July 19, 2025 • 27 mins
Ever wonder what drives someone to start a window cleaning business? For Chad Zizelman—better known as Mr. Ziz—it's about much more than sparkling glass. After twelve years in sales, Chad launched Mr. Ziz Window Cleaning with a powerful vision: to build a business that could eventually provide meaningful employment for people with special needs.
The inspiration comes from a deeply personal place. Chad's five-year-old son Power, who has high-functioning autism, demonstrates remarkable attention to detail when cleaning glass surfaces. "Window cleaning isn't difficult, it's meticulous," Chad explains, recognizing how this trait could create perfect job opportunities for individuals with unique abilities. This blend of entrepreneurial spirit and social mission sets Mr. Ziz apart in the home service industry.
Unlike competitors who bundle multiple services together, Mr. Ziz remains laser-focused on window cleaning excellence. Using professional techniques including deionized water—a significant upgrade from DIY methods—and maintaining transparent, straightforward pricing at $10 per window unit, the Union, Kentucky-based business prioritizes quality and customer clarity. Chad's commitment extends beyond his business to coaching with All Ability Sports Northern Kentucky, a nonprofit providing athletic opportunities for children with special needs.
The Zizelman family story is equally compelling, from how Chad and his wife Ashley met at TQL (which he jokingly calls "Total Quality Love"), to their uniquely named children Power and Sims, to their theme park adventures made possible through accessibility accommodations. Looking ahead, Chad plans to expand his offerings with artistic window painting during slower winter months—a perfect outlet for his natural artistic talents.
Ready to experience the difference professional window cleaning makes while supporting a business with heart? Visit mrziz.com or call 419-953-0755 to schedule your service and become part of this remarkable journey.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Charlie McDermott (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
This podcast is intended tohelp the residents of Northern
Kentucky get to know businessowners and influencers, just
(00:24):
people who I think you shouldknow.
I want you to know them aspeople, as human beings, and not
just a logo on a business card.
Speaking of a logo, the logothat I have sitting on my desk
right now is the logo for thebusiness of my current guest.
The business of my currentguest, mr Ziz, known to some as
(00:46):
Chad Zizzleman, is my guesttoday, and so he is the owner of
Mr Ziz Window Cleaning.
Is that the official name, chad?
Chad Zizelman (00:56):
Yeah, so the official name is actually Mr Ziz
LLC.
Mike Murphy (00:58):
Okay, but yeah, obviously I represent myself
(01:20):
many times as Mr Z's windowwashing service or you know,
it's kind of funny.
I mean, I know you as ChadZizzleman, but quite often I
don't know.
I just sort of unofficiallyhave just started to think of
you as Mr Ziz, as though that'syour last name, you know.
But that's branding and that'skind of part of what we're all
doing in business, is we'rebranding?
(01:41):
I think the Mr Ziz name isactually pretty cool.
Chad Zizelman (01:52):
Yeah, there's not a lot of Zizzlemans out there.
If you look it up where all theZizzlemans are located, we're
all in this.
I'm actually one of theoutliers.
We're all in this tiny littlecircle in Western Ohio.
If you go into any demolitionderbies in basically anywhere in
Ohio, you always see this blackcar and it says Ziz on the side
of it, and that's my dad'scousin.
(02:13):
So Ziz has been a common lastname, or shortened last name,
for basically all of us.
So I've been called Ziz, myentire life.
Mike Murphy (02:21):
Yeah, I was going to say that just sounds like a
common nickname that you wouldget in high school, if not
sooner.
Chad Zizelman (02:28):
Exactly.
I can still hear my footballcoach today going Ziz run faster
Well.
Mike Murphy (02:36):
Ziz, it's good to have you on the show today and
I'm happy that people are goingto get to meet you and know more
about you.
So let's kind of get into thebusiness end of things.
So you are based in Union.
Here You're a Union residentYep, and how long ago did you
(02:59):
start, mr Ziz, window cleaning?
Chad Zizelman (03:02):
Yeah, actually I started it unofficially in
November and then officially inDecember of this past year.
I kind of tested the waters,tested the market and everything
in November and then I gotreally good feedback.
So I just took off in December.
Mike Murphy (03:21):
Okay, so, so no regrets.
Thus far, right, oh no, it'sgetting more exciting every day.
Took off in December.
Chad Zizelman (03:24):
Okay, so no regrets thus far right, oh no,
it's getting more exciting everyday.
Mike Murphy (03:27):
Good yeah, and I think you know it's a
competitive business.
But there's an aspect to itthat I think people don't quite
understand why they needprofessional window cleaning.
People don't quite understandwhy they need professional
(03:47):
window cleaning.
I think that there's a commonmisconception that I can just
clean my own windows andcertainly anybody can.
But there really is adifference and we'll kind of
we'll talk about that in a fewminutes here.
So you know, you've been doingthis for just a little while now
.
You're still kind of, I think,getting your sea legs under you
(04:07):
in terms of trying to get sometraction going, and that's kind
of part of why we're here.
But you know you could havedone plenty of other things,
like why windows, like whatmakes you kind of, I guess,
interested in cleaning windows,passionate about it, what's fun
about it?
