Brennan Buell’s plan was to become a teacher.
The plan changed, though, before they even got to college graduation.
“I never landed on whether I wanted to teach at the high school or collegiate level,” says Buell, who earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Alaska Southeast in May 2014.
While working on that degree in 2012, Buell accepted a position as an office assistant with the State of Alaska. Already hesitant to commit to spending more time (and money) pursuing a master’s degree, Buell’s entry-level public sector experience led to a professional epiphany.
“Alaska had several required trainings that all employees had to take in person. I attended three trainings, and I found that I enjoyed one because the trainer was engaging and dynamic, while the other two trainers simply read from a training manual at a podium.
“I realized that I could still teach, but in a different capacity than I originally thought, without having to go directly into a master’s program,” continues Buell, who is currently human resources manager for the Utah State Legislature’s Office of Legislative Services.
“And I could create meaningful impact for individuals in everyday environments without an academic paywall.”
Buell also noticed a common denominator among many of the State of Alaska employees who delivered the training they received during their early days on the job.
“They were all HR employees, so I started applying for HR jobs, with the goal of becoming a trainer.”
Buell landed that first HR role in May 2013, when they were promoted to a human resource consultant position with the State of Alaska. Buell moved on to serve in a similar capacity with the State of Washington from March 2017 to January 2018.
Buell did go on to become a trainer, working in that role with Nisqually Red Wind Casino in Olympia, Wash., from August 2018 through December 2023.
Buell moved to Utah at the end of that year, to take a position as a senior human resource consultant with the Utah State Legislature’s Office of Legislative Services.
Their first experience with PSHRA came around the same time.
“When I moved to Utah in 2023, a co-worker introduced me to PSHRA,” says Buell. “I attended my first PSHRA annual conference in 2024, and I have attended a plethora of webinars as well.”
(Buell joined PSHRA as a member in December 2023, earned the PSHRA-CP certification in May 2026, and also delivered a presentation on AI’s impact on professional development at PSHRA26 in Portland, Ore.)
Named HR manager in April 2025, Buell has since worked with the state’s finance team “to ensure our HR team is always current on our PSHRA membership, because PSHRA content is so relevant to our work, unlike other professional associations.”
Buell is currently focused on finishing a master’s degree in HR management through Western Governors University by the end of 2027—and on earning the PSHRA-SCP credential in the near future as well. Buell credits PSHRA with playing a key part in their continuing development, along with the development of their colleagues in the state legislature’s HR department.
PSHRA “has not only built my personal credentials, but [the association] has enhanced the trust and credibility for me and my HR team within our organization.”
09 October 2026
Category
Stories of Impact
