Nick Struzik, Owner of Sovereign Tile & Stone in Magnolia, Texas, has the distinction of being the very first tile contractor to attain all nine residential Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers. And he did it in 171 days, while working to build his fledgling business from the ground up.
As ACT #49, he wants to pay it forward, by training to become an evaluator to draw more Certified Tile Installers (he is CTI #1494) into the ACT program, elevating the professionalism of the trade.
Struzik set his eye on tile early. At 13 years old, with a single mom who needed things done around the house, he insisted he could take on tile projects. “She was cool enough to buy the tools and let me try,” he said. That launched him into a life of setting tile.
From there he worked for a local setter, diving into learning everything on his own. He had a yearlong partnership that ended when he and his partner took different professional paths. Struzik established his prior business, Syndicate Tile and Stone, in 2021, and was named a Coverings Rock Star that same year.
Struzik took a hiatus to deal with some health issues and started back in the industry in 2024. He established Sovereign Tile last December to focus on residential and high-end commercial, working with tile that is 24” x 48” and up. The business is in the process of establishing an identity centered on high-end installs, bolstered by credentials, attention to detail, and industry standards.
NTCA
Struzik joined NTCA when Syndicate Tile and Stone was active, valuing the education it offers as well as workshops, online resources, and networking with other members. “And of course the vouchers are always a bonus!” he said. Membership helps him stay up to date on education, new product features, “and who’s the best and brightest in the industry, pushing boundaries with what’s feasible with tile,” he said.
The path to certification
As CTI #1494, Struzik found out about the ACT certifications shortly after receiving his CTI credentials in 2018. When he re-entered the industry after his health hiatus, he decided to pursue residential ACT certifications—ALL of them.
He took his first ACT exam in July 2025. “I had a ton of questions for Scott Carothers and Bradford Denny when I was there,” he said. “When I found out that no one on the residential side currently had all nine, that was all I needed to hear! It gave me a goal and I pursued it relentlessly. Bradford will tell you I bothered the hell out of them!
“Getting all the ACTs was a phenomenal experience, from the traveling aspect to experiencing my first Mud Event, and testing live in front of others,” he added. “The camaraderie of being at those events is always great. And being at the CTEF headquarters quite a bit was a great experience. I had the opportunity to talk with Bradford at great length about a variety of topics, mostly surrounding tile.”
Struzik’s nine certifications include:
- Grouts
- Large Format Tile & Substrate Preparation
- Membranes
- Mortar (Mud) Floors
- Mortar (Mud) Walls
- Shower Receptors (B415, B421, and B421C each have their own certification)
- Gauged Porcelain Tile and Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs
Struzik said the ACT certifications have had a huge impact on his business, with fellow installers reaching out and asking him to come help on projects, and even some job offers. He had the opportunity to assist J&R Tile on some of its higher-end projects, and to enhance J&R’s apprenticeship program to better equip future installers going through the program. “It’s been amazing,” Struzik said.
He isn’t stopping there. “I am extremely interested in becoming a CTI and ACT evaluator,” he said, and is waiting—at this writing in early March—on the next evaluator training to become available.
“I want to become an evaluator to help ease the burden on the industry of more people wanting to take tests but not having enough evaluators or locations available to get everyone tested,” he explained. “I think the certifications are a great opportunity to not only grow our industry but to set in place a higher standard, much like other trades have strict licensing requirements.”
2026 and beyond
2026 holds the potential to be Struzik’s best year in business ever, with higher-level clients and projects on the horizon, as well as strategic partnerships on projects with other companies.
As much as Struzik loves the work, he said his greatest joy “is when the project is over and there’s no more stress and no more physical struggles or hard days.” He enjoys “taking that step back and looking at the final product and thinking to yourself, you built that with your own hands. It’s very fulfilling for me,” he said.
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.