You know why did you choosethat path?
Chad Zizelman (04:30):
Yeah, so I've been in sales for gosh 12 years
now and I enjoy sales.
I'm one of those odd peoplethat truly do enjoy it.
But I wanted a way to build abusiness for myself and I wanted
(04:50):
a way to give back to thecommunity.
As you and I have spoke aboutin the past, one of my end goals
is to eventually hire andemploy people with special needs
, and so I was looking atdifferent home service spaces,
because home service wasdefinitely a direction I wanted
to go with.
That.
In window cleaning something Ialways say about it I say it's
(05:13):
not difficult, it's not hard,it's meticulous.
Okay, where, like if you lookat my son, who is autistic
whenever he takes a shower, momand dad shower, we have like the
glass doors and everything, andhe's one of the people who has
helped me help this stand out tome but he loves cleaning it and
(05:34):
he gets I mean he cleans thatshower better than me and my
wife do, and I'm I mean I'm aprofessional window cleaner at
this point and he still doesbetter than me.
I mean he'll be down theregetting like every little drop
of water, and so I saw this.
I was like you know, this is anopportunity to build something
for myself, build something formy family, but it's also a way
(05:55):
to be able to employ the mostunique among us yeah, well, I
like that idea.
Mike Murphy (06:05):
You and I have had conversations, as you alluded to
in the past, about that, and sowe, I guess you know, since
we've brought up your son, let'sjust kind of dive into your
family.
So your family lives here inUnion.
As I said before, you've got awife and two kids.
Let's start with your wife.
(06:26):
Her name is Ashley, and so whatdoes Ashley do?
Chad Zizelman (06:34):
Yeah.
So Ashley, she works for Chef'sWarehouse right in downtown.
She is like me where she'sworked in sales for a hot second
now.
She basically runs, gets fooddelivered to all the restaurants
around the area Anywhere.
She has customers up in LibertyTownship, she has customers
down here in Union and Florence,so all over the tri-state area.
Mike Murphy (06:59):
So you yourself have a logistics background?
Is that correct?
Chad Zizelman (07:05):
Yeah, absolutely.
We actually met at the bigbrand that everyone knows in
Cincinnati, TQL.
We call it Total Quality Lovebecause that's where we met.
Mike Murphy (07:16):
Cool, you're cool.
Yeah, everybody knows TQL.
Everybody passes it on the 275loop there and sooner or later,
every single one of us will haveworked a little bit of time at
TQL at one time or another, Ithink.
Chad Zizelman (07:32):
I'm very thankful for my time there.
They have some of the best Imean people have.
I mean it's any company.
Everyone has their own opinionsabout it.
I'm very appreciative of mytime there because they had some
of the best training that onecould ask for, and I think that
their training still is a majorfactor in the level of customer
service that I deliver every dayand no matter what business I'm
(07:56):
in.
Mike Murphy (07:57):
That's why I asked earlier, like why Windows?
Because you know, going fromlogistics to Windows doesn't
seem instinctive, but yet youdid a good job of explaining it.
Now I understand why.
Which takes us to your kids now.
So you mentioned your son.
Your son has level one autism,Is that correct?
Yeah, so they call it highfunctioning.
(08:18):
Okay yeah, because I don't knowthe difference.
You know, I don't know what theum levels are, but uh, so high
functioning is like level one'shigh functioning.
Is that in essence?
Chad Zizelman (08:30):
Exactly, he was kind of right on the line there,
um, so he's more in line.
They don't recognize it as a umdiagnosis anymore, but he's
more in line of like Asperger'sand things like that.
Um, now, now, like I said, theydon't recognize ospergers
anymore, um, but that's kind ofwhere you'd categorize him.
(08:50):
So he is, he is verbal, he doesspeak um, he just is delayed in
many areas and has hyperfocuses on many things like
right now I mean for the past,I'd say year, year and a half
his obsession has been bugs.
Like he could tell you everysingle little detail about any
(09:11):
bug out there okay yeah yeah, so, um, so he's.
Mike Murphy (09:19):
How old is power?
His name is power, by the wayyep, power.
Chad Zizelman (09:23):
He is five years old.
He's going to be turning six indecember.
We are actually getting readyfor kindergarten, so he's going
to be going to long branch, okay, and scary, exciting.
He is one of the sweetest kidsyou could ever meet.
Mike Murphy (09:39):
Yeah, yeah, and I have yet to meet him, but I'm
looking forward to meeting himsomeday.
Yep, as well as your daughter.
Her name is Sims, correct?
Chad Zizelman (09:47):
Yep, sims, our three-year-old going on 15th,
she's got that Boston blood inher through her mom.
She's got that Boston blood inher through her mom and, yeah,
she's, she's the biggestsweetheart and it's funny
because she added so much to ourlives, not only like obviously
(10:09):
she's our daughter, we love her,be careful or anything, but
she's almost like the thirdadult in the family, like we
don't ask her to be, but if sheever sees like her brother
because obviously he does havehis concerns, like with he's
very sensitive to sounds and offsound it doesn't have to
necessarily be loud, any offsound could trigger him where it
(10:33):
makes him very upset and she isvery happy to like grab his
hand and be like come on, buddy,like let's go over here.
Or if she sees him notlistening to mom and dad, she'll
go and grab his hand Like mommyand daddy are calling us, Like
let's go over here.
Mike Murphy (10:48):
Wow, she's incredible At age three, huh.
Chad Zizelman (10:52):
Oh yeah, that's crazy.
Mike Murphy (10:55):
I love her awareness and the fact that
she's already kind of, you know,protective over him, and so
that's great to hear.
The other question that I havefor you is OK, so your kids
names are Power and Sims.
Those are not common everydaynames.
So what led you to those twonames?
Chad Zizelman (11:17):
Yeah, so Power.
So me and my wife, we were bothkind of the last names.
So what led you to those twonames?
Yeah so power.
So me and my wife, we were bothkind of the last in line for
our, because both of our fathersdidn't remarry after their
first marriages.
We were the only ones to beable to really carry on that
legacy.
So it was either we.
She was like she's like I kindof want you to take my last name
, and we finally decided she waslike she's like I kind of want
(11:38):
you to take my last name, and wefinally decided you know what
It'd be, wouldn't sound right ifwe call our son Zizzleman power
.
So we decided to keep my lastname and we honored her maiden
name by naming our son power.
So her name, her maiden name,is Ashley power.
Mike Murphy (11:57):
Oh, okay.
Chad Zizelman (11:58):
Yeah, and and it.
At first we were like we my momactually brought it up and we
started like saying it, andwe're like, actually it kind of
has a little bit of a ring to it, like it's not not as
off-sounding as we initiallythought it would be, and and we
wanted unique names.
That's something that we reallywanted for our kids.
Mike Murphy (12:20):
Well, I think it's pretty cool.
It's powerful, no pun intended.
Or maybe pun intended, I don'tknow.
Charlie McDermott (12:28):
Yep.
Mike Murphy (12:29):
So all right, Power and Sims, wife Ashley.
You guys, I assume, on occasionlike to go out and have fun as
a family.
What do you guys like to do?
Chad Zizelman (12:44):
for vacation.
For vacation, you know, mygrandmother has a spot um down
in Cape Coral, florida, nearlike Fort Myers and stuff, so
we'll go down there sometimes.
I know next year we're going toDisney again.
Okay, the theme parks are ourbig thing right now.
Our kids are rollercoaster-aholics and I mean we've
(13:04):
been to Kings Island I think wewere talking about it the other
day I think seven times alreadythis year and being all the way
down in Union, it's not likethat's a short hike.
So I mean it's every day ourkids wake up during the summer
and it's either can we go to thepool or can we go to Kings
Island.
Mike Murphy (13:22):
OK, that can get expensive.
So I'm sure you guys have theannual passes.
Chad Zizelman (13:27):
Oh yeah, we do.
We got the annual, we had theseason pass, we had the food
pass.
We got it all.
Mike Murphy (13:37):
We got it all, oh, go ahead.
It kind of surprises me, though, that Power doesn't have
problems with the sounds, thesights and everything that comes
with, you know, a big park likeKings Island or Disney park
(14:00):
like Kings Island or Disney.
Chad Zizelman (14:00):
Yeah, so Kings Island was really good.
I think that they keep a lot ofthose sensory concerns in mind
with now we do have to have theaccessibility pass because he
can't wait in a line.
He struggles with that.
Now it's a 5-10 minute line,we'll go ahead and wait like
he's.
He's perfectly fine with that,but anything extended we do have
to use an accessibility pass.
(14:21):
Um, and we do have headphonesfor him.
So there are some rides thatmake a lot of noise leading up
to them even I don't know ifyou're familiar with the rides
up there, but like there's aride called boo blasters.
He has to wear his headphonesin there.
So there are.
We do wear headphones on a lotof times on a lot of the rides,
or take them off right as we'regetting seated.
Mike Murphy (14:44):
Okay.
Chad Zizelman (14:45):
And that helps a lot.
Mike Murphy (14:46):
Right, I guess I wasn't aware that they
accommodated kids like that withthe accessibility pass.
Chad Zizelman (14:53):
So, oh it's, it's amazing, Okay, Well good You're
, you're teaching me something.
Mike Murphy (14:55):
Oh, it's amazing.
Okay, well, good, you'reteaching me something.
Speaking of teaching mesomething, you kind of
introduced me to a nonprofitthat you're kind of close to as
well, so do you want to talk alittle bit about that Kind of a
sports-related nonprofit forspecial needs kids?
Chad Zizelman (15:20):
Yeah, it's All Ability Sports Northern Kentucky
.
They are ran by this wonderfulwoman.
Her name is Samantha Payne.
She's an ex-special ed teacher,I believe.
I know she worked with kidswith unique needs and she looked
around the area and she waslike you know, there are no
programs offering sports forthese kids, so she started this.
(15:44):
I want to say I could be offwith the years.
I believe two years ago it waslike either a year and a half
two years ago.
It's taken off.
I've had the pleasure of beingable to coach for them.
I had the pleasure of beingable to coach for them.
Our son's been involved with itsince spring of 2024.
Mike Murphy (16:03):
Okay.
