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By Pauline Masson –
Charleen Presley is president of a family operated glass business, a certified woman business owner, treasurer of the organization ‘Business Women of Missouri,’ a supporter of local causes and kidney donor. But she is not your typical woman executive giving interviews about breaking through the glass ceiling. Her inspiration was a successful business woman of another generation – her mother.
“I am just following in her footsteps,” she said.
When Charleen was growing up, the big sister of three younger brothers, her mother, Myrtle Spencer was a former bookkeeper and a stay at home mom. But as the kids grew up and moved out, Myrtle, a very active person needed something meaningful to do. Instead of looking for a job, she decided to start her own company that provided bookkeeping and accounting services.
“She operated it for years and it was a real success,” Charleen said.
As Charleen’s and her husband Gary’s children grew up, the couple operated a small residential window glass company in Washington for five years. But Gary decided to retire. This left Charleen, an avowed workaholic like her mother, with nothing to do. That changed when a friend, who was preparing to shut down her small glass business in Pacific, asked Charleen to help her sort everything out.
“Gary was retired but we had operated a small residential glass replacement business,” she said. “As I look around, I thought why don’t I start a business. That was 1994 and Presleys Glass of Pacific was born.
Today Presleys glass is a full service residential and commercial glass company that provides every imaginable glass need. From residential window glass to glass mirrors – vanity mirrors, fitness mirrors, dressing mirrors and framed mirrors. Recently glass shower enclosures have added a new skill to the company glass cutters.
For commercial businesses the firm provides everything from storefront repair and remodels to larger new construction projects, including bullet poof glass, curtain walls and storefronts. They also custom cut mirrors and glass table tops.
They currently have twenty jobs in the City of St. Louis and 30 jobs in St. Louis County.
Charleen calls it a family business and has hired two sons, one daughter-in-law and two grandsons to help run the growing operation. Her son Kirk who was her first employee, runs the commercial side of the business. Her second son and second employee Rick runs the residential side. Kirk’s wife Lisa is now corporate secretary and office manager. She recently added two grandsons to the list of employees. It takes a total of 28 employees to make it all work.
“I manage the financials, accounting, taxes, loans, etc,” she said.”As an essential business we didn’t close during COVID. I was fortunate to receive funding from the SBA’s paycheck protection program, for which our employees were grateful.”
She admits to being a workaholic, who does not have a time consuming recreation hobby – no card clubs, no sports. She is not a collector.
But she is a constant learner. She participated Ian an Emerging Leaders class on business and finance through Webster University. And she is active in Business Women of Missouri, where she has served as treasurer for the past four years
A self-facing, “I am simply me,” personality, Charleen Presley says growing her business became her mission.
In 2004, an addition built onto the back and east sides of the Thornton Street Building which increased the visibility of the business from I-44 and doubled the size of the building, adding more room for commercial glass and new office space
I remember when this business was located next to my father’s barbecue business Chris’s Barbecue on First Street. My father enjoyed there presence because a lot of customers that once were done there would wander over and get a slab of our ribs to take home. They were great neighbors and they ultimately outgrew there location on First Street and moved to the Thornton Street location. I had some enjoyable conversations with the owners sons until I moved away to Denver Colorado after my dad passed away. He always said how blessed he was to have them as his neighbor and his friends.