TalentRise Assists SWBR with Chief People Officer Search

July 10, 2025 – TalentRise recently assisted in the recruitment of Shannon Struzik as the new chief people officer of SWBR in Rochester, NY. “Wishing Shannon Struzik greater responsibilities and exciting challenges in this impressive new chapter,” the organization said. “SWBR has warmly welcomed Shannon Struzik as new chief people officer, marking a significant step in the firm’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a people-first culture. Struzik arrives with over 20 years of rich leadership experience spanning organizational development, strategic planning, and employee engagement, all shaped by her deep passion for aligning human potential with business vision. With a leadership style rooted in empathy, clarity, and transformation, she is poised to drive SWBR’s human capital strategy to new heights.”

Before joining SWBR, Ms. Struzik held pivotal roles at Leonard’s Express, where she served as vice president of people and development following a successful tenure as director of organizational development, marketing, and strategic initiatives. Her influence there included championing integrated people strategies that elevated business performance and fostered a resilient culture rooted in continuous improvement and purpose-driven alignment.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Struzik made lasting contributions at a renowned advertising agency where she served as associate vice president for special events. As a certified Myers-Briggs practitioner, she led initiatives in event strategy, employee development, and cultural engagement over nearly seven years. Her career also includes leading community engagement efforts at a regional nonprofit and building foundational expertise in development and production during her 11-year tenure with a prominent performing arts organization.

SWBR is an architecture, engineering, and design firm that provides integrated services across markets such as education, housing, workplace, industrial, and community spaces. The firm offers expertise in architecture, interior design, structural engineering, landscape architecture, and sustainable design. Founded in 1969, SWBR serves clients throughout the Northeast and is recognized for its collaborative approach, focusing on functionality, innovation, and long-term value in the built environment.

Founded in 2008 in Chicago, TalentRise provides executive search, interim executive placement, and talent consulting. The firm’s talent optimization model uses data-driven insights to align people and organizational strategies for optimum performance. TalentRise supports companies in nearly every vertical — retail, manufacturing, technology, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, E-commerce, and more — with custom and comprehensive talent acquisition solutions.

Finding Chief People Officers

A number of search firms have been called in to find chief people officers. Here is a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives.

NU Advisory Partners has placed Deborah DeVerna as the new chief people officer of Allvue Systems. “With your wealth of expertise in organizational development and talent strategy, we’re confident your leadership will elevate team cohesion and drive impactful results as the organization grows,” said Nada Usina, co-founder and CEO of NU Advisory Partners. Thank you to Marc Scheipe, Deborah Mason Lefkowitz, Alana Zell, Alexandra Millett, and Vista Equity Partners for your continued partnership.” With over 20 years of experience as a strategic human resources leader, Ms. DeVerna brings a robust track record of enhancing organizational effectiveness through collaborative partnership with global leadership teams. Her expertise spans talent development, culture building, and change management, making her a fantastic addition to Allvue’s executive team. Previously, she served as chief people officer at Qontigo and Octave Group, where she led impactful initiatives that fostered dynamic, people-centered workplaces.

Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital was recently retained by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to lead in its search for a chief people officer. Doug Trout, CEO of DRiWaterstone, is leading the assignment. The chief people officer is responsible for developing and executing human capital strategy in support of the organization’s plan and strategic direction, specifically in employee relations, talent management, change management, performance management, training and development, compensation, and succession planning. In collaboration with the Union of Concerned Scientists’ leadership, the chief people officer will implement policies and practices to build and maintain a unified work culture that exemplifies UCS values, thereby positioning the organization to effectively carry out its mission.

CarterBaldwin Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Arturo Towns as the chief people officer of Central States, a provider of metal building components, roofing, and building systems. The search was led by partner Andrea McDaniel Smith and search consultant Ted Wieber. “Arturo’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for Central States Inc. as we reinforce our commitment to fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture,” said Jim Sliker, CEO of Central States. “He brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and a genuine people-first approach to Central States. We are thrilled to welcome him to our leadership team and look forward to the positive impact he will make.” With a career spanning more than 25 years in human resources, Mr. Towns brings a wealth of experience in strategy, talent acquisition, and development to Central States as the 100 percent employee-owned company focuses on engaging employee-owners and advancing success.

Related: The Christopher Group Recruits Chief People Officer for Mintz Group

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media