Alex Putman
Price Industries
“I had one resume left and thought, ‘Why not?’”
Alex Putman has been named to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, the annual award recognizing up to 100 leaders in each category of talent acquisition. Honorees are nominated by peers or found by committees that look for excellent work wherever it happens, then chosen for the depth of their craft and their impact on hiring. This is Alex's story.
For Alex Putman, Head of Talent Acquisition at Price Industries, a career in recruiting began with a single resume and a bit of curiosity. Fresh out of college, he was mailing paper resumes to companies he thought might be interesting places to work, and as he made his way through the stack of applications, one company on his list remained unfamiliar.
“I had one resume left and thought, ‘Why not?’”
That company turned out to be a recruiting firm. At the time, Alex knew very little about the profession, and recruiting was not a career path that had ever crossed his mind. But after learning more about the industry and speaking with professionals who explained the impact recruiters can have on both businesses and careers, he decided to give it a shot. The decision would shape the next several decades of his professional life.
Since then, Alex has worked across nearly every corner of the talent acquisition landscape, from agency recruiting and corporate recruiting to startups, talent leadership, and even running his own business. What has remained constant throughout each chapter is his passion for building relationships.
“That's where my natural personality gravitates.”
Many of the candidates, hiring managers, and colleagues he worked with early in his career remain close connections today. For Alex, recruiting has never been about transactions. It has always been about people.
Recruiting Is a Business Function
One of the biggest lessons Alex learned throughout his career is that talent acquisition must be viewed as a true business function rather than a transactional service. Early on, recruiting often felt focused on filling jobs and processing resumes. Over time, he realized that great recruiting requires a much deeper understanding of the business itself. The most successful recruiters learn how organizations operate, understand the challenges leaders face, and position opportunities in ways that resonate with candidates.
For Alex, recruiting is fundamentally about helping people make meaningful career decisions. The job itself may be similar from one company to another; what truly matters is helping candidates understand why a particular organization, culture, leadership team, or mission creates a compelling opportunity.
“My job is to show you why you should leave here and come over here.”
That mindset led Alex to embrace employer branding long before it became a common industry term. Years before it became a formal discipline, he was creating videos, showcasing company culture, and helping candidates understand what it would actually feel like to work inside an organization.
Relationships Remain the Foundation
Throughout decades of change in recruiting, one thing has remained constant in Alex's view: relationships matter most. Technology has evolved dramatically, from paper resumes and fax machines to applicant tracking systems, sourcing platforms, and artificial intelligence, yet none of those innovations have replaced the need for authentic human connection. The strongest recruiters build trust. They understand people, they listen, and they remain connected long after a hire is made.
Looking ahead, Alex believes the future of talent acquisition will continue to blend technology with relationship building. Tools may become more sophisticated, processes may become more automated, and sourcing may become more efficient, but the recruiters who create lasting impact will be the ones who understand that recruiting is ultimately about people helping people.
By combining business acumen, entrepreneurial thinking, and a relentless focus on relationships, Alex Putman has built a career that demonstrates why great talent acquisition leaders are far more than recruiters. They are business partners, marketers, advisors, and trusted guides throughout the hiring journey.
The Talent 100 exists to celebrate the people shaping the future of how the world hires, and few embody that better than Alex. We are honored to welcome Alex Putman to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, and grateful for the experience, perspective, and craft they bring to this community. Congratulations, Alex. Welcome to the Talent 100.
About the Talent 100
The Talent 100 is an annual list spotlighting the leaders who push HR and talent acquisition forward, organized by Noon AI. Honorees are selected through peer nominations and independent selection committees. Selection is entirely merit-based, with no fees or pay-to-play requirements.