Chad Zizelman (16:05):
And it's just an incredible organization.
I mean being able to coach.
It has been.
I've been beyond thankful thatI've been able to do that,
because I've been able to meetthese amazing kids and just see
them slowly come out of theirshell.
It's one of those things thatit just takes your breath away
seeing these kids, like weekafter week, just slowly open up
(16:27):
to you, open up to their friendsand build a community around
them.
Mike Murphy (16:32):
That's great.
You know, I had never heard ofthem until you mentioned them to
me a few months ago and sincethen I've seen that logo four or
five times on the community andI know that they had a float at
the Union Celebrates Americaparade just a couple weeks ago.
So I look forward to learningmore about them, to learn more
(16:58):
about them and, uh, you know, Ithink you and I can kind of join
forces in possibly um helpingto get them some some, uh, you
know, gift them some moneythrough the group that I'm part
of, um give where you live, nky.
Chad Zizelman (17:07):
Yeah.
Mike Murphy (17:08):
We're?
We're kind of a nonprofit thatfunds other nonprofits and, uh,
I like to say we are, instead ofspeed dating, we are speed
philanthropy.
So we're going to, you know,our next meeting.
Hopefully you can make it.
You and I are going to go andwe're going to try and get some
money for your favoritenonprofit.
(17:29):
So I hope we can do that.
Chad Zizelman (17:31):
Absolutely, I'm looking forward to it.
I know I'd have that on my listof companies to collaborate
with and everything it doesn'thave to stop, but it can
definitely slow.
Mike Murphy (17:43):
So you and I talked about your potential plans as
an add-on service, an additionalservice to your clients in the
(18:05):
wintertime, and I don't know ifyou're ready to talk about that
the window art thing.
If not, then we're going to cutthis out of the podcast and
nobody will ever know.
But if you're ready to talkabout the window art, let's talk
about it.
So what's your idea around that?
Chad Zizelman (18:24):
Yeah, so it is something I'm going to offer.
I still have to work out thedetails and all that good stuff,
but basically what I'm going tooffer throughout the I know for
sure the Christmas season I maydo it prior to that but
offering window art for homes.
I got to do some researcharound regulations around the
(18:44):
area, especially with HOAs andeverything.
But what it basically be isthat I'd come in, I'd have a set
, a few set designs that I canbasically draw in your window
and it'll include a free not afree full called window washing
service but, I would clean thatwindow free of charge so that
(19:05):
you're not just stuck with thispaint that you now have to get
off your windows.
But yeah, it'd be.
It's something that's going tohelp me get through, like that
December January.
Mike Murphy (19:15):
I think it's a great idea.
So I'm glad you're letting metalk about it now and let the
community know about it, becauseI think that that's something
that I don't know I mean, Ihaven't seen it done very often
but to me it makes perfect sense.
It's a wonderful way to justkind of get through that holiday
season, especially and I'massuming you're painting on the
(19:39):
inside of the window, correct?
Chad Zizelman (19:41):
Exactly so.
You'd paint on the inside ofthe window to show on the
outside, and it's something I'vealways been more artistic.
I love drawing.
If you ever see me in a meetingor whatever many times, I just
You're a doodler a meeting orwhatever.
Many times I just, yeah, I justdoodle, I'm actively listening,
(20:01):
I just tend to doodle while Ilisten and so, yeah, I saw that
as something that I can kind ofdig into my artistic side and
also keep myself busy during thecold months.
Mike Murphy (20:11):
Okay, well, looking forward to that too.
Is there anything that we havenot talked about that you want
the community to know, eitherabout you, your family or your
business?
Anything else that we shouldmake sure to discuss before we
sign off?
Chad Zizelman (20:31):
Yeah, so I'm just like I said.
I'm a local dad trying to builda window cleaning business.
We are solely focused onwindows.
I think that's something thatmakes us stand out.
Is window cleaning isn't one ofseveral services.
Now we do partner with manycompanies that offer like power
(20:51):
washing and all those things,but something that's unique with
Mr Ziz and it was honestly afactor in why I went this route
was that we specialize inwindows.
I spoke to one of my favoriteclients.
He's over in Walton.
He said you know he's like.
I decided to start bundlingwindow cleaning with all these
other services he's like, andonce I did, I noticed that my
(21:13):
window cleaning quality wentdown and so I saw it as an
opportunity.
I'm like you know what?
I'm going to be very good atwindow cleaning and that's what
I train my employees on.
I go hey, we got to.
I want you to master this.
I want you to master only this.
I want you to be the bestwindow cleaner you can possibly
(21:34):
be.
Everything else doesn't matter.
This.
I want you to be the bestwindow cleaner you can possibly
be.
Everything else doesn't matter,and if someone needs like power
washing or whatever, I have apartner company that does that.
Mike Murphy (21:42):
Okay, that's good.
So is there such a thing asbeing able to easily quote for
somebody Like if somebody islistening to this and they're
like, okay, what's it cost perwindow?
Or I guess you know what arethe factors that you need to
consider when you're quoting itout to somebody, Maybe even if
it's just to give them kind of athumbnail understanding of what
(22:06):
it might cost to properly cleanthe windows, professionally
clean the windows in their home.
