'They give it all their heart’

Paneless Window Cleaning was the latest Washington area business to host a Chamber of Commerce Alive After Five event.

The Ainsworth-based company served up grilled rib-eye steak sandwiches at CityPoint Church on the Square in Washington Tuesday.

“We’re having a kind of social get-together,” Paneless owner Jonathon Ward said. “We won the Emerging Business Award this last year through the chamber, and we want to celebrate that.”

The 3-year-old business, which does window cleaning, power washing and gutter cleaning, is family owned and operated.

Family and friends helped prepare and serve the meal while mingling with several dozen guests at the event.

“This event is indicative of how they run their business,” chamber Executive Director Michelle Redlinger said. “They get all their family involved. They give it all their heart.

“They give everything they can to make sure to make sure they’re giving back to the community and giving their customers the best experience possible.”

Redlinger added that all of the food and door prizes that were given away were sourced locally.

“It’s really important to them to support local businesses and put their money where their mouth is,” she said. “That’s one of the main reasons why they are our Emerging Business of the Year, and I think you can see it in this event.”

For Ward, the reason they hosted the event was simple.

“I just like people, so we decided to have a get-together,” he said. “Coming out of COVID, we just wanted to get together with people and have fun.

“I really like to be around people, and it’s great to be able to do it.”

WCDC will host the next Alive After Five event on June 24 to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary.