Grazzini’s Rebecca Heustess found her calling in tile and amplifies women in the industry
Rebecca Heustess is driven. In a good way. She is passionate about amplifying women in the industry, and is dedicated to exemplifying excellence in the trades. And she attained legend status this year when she embarked upon an odyssey to gain her Certified Tile Installer (CTI) credential, demonstrating her determination and zeal to achieve her goal, despite the obstacles.
Finding her calling
She started in the trade by launching her own carpet and vinyl install company with a partner, shifting into hardwood a few years later. She loved the trades but hadn’t yet found “the craft that truly lit me up,” she said.
Through a job posting for Grazzini Brothers in Eagan, Minn., she found her calling. She poured herself into learning everything about the tile trade, buoyed by a crew of skilled tradespeople who taught her the right way to ply her craft. “They helped shape me into the installer I am today,” she said. “Thirteen years later, I’m still with Grazzini and I truly couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”
Her hallmark as Lead Tile Setter is doing things the right way, no shortcuts or sloppy work. “I’m detail-obsessed and driven by the challenge of setting tile that’s not only beautiful, but built to last.”
Her “heart for the trade” truly sets her apart. “I’m not just here to work. I’m here to represent, to mentor, and to raise the standard,” she said. “As a woman in the field, I know eyes are on me, and I take that seriously. I lead by example, and I’m not afraid to speak up for what’s right. Tile is my craft, but building people up in the process – that’s my purpose.”
The impact of NAWIC
In 2022, Heustess joined the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and founded the Dakota Prairies Chapter #394. The following year, she served as its first and current Chapter President. Seeking connection with other women in construction, she found a sisterhood, support system and platform for change that helps dispel the isolation of the trades. She sees NAWIC as giving women a voice at the table, a chance to be seen and heard and to impact opportunities for women at all levels.
“NAWIC gave me a space to lead, learn, and lift others up,” she said. “If more women in tile joined NAWIC, we’d see a stronger, more united voice for standards, equality, and opportunity – on jobsites and beyond.”
That visibility that NAWIC provides shows women they belong in the trade, Heustess said. She urges companies to put women in the spotlight, on the tools, at the table, to build a culture that makes them want to stay and gives them the resources to excel.
“Support means more than words,” she explained. “It’s mentorship, access to training, and a crew that’s got your back. Women need to feel seen, respected, and valued for their skill, not judged by their gender.”
Growing and learning
Heustess values education and training – and has a zeal for eternal learning. She completed NTCA University training courses in technical and leadership topics, holds OSHA 30 certification, CPR certification, and her heavy terrain forklift operator license. She also completed the Competent Person training for Table 1 Silica Exposure to prioritize safety on every site. Through NAWIC, she completed the Leadership Academy with Ambition Theory. This “strengthened my voice as a leader and advocate for women in the industry,” she said. “Whether I’m tiling or training, I make it a priority to stay sharp, up-to-date, and always ready to grow.”
She’s proud that as an NTCA member company, Grazzini actively lives out the association’s mission. This means being the change they wish to see by supporting employees, treating them with dignity, and giving them the tools and trust to do their work with pride.
“Knowing we hold ourselves to the NTCA standard means something,” she said. “It raises the bar, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Chasing – and catching – her CTI
Heustess embarked on the process of gaining her credentials as a CTI to prove to herself that “beyond a doubt, I was a good tile installer.” This credential gave her validation, backing up the confidence she had in her work. It also opened doors to leadership for her, with Grazzini giving her new opportunities to lead jobs and crews.
Her journey started with the All-Woman CTI hands-on exam on International Women’s Day in March where she and 14 other women tested their mettle against the CTEF modules and the clock.
“Being in that room, surrounded by strong female setters, was deeply empowering,” she said. “But…I let the stress get the best of me. I doubted myself, second-guessed my every move, and ultimately, I failed.”
That failure fueled her, and three weeks later, she traveled to CTEF headquarters in Nashville to take the exam again. Though focused and confident, she again fell short, by just a few points. “I was devastated,” she said. “Two tests. Two failures. I started to question everything.”
But she had the rare opportunity to test again – the very next day. “I was exhausted, sore, and emotionally drained,” she explained. “Still, I showed up. I fought through the physical pain and the mental weight of self-doubt. And with the support of some amazing cheerleaders in my corner, I pushed forward. On that third attempt, I silenced the doubt and did what I do best – I tiled. I passed with flying colors.
“That day, I didn’t just earn my CTI certification, I proved to myself what I was truly made of. The grit, the determination, the refusal to quit – that’s what I’ll carry with me forever.” Now firmly anchored in confidence, she said it also gave her the “feeling that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing the work I was meant to do.”
From her early beginnings, to her embrace of the tile trade for herself and other tradeswomen, her work with NAWIC, ongoing education and upholding high standards – to the moxie that kept her going to achieve her status as CTI #1996, Heustess has demonstrated that she is a shining star in her field.
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
