Founded in 2006, Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning team members are celebrating 20 years in business in 2026. Owned and operated by local military veteran Gene Hairston, the company provides gutter maintenance, window cleaning, pressure washing and soft washing for homes in Carmel, Fishers, Geist, McCordsville, Noblesville, Westfield and Zionsville.
Gene became the primary owner of Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning in 2019 after purchasing the business from a friend, the original owner. Now, the business is observing a milestone birthday.
“Celebrating 20 years is something we're proud of, but we're still humbled by it,” says Gene.
“Success to me is running a clean business (not a cleaning business). By clean, I mean a by-the-book honest business. That means being fair and honest with my fellow business associates, my employees and most importantly, being honest and fair to our customers.”
Raised in a family of farmers and carpenters, Gene appreciated the value of a strong work ethic. As a leader, he combines his commitment to hard work with his military background. “The military shaped how I view things. It was the first time I was introduced to critical thinking. The military not only strengthens you physically, but it also sharpens you mentally.”
Gene believes that veterans like himself do well in business. “I have, and always will have, a deep respect and appreciation for military veterans. You view them and their service from a different lens because you've been there.”
He has seen that veterans possess the drive and the will to follow through with projects. “They don’t always see business challenges as obstacles, but more as a mission. Business is not for the faint of heart. There are many unknowns and fears that come with business ownership. Overcoming fear is a military trait that serves us well. I experience fears daily, but I overcome them and move on to tomorrow.”
A supporter of veterans in the community, Gene looks to hire veterans when possible and donates his time and charitable donations to veteran organizations.
In addition to his military experience, Gene is a strong advocate of leading by the following golden rule. “Treat everyone fairly and in a manner to which you would like to be treated. You never know when your actions may affect others either positively or negatively,” he explains. “As a hands-on leader, I will never ask an employee to do something that I won’t do myself. I often go with my team and work alongside them. I've been at customers' homes, and they seem surprised when they realize I'm the owner of the service.”
This attention to customer service sets Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning apart. A full-time customer service team is dedicated to transparent communication with customers, including quoting and scheduling. “It may seem over-simplified, but putting an emphasis on the customer experience is the foundation. If the customer's expectations are met or exceeded, everything else sort of falls into place," Gene explains.
Northside Window team members pride themselves on the quality of their work, the safety of their team, and the care they take with customers’ properties. Gene also stands behind the company’s work: Northside offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on window cleanings and a “First Rain Guarantee” on all gutter cleanings.
As a community leader, Gene focuses on giving back to the local area. “We try to stay connected and engaged with our communities through local chambers of commerce, development groups, civic organizations and small neighborhood groups. Anything that promotes enhancement or improvement, I want to be a part of. So, you may see one of our many trucks at something that seemingly has nothing to do with windows or gutters, but it does have something to do with community, and that's what matters,” he explains.
“Without our customers, we have no business and wouldn't be celebrating 20 years. Happy customers are our business.”