About Us
History
1969
Larry O’Connor started Larry’s Window Service with one goal: do the job right. The company began as a one-person window cleaning operation in Des Moines. Larry is now retired but remains active in the community. He volunteers with Caring Hands in Altoona and stays involved in the Des Moines area.
1983
Larry’s son, Carl O’Connor joined the company and took over the high-rise window cleaning division, expanding the company’s scope and services.
1990
Larry’s sons, Dean and Carl O’Connor, took over day-to-day operations.
2000
Dean and Carl became owners, carrying forward the standards their father built the company on.
Today
Today, Larry’s is one of Iowa’s largest building services companies. Still family owned. Still based in Des Moines.
Values
Safety
Larry’s employs a full-time Safety Director. All employees complete OSHA 10 and 30 training. Our high-rise teams hold AWP and SAIA ATI certifications and are trained in rigging, industrial rope access, self-rescue, and partner rescue. All equipment undergoes annual inspections and regular maintenance.
Quality
Our crews bring experience built over five decades. Many have been with Larry’s for several decades. We know the work, we know the standards, and we don’t cut corners on either.
Integrity
We show up when scheduled, communicate before we arrive, and treat every property with care. The name on the truck has been the same since 1969. So have the standards behind it.
Leadership
Dean O’Connor
President & Co-owner
Dean has been with Larry’s since 1989 and, together with Carl, assumed ownership of the company in 2000 when they purchased it from its founders, Larry and Ruth O’Connor. As president, he leads client relations, business development, and the company’s overall strategic direction. Beyond his work at Larry’s, Dean has served the Altoona community as both a City Council member and, currently, Mayor. In his personal time, he enjoys golfing and spending time with his grandchild.
Carl O’Connor
Vice-President & Co-owner
Carl has been with Larry’s since 1983, bringing decades of experience and deep industry knowledge to the company. He played a key role in building Larry’s commercial high-rise division in the 1980s. Today, Carl oversees office operations, including scheduling, billing, accounts receivable, and overall organizational efficiency. When Larry’s adopted new operations software, Carl led the transition—an effort that required a thorough understanding of every aspect of the business, which he knows exceptionally well.
Who We Are
Larry’s employs a team of over 50 dedicated professionals, not sub-contractors. Unlike industry standards, we provide our team with full health, dental, and retirement benefits. Because we invest in our people, they stay. Many of our team members have been with us for decades, and more than a few have even brought their sons into the business alongside them. Larry’s started as a family company in 1969, and that family spirit is stronger than ever today.
Superheroes for Kids
Every year, our high-rise team suits up as superheroes to clean the windows at Blank Children’s Hospital and ChildServe, two of Des Moines’ most vital institutions for children and families. The crew hangs from the roof, pausing to play tic-tac-toe with the kids through the glass, and later heads inside to visit patients.
It started as a simple way to give back, but it’s become a tradition we look forward to just as much as the kids do. Chuck Davis, one of our most seasoned high-rise window cleaners, loves the tradition so much he bought his own Spider-Man costume to wear every year.
