The Vision Behind Gray Parker Leadership
Meet Karen
We love connecting talent with opportunity, and Karen, the founder, has made it her life's work. Her journey in recruitment began as an Account Executive with Management Recruiters International, where she quickly discovered her passion for the industry. From there, she built a new practice focused on Professional Services, taking it from nothing to a successful, thriving practice with major clients.
Transition to Corporate Recruiting
Karen then transitioned into corporate recruiting when one of her clients asked her to join their team as the first Executive Recruiter for their growing Southwest Florida presence. She moved from the Midwest to Naples, Florida, and dove into the challenge of managing recruitment during a major merger-acquisition.
Leadership in Talent Acquisition
Her next step was with Chico’s, where she played a key role in the company’s rapid growth, managing recruitment for all shared services functions and spearheading new initiatives in employment branding, recruitment marketing, and technology. At Simon Property Group, she was brought in as the first Head of Talent Acquisition, where she built the entire recruitment function for the company from the ground up.
Global Experience and Executive Search
Karen later joined a global tech organization, where she led the effort to centralize recruitment processes across a global team. She also further honed her executive search skills at Korn Ferry International, managing interim executive searches and building strong client relationships.
Building a Successful Talent Acquisition Firm
As the Founder, Karen is now focused on helping companies find the right talent to fuel their growth. Based in beautiful Naples, Florida, she is passionate about making meaningful connections and giving back to the community through charitable efforts.
