Step through the front door of Rovin Ceramics (sister company to Motawi Tileworks, and its exclusive source of clay), and you might catch the process of fresh clay—or scent of espresso. You might also find Steven Johnson, sleeves rolled up, juggling logistics, leading a team, or talking ceramic chemistry with a customer who’s just as obsessed with mud as he is.
Steven is Rovin’s General Manager, wild clay enthusiast, and part-time vessel maker to chefs and restaurants alike. His journey is anything but ordinary—from edible landscapes to high-end plateware to keeping a decades-old craft business thriving in modern times. We sat down with Steven for a wide-ranging chat about craft, clay, logistics, espresso, and why the word “distribution” just might sum up Rovin best.
Let’s start with the basics. Who are you and what’s your role at Rovin Ceramics?
I’m Steven Johnson, General Manager.
How long have you been here?
Four years. I started in April/May 2021 as a production clay maker. I did that for over three months, took a short break, and came back as General Manager.
Can you describe a typical day for you?
Honestly, I don’t really have a typical day. Every day is different. It’s a mix of checking in with both the production and retail teams, making sure they have what they need to do their jobs well. And then there’s all the behind-the-scenes stuff—planning for conferences, updating packaging or machinery, designing new products, and testing our current ones to make sure they’re still meeting our standards.
What were you doing before Rovin?
I was—and still am—making plateware for restaurants on the side. I’ve got contracts right now for the Friends of James Beard Foundation, for Echelon in downtown Ann Arbor and another for Vecino in Detroit.
So you’re still doing that alongside Rovin?
Yeah. I’ve been doing it since around 2016, really got rolling in 2018. Before and in-between, I worked on urban farms in Detroit as well as edible landscaping projects in and around Metro Detroit. I ran a company focused on edible landscapes—turning yard space and ornamental gardens into things you can eat.
How did you first hear about Rovin?
I’ve known about it since I was in high school. Back when it was on Eureka Road in Taylor, near the airport—before Nawal [Motawi] owned it. I would come in to buy clay and glaze for school projects. Back when I was in college at CCS, I was the studio tech, making clay for the whole department. Professors would ask what I wanted the future to be; I used to half-joke about just making clay for a living. They’d laugh and tell me that it wasn’t a real job—well, now I get to laugh with them when they stop by the store, because here I am doing it.
Where did you study?
College for Creative Studies in Detroit. I graduated from the Crafts Department, which covered ceramics, jewelry, metals, furniture, fiber, and glass.
What drew you to work at Rovin?
I saw the opportunity to make clay and knew it was part of the bigger vision I had—to someday run a business like this. I saw a path and decided to start the climb. Due to prior shoulder surgery, I realized I couldn’t keep pace with the physical production role, so I stepped away. When the GM position opened, I waited, knowing the timing wasn’t quite right at first. But soon after, Karen [Kromrei, General Manager of Motawi Tileworks] called me back—and I’ve been here since November 1, 2021, as GM.
What do you enjoy most about the work?
The materials, the customers, and the unlimited solutions to be created. There’s a puzzle to everything—whether it’s helping a customer figure out a tricky clay or sourcing raw materials from around the world. I also love the logistics side now, even though I didn’t have a lot of experience with it before. There’s a thrill in figuring out how to get 40,000 pounds of material from overseas to here efficiently.
Is there a moment you’re especially proud of?
Absolutely. The growth Rovin has seen since I became GM is great. The team and I have worked to double revenue, growing the team from five to seven people, and now we have a healthy balance sheet and we pay all our own bills.
What’s something that might surprise people about working at Rovin?
We move two to three tons of clay a day by hand, using just two people and one machine. People think it’s this charming, easy job—but it's physically intense. And our mixers? They’re repurposed cattle feed and pickle machines. At our scale there’s no fancy clay-making machine—it’s all adapted equipment and elbow grease.
Do you ever step away from clay? What do you do outside of work?
Not really. Even outside of work, I’m into wild clay research, farming, pruning fruit trees, fixing soil—pretty much anything tied to the earth. I’ll play a video game occasionally, but it’s not a big thing for me.
What’s something your coworkers might not know about you?
Maybe that I’m really into the bioavailability of nutrients, nutrient-dense food and the human body as a vessel. Or that I’m kind of a closet conspiracy theorist—but that’s not exactly a secret.
Lightning round—Morning person or night owl?
Morning.
Coffee, tea, or something stronger?
Coffee forever. Espressos or single origin Brazil, French press, with MCT oil, collagen powder, ghee, cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla—immersion blended.
Favorite Motawi tile or design?
Olive Hill, in Moonstone. It’s got all these pathways, glaze variations—but the glaze is discontinued.
If your job were a tile, what would it be?
Olive Hill, for the same reasons as above.
One word to describe Rovin?
Distribution.
What are you excited about looking ahead?
The future of the company. I’m excited to see where we can take it for the team and the community that supports us.
Whether he's nerding out over the mineral content of wild Michigan clay or turning restaurant dreams into porcelain reality, Steven brings thoughtfulness, vision, and a dash of dry humor to everything he touches. He’s not just shaping clay—he’s helping shape the future of Rovin Ceramics.
Want to know what moving 30,000 pounds per day looks like? Better yet, want to feel it? Come visit! www.rovinceramics.com
