Catching up with… Mercury Mosaics’ Mercedes Austin
Mosaic Artist. Chief Idea Baker. Founder. CEO. Is there anything Mercedes Austin cannot do? We caught up to her to chat about what a typical day looks like, the crazy thing that ever happened on the job, and much more.
What’s the most cherished item in your office?
The wall of colorful tile samples.
What’s your favorite time to get things done?
Between 8 a.m.– 10:30 a.m.
What’s the soundtrack that plays in the background of your office?
Coffee Shop Essentials—really good behind the scenes music.
Name the band you cannot take off your playlist.
Billy Joel
What does a typical workday look like?
Heading into a brightly lit office, collaborative work sessions in our conference room, phone calls, offsite meetings, evening inbox scheduled for sends the next morning and on hustle days—strength training.
What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened to you on a job site?
Being challenged I would not meet an installation deadline (rightly so, I used to install all of our tiles one by one before we had mesh). We now sheet mount 80% of our tile. I worked overnight to prove to the GC that my scope of work would not hold up the construction schedule. As a result, we have since innovated with mesh mounted tile patterns to create jobsite efficiency with our tile patterns.
What are you binge watching right now?
So Help Me Todd, Season 1.
What’s the coolest thing you have done since the pandemic hit?
Reestablished my work as a mosaic artist with Mercedes Austin Art, and built the sister brand Mosaic Candy Shop alongside leading Mercury Mosaics being a steadily performing company.
What has this experience taught you?
As a creative, you can both embrace the business and the artistry side of your work. You don’t have to be one or the other.
Favorite comfort food?
Red Grapes & Truffle Potato Chips.
Best advice you ever received?
“Find something you’re passionate about and stay tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child
Biggest influence in your life?
My husband. He has taught me that it’s okay to be me and that it’s important to take care of myself. In the early years of Mercury Mosaics, I slept in our shipping department two nights a week just to “keep the train in motion.” I was an emotional wreck. Although I thought I was “hacking the matrix and saving time,” I was really wasting time, making irrational decisions and damaging my well-being.
Today, with self-care, I’m a much more effective leader and as we’ve all learned in the last few years, personal well-being is more important than ever.
What trait do you most admire?
Willingness to learn. I respect people who can see a vision and not be afraid to get out there and build toward it, learning along the way, communicating, collaborating, failing and continuing until they have reached the vision.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t try to get everyone’s approval. It’ll never happen. If you stay true to yourself, your sense of who you are is key. Dignity is worth far more than outside sources and fuels the peace of mind you’ve been seeking. You’ll eventually surround yourself with like-hearted people and things work out better than you were even anticipating.
Trust in yourself. Be kind. Do the most good. Keep coloring on walls and use tiles instead of markers.
Catching up with… SMACNA’s Carol Duncan
The President of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and one of the owners of General Sheet Metal, dishes on the favorite items in her office, the best time of the day to get things done and what a typical day
Catching up with Gerard Construction’s Rosanna Bio
The Director of Business Development talks about the power of family, the promise of work and why it is important to document every step of your journey. What’s the most cherished item in your office? A picture of my Dad. He was the greatest man
Catching up with… Empower Rental Group’s Theresa Ragan
The District Sales Manager dishes on what she gets done early in the morning, her favorite playlist band and the new hobby that is occupying her time. What is the most cherished item in your office? Picture of my girls. What is your favorite time
Sitting down with… MF Project Management’s Michele Fleming
The Senior Project Manager of MF Project Management on her favorite time of the day to get things done, the craziest thing that ever happened on a job, and how her mother’s childhood advice to her still rings true today. What’s the most cherished item
Catching up with… Firehouse Subs’ Jen Abernathy
The Director of Development for Firehouse Subs Brand on the art of binge watching your favorite shows in between your little kids’ favorites, the beauty of white noise machines and the mentors who inspired her. What’s the most cherished item in your office? A coaster
Catching up with… Ad Art Sign Co.’s Wendy Sabine
The Senior Business Development Manager dishes on the time she couldn’t find a jobsite (not her fault), how the inside of an airplane could be her second office and why her children are the biggest influence in her life. What’s the most cherished item in
Catching up with… Little’s Michael Magee
The Studio Principal of Retail for Little names the band he cannot take off his playlist, the lessons learned from the past few years and the advice he would give to his younger self. What’s the most cherished item in your office? During COVID, I
Sitting down with… The Pivotal Investment’s Samuel White
The founder and Principal of the investor resource firm, The Pivotal Investment, on the biggest influence on his life, the craziest thing that ever happened on a jobsite and why love conquers all. What’s the most cherished item in your office? A photo that my
Sitting down with Rectenwald Brothers’ Art Rectenwald
The President and CEO of Rectenwald Brothers Construction Inc. on why Starbucks Iced Americano is his go-to morning starter, the importance of focusing on what you can control and how his mother’s example keeps him charging forward. What is the most cherished item in your
Catching up with Warwick Construction’s Walt Watzinger
The VP of Operations for Warwick Construction dishes on the best time to get things done, a typical work day and what advice he would give his younger self. What’s the most cherished item in your office? It’s actually a bunch of things. I buy
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The 2024 virtual Men’s Round Table will be held Q4, 2024, date TBD.
2024 Virtual Men’s Round Tables
2023 Virtual Men’s Round Table was held on November 7th, 2023 via Zoom.
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