On June 23, Customized Creations celebrated its 20th anniversary as a custom paint shop. The three-woman team at Customized Creations is lead by founder Rowan Glaser who got her first taste of freedom when she inherited her grandfather’s street legal Kawasaki 100 in 1978. She went on to a seven-year stint in the Navy as an air traffic controller, and when she left the military she decided to enroll in St. Paul Technical College’s Auto Body program. 

 

There, she fine-tuned her painting skills, but she quickly found that the appeal of two wheels was far greater than four. “I decided to make motorcycles my canvas because bike riders appreciate perfection on their sheet metal more than the average car owner,” says Glaser.

 

For many years, Customized Creations was largely a solitary pursuit for Glaser. But as Glaser’s customers bikes began winning shows and her own 883 Sportster took first place in Sturgis in 1999, she made it a family affair, adding wife Michelle Glaser to take on administrative duties. 

 

Then in June of 2011, MCAD student Kristin Thesing approached Glaser to see if she could apprentice at the shop to fulfill internship credits. Thesing has thrived under Glaser tutelage and has become a permanent fixture of the Customized Creations team.  Thesing was easily convinced to take to the road on two wheels and is now the proud owner of her own motorcycle.

 

“We will be putting a custom paint job on it after she’s gotten a few miles under her belt,” concludes Glaser.