Do you want to know what makes us tick? Why have we become the Mexican tile experts? Do you want to see the faces behind the friendly voices you speak to at Rustico Tile & Stone? These are our people in the office – there are so many others behind the phone calls, chats, and emails!
I started selling tile on eBay many moons ago. That little venture took off and (through the grace of God) brought us to our USA staff of 9 people and our Mexican producers, vendors, and logistics people of over 200. The catalyst for this growth has been nothing less than divine intervention, pursuit over obstacles, and a generous dose of humor. We’ve failed, succeeded, and grown to love our industry and our Rustico family.
The Important Questions
I asked a few of our full-time office staff these questions:
1. What is your favorite thing about working at Rustico?
2. What are your hobbies?
3. Where do you enjoy volunteering? (We offer each full-time member of our staff paid time off to volunteer in our community.)
See what we have to say.
Noah
Driver of Dreams Fulfillment
Meet Noah. If you’ve purchased or plan on purchasing Saltillo tile, this is your guy! He’s been part of the Rustico family for over 2 years. Hands down, Noah knows more about Saltillo tile than almost anyone in the country. He’s an expert when it comes to this product line. Noah is the friendliest person in our office. He’s is good for a warm hug and a friendly chat and has a deep commitment to our mission of caring for people and creating beautiful spaces.
Noah’s Answers –
1. I love the overall atmosphere working in a small office, developing a close relationship with my coworkers really makes every day feel like I’m spending time with family! I also love helping customers create something truly amazing with our material. It’s so cool to see a project go from a quote to a completed installation!
2. I love art, and really enjoy making new creations with paint or mixed media!
3. I enjoy volunteering at Caritas of Austin, a non-profit focused on helping our local homeless population. Serving lunch is my favorite!
Martha
Service Superhero
Meet Martha. Martha has been with us for over a year. Martha plays the role of command central in our office. She creates synergy that stems from all areas of our business—processes orders and payments, coordinates logistics, answers customer “where’s my stuff” questions, and generally balances the challenges thrown at her by every single person in our office. She’s also our in-house expert on cement tile. Her presence is felt sincerely and affectionately.
Martha’s Answers –
1. I like working at Rustico because it’s a small (family) company. For the most part, it’s a relaxed atmosphere. (That’s the “most part” qualification, Martha.) And it’s a different line of work than anything I’ve ever done.
2. My hobbies include spending time with my family. I love watching movies and reading.
3. I enjoy volunteering at the Angel House Soup Kitchen in Austin. I would like to start volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center
Ray
Warlord of Masterminds & Head Chef
Meet Ray. Ray co-founded this company with me almost 15 years ago. We’ve been around the block together – in marriage, parenting, and as business partners. Ray is our backbone. He tackles the hard issues and runs our entire operation in Mexico. It’s because of Ray that we can manufacture and import our products from Mexico. Ray is the most generous person that I know. He would give anyone the shirt off his back. He has a deep love for the Lord which is demonstrated through his service to our staff, customers, and our community.
Ray’s Answers –
1. The best part about working at Rustico is working with my wife. (I did not prompt that answer!) Being from Mexico initially, it’s meaningful to work with and provide work to our people in Mexico. I don’t go to sleep at night without considering it a humble blessing to provide employment for so many people there. Work is our mission field. And it’s a mutual fit – we create the demand for artisan products, and they make it. We can’t do it without one another.
2. I love fitness – especially CrossFit. I enjoy playing with my kids and boating on Lake Travis.
3. I enjoy volunteering at my church. Through our business, Melanie and I have provided life-changing opportunities (extra work, housing, financial assistance) for people in need. We may not reach the masses, but we can reach one person at a time.
Melanie
Ringleader of Toilet Cleaning & Deep Thoughts
Meet Melanie. That’s me! When I started selling tile on eBay, I had no idea how the cards would unfold. Over the years, Ray and I have been able to employ many people, we’ve gained great friends in the industry, and we’ve made nearly every mistake that’s possible to make. We learn from those mistakes and try to make our business better. While Ray handles the production and logistics side of our business, I’m tasked with marketing and sales distribution. I still clean the toilets on occasion too! We all do.
Melanie’s Answers –
1. I love the hands behind the work. There are hands of people that are the catalyst for beautiful architecture. Because all our products are handmade, I do my best to communicate the story of the hands in Mexico who have been following age-old artisan processes. We’ve improved our products and operations over the years, but we’ve maintained the integrity of the craftsmanship. And I love the people with whom I work every day.
2. My favorite hobby is spending time with my family. My kids are young enough to ‘want’ to play with me… so I’m relishing that right now.
3. I actively volunteer at our church and through Young Life. Introducing young people to Jesus and helping them grow in faith blesses me beyond measure. I also spearhead our materials donations to Habitat for Humanity.
Dogs of Rustico
Chief of Cuddles & Bad Breath
On any given day, you’ll meet a fur baby in the Rustico offices. The owners like to bring their pups to work. We all benefit from cuddles, slobber, and their stinky-loving breath!
Dealing with Rustico Tile was a great pleasure! Finding and purchasing tile on the Big Island of Hawaii is not only a difficult task, but usually a very expensive one also–“the price of paradise.” When I first hit the site, I was blown away! When I spoke with Shelley, I knew this was possible… When I would call from HI (5 hr. difference), they (Marsha, Shelley) were always ready to help and smooth out the process. Great people, great service, great product!
These are just a few Mexican tile experts representing our company. Many others float in and out of our offices, warehouse, and factories. We consider each person – from sales, customer service, logistics, and production – part of our Rustico family. God continues to bless us richly with our people.
Our office is located in Leander, Texas – just outside Austin. Consider this your personal invitation to pop in and say hello to the Mexican tile experts. If you need information about any of our products, give us a call or Request a Quote online.
We want to help you Make Every Space Count.
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