What's that look like?
Chad Zizelman (22:13):
Yeah.
So that is another thing that Istarted because obviously you
do market research before youstart a business, right?
And I noticed, well, first off,there weren't a ton of
reputable companies.
There are some incrediblecompanies in this area I'm not
going to go and diss anyone butthere weren't.
There wasn't a plethora of them.
And when I would get to manywebsites, with a few exceptions,
(22:37):
a lot of times pricing would becomplicated.
It's like per pane.
It's like.
Then people are going okay,what's is it per pane of glass,
like how many does that add upthrough?
Gridded windows change.
So my pricing is very simpleit's $10 per window unit.
Now, the biggest thing is like,you see this small window
(22:58):
behind me, it's $10, right, butnormal window units usually it's
like one bottom window pane,one top window, $10 for that
window pane inside and out.
So it's very simple.
If it's a deep, clean, $17 perwindow.
Sorry, not window pane windowunit, yeah.
So I created special pricingfor that.
(23:18):
The only exceptions are, say,gridded windows, because a lot
of those, especially the olderones, they require very special
techniques and overly dirtywindows Like there are.
I've only wanted ran into onehouse since starting this in
(23:40):
November that I had to go.
Okay, I mean, there were, therewas waxy stuff all over these
windows.
It took.
It was taking me, I'd say, halfhour to 45 minutes per window
and, as you can imagine, that issome very heavy residue.
But I don't try to nickel anddime because I think that that's
(24:04):
.
I noticed that when I got mywhat was it?
My dishwasher fixed a about ayear ago, is that?
Then they're like you get thisreceipt and it's like this this
charts, this starts, this starts.
You get this receipt and it'slike this this charge, this
starts, this charge this turn.
It's like why can't you just beup front with that?
So hard water stains?
I don't require, I don't chargeextra for that, I don't charge
(24:27):
extra to get the pollen off yourwindow.
Listen, it's all the sametechniques.
I'm not going to try to nickeland dime.
You and my pricing is simpleand that's what I pride myself
on.
Mike Murphy (24:37):
And there's a difference in the water that you
use versus just, uh, turning ona garden hose and spraying
windows down, correct?
Chad Zizelman (24:44):
Yeah, so we use um either deionized or distilled
water, depending on what kindof work we're doing, like
especially um like when I'mcleaning the tracks and sills, I
want to make sure that anyspray that gets on the windows
is um doesn't like dirty up thewindows in the meantime.
So I use distilled water forthat, because I'm not going to
(25:06):
hook up like the whole filterand everything but um deionized
water is the main thing that weuse.
Mike Murphy (25:13):
Okay, so if people want to get ahold of you, what's
the best way to do that?
Chad Zizelman (25:17):
Yes, so they can go to my website, which is very
simple, mrzizcom, or they canlook me up on Google, mr Ziz LLC
, or even contact me, call me ortext me on my cell phone, which
I keep available on my websiteit's 419-953-0755.
Mike Murphy (25:38):
Okay, and again, what's that area code from?
Where's 419 lead to?
Chad Zizelman (25:44):
Yeah, so that's technically a Toledo area code.
Now, I come from a small littletown called Saline, ohio.
It's up near Lima, if you knowwhere Lima is, and our
population isn't that big.
So we just even though Toledois like an hour away, we just
get their area code.
Mike Murphy (26:01):
Okay, interesting.
Yeah, every time I call you, Ialways mean to ask you, but I
never do.
Chad Zizelman (26:06):
Yeah, everyone's like.
You're from Toledo, like it'srough up there I'm like no, I'm
from a small little town, wejust steal their area code, yeah
.
Mike Murphy (26:16):
Yeah, yeah, gotcha Okay.
Charlie McDermott (26:18):
All right.
Mike Murphy (26:19):
Well, I think that wraps it up for this episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Chad, it's been nice catchingup with you.
It's nice to see you.
Likewise, I look forward toworking on nonprofit stuff with
you.
I look forward to meeting thekids in person someday Yep, to
meeting the kids in personsomeday.
And if you ever get over hereand clean my windows, I think
(26:43):
I'll insist that you bring powerwith you.
And let me see some of hiswindow cleaning skills.
I mean, this kid sounds likehe's going to be a natural at
maybe helping dad out with thebusiness someday.
Chad Zizelman (26:55):
Oh yeah, oh, he definitely will be, okay.
Mike Murphy (26:57):
Perfect, All right.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
Chad thanks for being with us.
Everybody, until we meet again,be good to your neighbor.
So long, everyone.
Bye-bye.
Charlie McDermott (27:10):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast Union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
This podcast is intended tohelp the residents of Northern
Kentucky get to know businessowners and influencers, just
(00:24):
people who I think you shouldknow.
I want you to know them aspeople, as human beings, and not
just a logo on a business card.
Speaking of a logo, the logothat I have sitting on my desk
right now is the logo for thebusiness of my current guest.
The business of my currentguest, mr Ziz, known to some as
(00:46):
Chad Zizzleman, is my guesttoday, and so he is the owner of
Mr Ziz Window Cleaning.
Is that the official name, chad?
