HEATHER RICE

President / Smart Concrete Technologies

Heather Rice is the Founder and President of Smart Concrete Technologies, a company committed to assisting with all flooring needs - from mitigation and installation to project management. Led by Heather, who is considered an expert by her peers in all things flooring prep, Smart Concrete Technologies does it all with integrity, on-time scheduling, and on-budget competency. Heather's extensive knowledge of the industry and what manufacturers have to offer make her a resource throughout the AEC community.

After many years working for major manufacturers, Heather made the decision to branch out on her own and begin offering Independent Moisture Testing for concrete slabs. Once manufacturers realized Heather had become a “free agent,” she began receiving opportunities to represent various product lines. Heather is proud to currently represent Maxxon Corporation, Spray-Lock Concrete Protection & Adhesives, and Aquafin. While promoting these solutions within the AEC community, Heather pursued and earned WBE/DBE certifications, which opened the door to partnering on several large-scale, high-profile projects, including notable collaborations: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Salesforce Tower, the Obama Presidential Center, and Illinois Masonic. Each project—and each mentor along the way—has shaped Heather's expertise and continues to inspire her growth.

As the leader of a successful Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and an expert flooring consultant with over 20 years of industry experience, Heather stays grounded and motivated with the support of her husband, two teenage daughters, and dog. She knows that every milestone, big or small, has fueled her determination to reach the next one and is excited for what lies ahead. Just years into starting Smart Concrete Technologies, Heather secured a warehouse space and expanded her team with two full-time employees and several part-time staff. She has been a member of Construction Specification Institute for nearly 20 years, and has earned and maintained her Construction Document Technology (CDT) certification. She has served as a past Vice President, a Board Member, and was appointed to the Board of Directors as the North Central Region Director. She is an active member in the Chicago Building Congress, on the board of creating the first Women's Special Interest Group.  She is also heavily involved in the Chicago Chapter of Professional Women in Construction, and is part of the Membership Committee and the Programs Committee. 

Tell us why you chose to become a member of PWC Chicago. My first meeting really impressed me. Women were actually talking to each other about real things that they needed from each other. Sure, I love to chat about peoples lives, but we are all there to do business and it is the first place I felt really safe to actually talk about what I do.

What PWC Events do you enjoy attending? All of them. I will say I get something out of every event I go to -- sometimes in the most unexpected places

Share a story about your experience as a woman in the industry, or in your career. As a woman in the industry I often found myself as the only woman at company meetings and at conferences. It was a male dominated industry, but having 7 brothers and having played on all boys teams as a young girl, this didn't bother me too much.  What started as slightly intimidating, quickly changed with the support and encouragement of mentors. Though the minority in most cases, over time people came to value what I have to offer.

What advice do you have for other women in the industry? Network, network, network.  You never know who is going to inspire you, believe in you, or just plain help you. Be open to all of it, but you have to be present to get any benefit. Personal connection is key.