent discovery process, establishing clarity in strategic planning and helping individuals add their greatest value through understanding their natural instincts and unique abilities.
Think of Shawn as a “jump-starter” of energy and ideas around the belief that everyone matters and as a leader who creates cultures and communities where values, natural instincts and well-being are the essence of success. Other things Shawn believes in: Peace, Wonder and Yoda.
Rebecca Swanson
Rebecca’s ability to make optimistic human connections with ease and foster meaningful relationships has contributed to a recruiting career that has spanned more than 20 years. She is an employer brand ambassador, linking all talent actions back to the organization’s core purpose and values to ensure she’s connecting the right people to the right opportunities in partnership with hiring leaders.
Rebecca’s ability to make optimistic human connections with ease and foster meaningful relationships has contributed to a recruiting career that has spanned more than 20 years. She is an employer brand ambassador, linking all talent actions back to the organization’s core purpose and values to ensure she’s connecting the right people to the right opportunities in partnership with hiring leaders.
Rebecca has a demonstrated history of securing talent in a variety of disciplines and has had focus on human resources, compensation management, career development, and talent lifecycle engagement.
At humanworks8, think of Rebecca as the talent connector, weighing in on all things talent lifecycle – from first impression to onboarding. When she’s not professionally networking, Rebecca appreciates time spent socializing with friends and family, practicing yoga, and enjoying life with her husband and three dogs through good food, hiking and travel.
AJ Kruse
AJ was born to gain understandings and find improvements that he can organize and share with others. He needs to make things make sense, not only for himself, but for you as well. His resilient curiosity is illuminated by people and discovering how they work.
AJ was born to gain understandings and find improvements that he can organize and share with others. He needs to make things make sense, not only for himself, but for you as well. His resilient curiosity is illuminated by people and discovering how they work.
This quality, along with his knack for joining backstage design and front stage presentation has guided him through a dynamic professional career that began in elementary education and has continued in organizational development. After making the leap to corporate education, AJ led learning & development at two Milwaukee area businesses before embarking with Shawn, Rebecca and Sarah to launch humanworks8.
For humanworks8, think of AJ as someone who holds fast, lighting the path to improvement and handing you tools to make the journey a success. What else makes AJ tick? Faith, family and Friday night pizza.
Sarah Marshall
With a passion for helping people bring their whole selves to work and an addiction to organization, Sarah breaks down the big picture into calculated actions. This can be said for whatever she’s working on – from planning a family vacation to building an intranet site. Sarah excels at envisioning, road mapping and executing strategies around organizational communication, employee engagement, employer branding and event planning.
With a passion for helping people bring their whole selves to work and an addiction to organization, Sarah breaks down the big picture into calculated actions. This can be said for whatever she’s working on – from planning a family vacation to building an intranet site. Sarah excels at envisioning, road mapping and executing strategies around organizational communication, employee engagement, employer branding and event planning.
Sarah’s trust in the power of connection combined with her Journalism and MBA degrees have led her to roles at a small start-up, large corporation, non-profit and more.
At humanworks8, Sarah serves as the experience architect, building the roadmap for communications and people experiences. During “me time,” you can find Sarah at a workout class, enjoying the great outdoors or playing board games, probably still managing to organize something into a spreadsheet.
Jeanna Bunke
With a background in recruitment, education and non-profit work, Jeanna brings her passion for relationship-building and dot-connecting to humanworks8. Using her capacity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, Jeanna meets people where they are at, with an emphasis on respect and trust.
With a background in recruitment, education and non-profit work, Jeanna brings her passion for relationship-building and dot-connecting to humanworks8. Using her capacity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, Jeanna meets people where they are at, with an emphasis on respect and trust.
At humanworks8, Jeanna serves as the Development & Growth Leader, creating, nurturing and maintaining relationships in an authentic manner. Her creative ideas and passion for telling the humanworks8 story contribute to the growing community of business leaders leveraging humanworks8 solutions to help their organizations elevate culture and efficiency.
Jeanna enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, exploring Milwaukee’s food scene and singing in the cover band, Stray Voltage.
humanworks8 in Action
Check out photos of our team out and about, whether we’re giving back, supporting our partners, networking or navigating a high ropes course!