Chad Zizelman (00:56):
Yeah, so the official name is actually Mr Ziz
LLC.
Mike Murphy (00:58):
Okay, but yeah, obviously I represent myself
(01:20):
many times as Mr Z's windowwashing service or you know,
it's kind of funny.
I mean, I know you as ChadZizzleman, but quite often I
don't know.
I just sort of unofficiallyhave just started to think of
you as Mr Ziz, as though that'syour last name, you know.
But that's branding and that'skind of part of what we're all
doing in business, is we'rebranding?
(01:41):
I think the Mr Ziz name isactually pretty cool.
Chad Zizelman (01:52):
Yeah, there's not a lot of Zizzlemans out there.
If you look it up where all theZizzlemans are located, we're
all in this.
I'm actually one of theoutliers.
We're all in this tiny littlecircle in Western Ohio.
If you go into any demolitionderbies in basically anywhere in
Ohio, you always see this blackcar and it says Ziz on the side
of it, and that's my dad'scousin.
(02:13):
So Ziz has been a common lastname, or shortened last name,
for basically all of us.
So I've been called Ziz, myentire life.
Mike Murphy (02:21):
Yeah, I was going to say that just sounds like a
common nickname that you wouldget in high school, if not
sooner.
Chad Zizelman (02:28):
Exactly.
I can still hear my footballcoach today going Ziz run faster
Well.
Mike Murphy (02:36):
Ziz, it's good to have you on the show today and
I'm happy that people are goingto get to meet you and know more
about you.
So let's kind of get into thebusiness end of things.
So you are based in Union.
Here You're a Union residentYep, and how long ago did you
(02:59):
start, mr Ziz, window cleaning?
Chad Zizelman (03:02):
Yeah, actually I started it unofficially in
November and then officially inDecember of this past year.
I kind of tested the waters,tested the market and everything
in November and then I gotreally good feedback.
So I just took off in December.
Mike Murphy (03:21):
Okay, so, so no regrets.
Thus far, right, oh no, it'sgetting more exciting every day.
Took off in December.
Chad Zizelman (03:24):
Okay, so no regrets thus far right, oh no,
it's getting more exciting everyday.
Mike Murphy (03:27):
Good yeah, and I think you know it's a
competitive business.
But there's an aspect to itthat I think people don't quite
understand why they needprofessional window cleaning.
People don't quite understandwhy they need professional
(03:47):
window cleaning.
I think that there's a commonmisconception that I can just
clean my own windows andcertainly anybody can.
But there really is adifference and we'll kind of
we'll talk about that in a fewminutes here.
So you know, you've been doingthis for just a little while now
.
You're still kind of, I think,getting your sea legs under you
(04:07):
in terms of trying to get sometraction going, and that's kind
of part of why we're here.
But you know you could havedone plenty of other things,
like why windows, like whatmakes you kind of, I guess,
interested in cleaning windows,passionate about it, what's fun
about it?
You know why did you choosethat path?
Chad Zizelman (04:30):
Yeah, so I've been in sales for gosh 12 years
now and I enjoy sales.
I'm one of those odd peoplethat truly do enjoy it.
But I wanted a way to build abusiness for myself and I wanted
(04:50):
a way to give back to thecommunity.
As you and I have spoke aboutin the past, one of my end goals
is to eventually hire andemploy people with special needs
, and so I was looking atdifferent home service spaces,
because home service wasdefinitely a direction I wanted
to go with.
That.
In window cleaning something Ialways say about it I say it's
(05:13):
not difficult, it's not hard,it's meticulous.
Okay, where, like if you lookat my son, who is autistic
whenever he takes a shower, momand dad shower, we have like the
glass doors and everything, andhe's one of the people who has
helped me help this stand out tome but he loves cleaning it and
(05:34):
he gets I mean he cleans thatshower better than me and my
wife do, and I'm I mean I'm aprofessional window cleaner at
this point and he still doesbetter than me.
I mean he'll be down theregetting like every little drop
of water, and so I saw this.
I was like you know, this is anopportunity to build something
for myself, build something formy family, but it's also a way
(05:55):
to be able to employ the mostunique among us yeah, well, I
like that idea.
Mike Murphy (06:05):
You and I have had conversations, as you alluded to
in the past, about that, and sowe, I guess you know, since
we've brought up your son, let'sjust kind of dive into your
family.
So your family lives here inUnion.
As I said before, you've got awife and two kids.
Let's start with your wife.
(06:26):
Her name is Ashley, and so whatdoes Ashley do?
Chad Zizelman (06:34):
Yeah.
So Ashley, she works for Chef'sWarehouse right in downtown.
She is like me where she'sworked in sales for a hot second
now.
She basically runs, gets fooddelivered to all the restaurants
around the area Anywhere.
She has customers up in LibertyTownship, she has customers
down here in Union and Florence,so all over the tri-state area.
Mike Murphy (06:59):
So you yourself have a logistics background?
Is that correct?
Chad Zizelman (07:05):
Yeah, absolutely.
We actually met at the bigbrand that everyone knows in
Cincinnati, TQL.
We call it Total Quality Lovebecause that's where we met.
Mike Murphy (07:16):
Cool, you're cool.
