Ana Arias
Ana Cristina Arias is a Certified Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist at Gray, where she leverages over eight years of experience in recruiting across industries such as architecture, interior design, engineering, software, IT development, and healthcare. With certifications from LinkedIn and the Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR), Ana combines strategic insight with people-centered recruiting to connect exceptional talent with innovative companies. At Gray, she plays a key role in sourcing and hiring top professionals for complex, design-build projects across the country.
Ana holds a degree in Business Administration and a professional certification in Culinary Arts, an uncommon combination that enhances her creativity, adaptability, and client understanding. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian—with intermediate proficiency in German—she brings a multicultural perspective and an ability to build authentic relationships across diverse backgrounds. Her work is driven by a commitment to excellence, communication, and collaboration in every interaction.
Beyond her professional career, Ana is deeply involved in her community, volunteering for over a decade with the Catholic Action Center and the Lexington Humane Society. She believes that empathy and service are the foundation of meaningful work, both inside and outside the office. Passionate about continuous growth and lifelong learning, Ana is dedicated to fostering strong connections, empowering others, and helping organizations build the teams that drive their success.
• Strategic Talent Acquisition
• Learning LinkedIn Recruiter by Garrick Chow
• Universidad Rafael Urdaneta
• SHRM
• SHEP
• Volunteer at Catholic Action Center - Lexington
• Volunteer at Lexington Humane Society
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to faith, consistency, and a genuine care for people. I believe in working hard, treating others with respect, and trusting that doing the right thing leads to the right opportunities. In my role as a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Gray Construction, I focus on connecting top talent with highly technical roles in construction and engineering. I’m passionate about building meaningful relationships, listening to both candidates and hiring managers, and ensuring every placement creates lasting value for everyone involved.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from a former HR director who taught me that recruiting isn’t about speed — it’s about precision and people. I’ve been fortunate to work with leaders who emphasized integrity and follow-through, but her example stood out. She modeled patience and empathy, two qualities I now strive to bring to every placement I make.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to start in-house if possible—it’s an invaluable way to understand company culture, leadership, and business strategy on a deeper level. Stay curious, remain humble, and never stop learning. Most importantly, treat everyone—from candidates to coworkers—with the respect and kindness you’d hope to receive. Genuine respect will take you further than you might expect.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in our field right now is keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology and rising candidate expectations. Recruiting moves fast, and AI is transforming how we source, assess, and communicate with talent. But that shift also presents a huge opportunity — to leverage data and automation to make the process smarter and more efficient, while still maintaining the human connection that builds trust. Striking the right balance between technology and empathy is where the real success lies.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me—both professionally and personally—are connection, growth, and creativity. As a member of SHRM and SHEP, I’m committed to continuous learning and staying engaged with the evolving trends in our industry. Outside of work, I find joy and balance through my family, home renovation projects, and cooking. I actually went to culinary school years ago and still love creating Italian dishes—at one point, I even made wedding cakes just for fun!