Shauna Swerland is the founder and CEO of Fuel Talent, a leading recruiting firm she launched in 2013 after two decades in the industry across San Francisco and New York. With 28 years of experience, she’s driven by a passion for connecting top companies with top talent. 

A former Division I Pac-10 tennis player at the University of Washington, Shauna has grown Fuel Talent into an award-winning firm recognized for its focus on diversity, philanthropy, and standout workplace culture. In 2019, she launched the What Fuels You podcast, where she’s interviewed more than 250 CEOs and leaders about the paths that shaped them. 

Shauna’s Fuel: She’s a member of EO and YPO, advises the UW Women in Entrepreneurial Leadership program, and invests in women-owned businesses. Outside of work, Shauna enjoys pickleball, travel, cooking, and time with her husband, three kids, and their dog, Marley.

Albert’s Fuel: Besides recruiting techs finest engineers, Albert’s passions lie around personal growth, mountaineering and ping pong. Albert lives in Seattle with his wife and three daughters.

Conlon’s Fuel: Conlon’s fuel is her family. When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her husband and daughter. Conlon is also fueled by knowing she has helped candidates find a job they love and that she has made life easier for her clients!

Derek’s Fuel: Outside of his work at Fuel, Derek enjoys time with his family of five, and is an avid real estate investor and music enthusiast.

Heather’s Fuel: With a strong interest in food and wine, Heather can often be found exploring local wineries or trying out new restaurants. She also enjoys travel, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She shares her life with her husband, Mike, stepdaughter Drew, and bulldog.

Byron’s Fuel: Byron has been playing soccer since he was six years old. Coaching and recruiting for UPS allowed him to leverage his professional skill set with his passion for soccer. Of course, being an avid soccer player has led him to be a huge Sounders fan, so do not be surprised if you see him at a match! Now he no longer coaches but attempts to play as much as possible with the WAC Soccer team.

Jessica's Fuel: Aside from her career, Jessica enjoys exploring all the Pacific Northwest has to offer. She loves spending time outdoors, hiking and being on the water, but also enjoys attending local sports events and trying new restaurants. Most of all, Jessica enjoys meeting new people and making connections wherever she goes.

Joe’s Fuel: A drummer since the age of 10, Joe continues to play traditional jazz and R&B with other local musicians on his weekends. Joe loves to spend the rest of his time with his wife Marta, his son Jordan, and their four Chihuahuas.

Aspen’s Fuel: If she’s not out with friends boating, she can be found on her couch with her cat planning her next big vacation. Her life goal is to travel the world and to always have something booked to look forward to.

Jordan’s Fuel: Outside of work, Jordan lives in the Greater Seattle area with his wife and two young boys. He enjoys golfing, hiking, and investing in real estate.

With 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, specializing in underwriting, processing, and more, Kristina built strong connections and a solid reputation that led to joining Fuel Talent in December 2024. As a client coordinator, she focuses on supporting the sales and recruiting team to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Passionate about leveraging AI and technology to drive efficiency, Kristina loves finding ways to blend innovation with human support to create the best possible experience.

Kristina’s Fuel: Born and raised in Washington, Kristina enjoys embracing the outdoors with her husband, Sennet, and their two sons, Chester and Ozzie. Whether it's snowboarding, skiing, biking, or hiking, adventure is a big part of life. She also loves traveling and exploring local breweries. At home, the family’s pug, Harvey, keeps everyone entertained with his big personality.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Mai’s journey has taken her across Northern California to Chicago and, ultimately, to the Greater Seattle area, where she now calls home. Mai earned her degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, but her passion for people and business led her down an unexpected yet fulfilling path in retail and fashion. As a sales manager for a renowned fashion retailer, Mai thrived in a fast-paced environment before transitioning into fashion buying, where she honed her skills in trend analysis, strategic planning, and consumer engagement.

Driven by her love for connecting with people, Mai eventually discovered her true calling in recruiting and staffing. She launched her staffing career as a Recruiting Coordinator and quickly advanced to a Senior Recruiter, earning a strong reputation for placing top talent and building high-performing teams for Fortune 500 clients. Committed to delivering a supportive and personalized candidate experience, she believes in making the hiring process as human and seamless as possible.  Nothing brings her more joy than seeing her candidates thrive in their new roles. With her wide range of expertise across Tech, Design, UX, MarTech, and Program & Project Management recruiting, Mai is excited to bring her skills to Fuel Talent.

Mai’s Fuel: When she’s not matching candidates with their dream jobs, you’ll find her playing the cello, riding her Peloton, gaming with family, exploring new restaurants with friends, or dabbling in her art hobbies.

Ashlee Williams supports the CEO at Fuel Talent and contributes across operations, marketing, and business strategy. Her background spans fashion, sales, private service, and executive support—bringing a versatile, solutions-oriented perspective to her work. She’s known for her adaptability, thoughtful approach, and ability to bring structure and clarity to complex workflows.

Ashlee’s Fuel: A Washington native who has lived in both New York and the San Juan Islands, she values pace, perspective, and systems that make work—and life—run more smoothly. She enjoys spending time with her family (including their mini-Aussie, Cowboy), sharing good meals with friends, and getting outside to explore the PNW.

With over 12 years of experience in recruiting and staffing, Alyssa Hemming is dedicated to building lasting partnerships that extend beyond business transactions. A Seattle native and graduate of the University of Washington, she has deep ties to the local business community and is recognized for her transparent, client-focused approach and commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Passionate about fostering meaningful connections, Alyssa takes the time to understand each client’s unique challenges and provides tailored solutions that drive lasting impact. Whether supporting companies in securing top talent or developing strategic partnerships, she brings a strong foundation of excellence, integrity, and collaboration to every engagement.

Alyssa's Fuel: Outside of work, Alyssa values quality time with her husband and two young children (ages 5 and 2). She enjoys exploring new parks, taking family walks, and creating lasting memories with friends and loved ones over a great meal and good conversation. A proud University of Washington alum, she never misses an opportunity to cheer on the Huskies.

Erin, a Seattle native now settled in Eastern Washington, brings extensive expertise to recruitment. Her career kicked off in Kirkland as an internal recruiter, working closely with hiring managers and Fortune 100 companies—some with global reach—across the Pacific Northwest and West Coast. Partnering with major accounts, Erin has placed candidates in projects and organizations that impact lives worldwide.

Passionate about fostering connections, Erin takes pride in guiding candidates through the recruitment process with care and helping hiring managers build exceptional teams.

Erin's Fuel: When she’s not recruiting top talent, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her family on their farm. She stays busy keeping up with her two kids, who are constantly involved in cheerleading or riding lessons, making life a nonstop adventure.