Yeah, everybody knows TQL.
Everybody passes it on the 275loop there and sooner or later,
every single one of us will haveworked a little bit of time at
TQL at one time or another, Ithink.
Chad Zizelman (07:32):
I'm very thankful for my time there.
They have some of the best Imean people have.
I mean it's any company.
Everyone has their own opinionsabout it.
I'm very appreciative of mytime there because they had some
of the best training that onecould ask for, and I think that
their training still is a majorfactor in the level of customer
service that I deliver every dayand no matter what business I'm
(07:56):
in.
Mike Murphy (07:57):
That's why I asked earlier, like why Windows?
Because you know, going fromlogistics to Windows doesn't
seem instinctive, but yet youdid a good job of explaining it.
Now I understand why.
Which takes us to your kids now.
So you mentioned your son.
Your son has level one autism,Is that correct?
Yeah, so they call it highfunctioning.
(08:18):
Okay yeah, because I don't knowthe difference.
You know, I don't know what theum levels are, but uh, so high
functioning is like level one'shigh functioning.
Is that in essence?
Chad Zizelman (08:30):
Exactly, he was kind of right on the line there,
um, so he's more in line.
They don't recognize it as a umdiagnosis anymore, but he's
more in line of like Asperger'sand things like that.
Um, now, now, like I said, theydon't recognize ospergers
anymore, um, but that's kind ofwhere you'd categorize him.
(08:50):
So he is, he is verbal, he doesspeak um, he just is delayed in
many areas and has hyperfocuses on many things like
right now I mean for the past,I'd say year, year and a half
his obsession has been bugs.
Like he could tell you everysingle little detail about any
(09:11):
bug out there okay yeah yeah, so, um, so he's.
Mike Murphy (09:19):
How old is power?
His name is power, by the wayyep, power.
Chad Zizelman (09:23):
He is five years old.
He's going to be turning six indecember.
We are actually getting readyfor kindergarten, so he's going
to be going to long branch, okay, and scary, exciting.
He is one of the sweetest kidsyou could ever meet.
Mike Murphy (09:39):
Yeah, yeah, and I have yet to meet him, but I'm
looking forward to meeting himsomeday.
Yep, as well as your daughter.
Her name is Sims, correct?
Chad Zizelman (09:47):
Yep, sims, our three-year-old going on 15th,
she's got that Boston blood inher through her mom.
She's got that Boston blood inher through her mom and, yeah,
she's, she's the biggestsweetheart and it's funny
because she added so much to ourlives, not only like obviously
(10:09):
she's our daughter, we love her,be careful or anything, but
she's almost like the thirdadult in the family, like we
don't ask her to be, but if sheever sees like her brother
because obviously he does havehis concerns, like with he's
very sensitive to sounds and offsound it doesn't have to
necessarily be loud, any offsound could trigger him where it
(10:33):
makes him very upset and she isvery happy to like grab his
hand and be like come on, buddy,like let's go over here.
Or if she sees him notlistening to mom and dad, she'll
go and grab his hand Like mommyand daddy are calling us, Like
let's go over here.
Mike Murphy (10:48):
Wow, she's incredible At age three, huh.
Chad Zizelman (10:52):
Oh yeah, that's crazy.
Mike Murphy (10:55):
I love her awareness and the fact that
she's already kind of, you know,protective over him, and so
that's great to hear.
The other question that I havefor you is OK, so your kids
names are Power and Sims.
Those are not common everydaynames.
So what led you to those twonames?
Chad Zizelman (11:17):
Yeah, so Power.
So me and my wife, we were bothkind of the last names.
So what led you to those twonames?
Yeah so power.
So me and my wife, we were bothkind of the last in line for
our, because both of our fathersdidn't remarry after their
first marriages.
We were the only ones to beable to really carry on that
legacy.
So it was either we.
She was like she's like I kindof want you to take my last name
, and we finally decided she waslike she's like I kind of want
(11:38):
you to take my last name, and wefinally decided you know what
It'd be, wouldn't sound right ifwe call our son Zizzleman power
.
So we decided to keep my lastname and we honored her maiden
name by naming our son power.
So her name, her maiden name,is Ashley power.
Mike Murphy (11:57):
Oh, okay.
Chad Zizelman (11:58):
Yeah, and and it.
At first we were like we my momactually brought it up and we
started like saying it, andwe're like, actually it kind of
has a little bit of a ring to it, like it's not not as
off-sounding as we initiallythought it would be, and and we
wanted unique names.
That's something that we reallywanted for our kids.
Mike Murphy (12:20):
Well, I think it's pretty cool.
It's powerful, no pun intended.
Or maybe pun intended, I don'tknow.
Charlie McDermott (12:28):
Yep.
Mike Murphy (12:29):
So all right, Power and Sims, wife Ashley.
You guys, I assume, on occasionlike to go out and have fun as
a family.
What do you guys like to do?
Chad Zizelman (12:44):
for vacation.
For vacation, you know, mygrandmother has a spot um down
in Cape Coral, florida, nearlike Fort Myers and stuff, so
we'll go down there sometimes.
I know next year we're going toDisney again.
Okay, the theme parks are ourbig thing right now.
Our kids are rollercoaster-aholics and I mean we've
(13:04):
been to Kings Island I think wewere talking about it the other
day I think seven times alreadythis year and being all the way
down in Union, it's not likethat's a short hike.
So I mean it's every day ourkids wake up during the summer
and it's either can we go to thepool or can we go to Kings
Island.
Mike Murphy (13:22):
OK, that can get expensive.
So I'm sure you guys have theannual passes.
Chad Zizelman (13:27):
Oh yeah, we do.
We got the annual, we had theseason pass, we had the food
pass.
We got it all.
Mike Murphy (13:37):
We got it all, oh, go ahead.
It kind of surprises me, though, that Power doesn't have
problems with the sounds, thesights and everything that comes
with, you know, a big park likeKings Island or Disney park
(14:00):
like Kings Island or Disney.
Chad Zizelman (14:00):
Yeah, so Kings Island was really good.
I think that they keep a lot ofthose sensory concerns in mind
with now we do have to have theaccessibility pass because he
can't wait in a line.
He struggles with that.
Now it's a 5-10 minute line,we'll go ahead and wait like
he's.
He's perfectly fine with that,but anything extended we do have
to use an accessibility pass.
(14:21):
Um, and we do have headphonesfor him.
So there are some rides thatmake a lot of noise leading up
to them even I don't know ifyou're familiar with the rides
up there, but like there's aride called boo blasters.
He has to wear his headphonesin there.
So there are.
We do wear headphones on a lotof times on a lot of the rides,
or take them off right as we'regetting seated.
Mike Murphy (14:44):
Okay.
Chad Zizelman (14:45):
And that helps a lot.
Mike Murphy (14:46):
Right, I guess I wasn't aware that they
accommodated kids like that withthe accessibility pass.
Chad Zizelman (14:53):
So, oh it's, it's amazing, Okay, Well good You're
, you're teaching me something.
Mike Murphy (14:55):
Oh, it's amazing.
Okay, well, good, you'reteaching me something.
Speaking of teaching mesomething, you kind of
introduced me to a nonprofitthat you're kind of close to as
well, so do you want to talk alittle bit about that Kind of a
sports-related nonprofit forspecial needs kids?
Chad Zizelman (15:20):
Yeah, it's All Ability Sports Northern Kentucky
.
They are ran by this wonderfulwoman.
Her name is Samantha Payne.
She's an ex-special ed teacher,I believe.
I know she worked with kidswith unique needs and she looked
around the area and she waslike you know, there are no
programs offering sports forthese kids, so she started this.
(15:44):
I want to say I could be offwith the years.
I believe two years ago it waslike either a year and a half
two years ago.
It's taken off.
I've had the pleasure of beingable to coach for them.
I had the pleasure of beingable to coach for them.
Our son's been involved with itsince spring of 2024.
Mike Murphy (16:03):
Okay.
Chad Zizelman (16:05):
And it's just an incredible organization.
I mean being able to coach.
It has been.
I've been beyond thankful thatI've been able to do that,
because I've been able to meetthese amazing kids and just see
them slowly come out of theirshell.
It's one of those things thatit just takes your breath away
seeing these kids, like weekafter week, just slowly open up
(16:27):
to you, open up to their friendsand build a community around
them.
Mike Murphy (16:32):
That's great.
You know, I had never heard ofthem until you mentioned them to
me a few months ago and sincethen I've seen that logo four or
five times on the community andI know that they had a float at
the Union Celebrates Americaparade just a couple weeks ago.
So I look forward to learningmore about them, to learn more
(16:58):
about them and, uh, you know, Ithink you and I can kind of join
forces in possibly um helpingto get them some some, uh, you
know, gift them some moneythrough the group that I'm part
of, um give where you live, nky.
Chad Zizelman (17:07):
Yeah.
Mike Murphy (17:08):
We're?
We're kind of a nonprofit thatfunds other nonprofits and, uh,
I like to say we are, instead ofspeed dating, we are speed
philanthropy.
So we're going to, you know,our next meeting.
Hopefully you can make it.
You and I are going to go andwe're going to try and get some
money for your favoritenonprofit.
(17:29):
So I hope we can do that.
Chad Zizelman (17:31):
Absolutely, I'm looking forward to it.
I know I'd have that on my listof companies to collaborate
with and everything it doesn'thave to stop, but it can
definitely slow.
Mike Murphy (17:43):
So you and I talked about your potential plans as
an add-on service, an additionalservice to your clients in the
(18:05):
wintertime, and I don't know ifyou're ready to talk about that
the window art thing.
If not, then we're going to cutthis out of the podcast and
nobody will ever know.
But if you're ready to talkabout the window art, let's talk
about it.
So what's your idea around that?
Chad Zizelman (18:24):
Yeah, so it is something I'm going to offer.
I still have to work out thedetails and all that good stuff,
but basically what I'm going tooffer throughout the I know for
sure the Christmas season I maydo it prior to that but
offering window art for homes.
I got to do some researcharound regulations around the
(18:44):
area, especially with HOAs andeverything.
But what it basically be isthat I'd come in, I'd have a set
, a few set designs that I canbasically draw in your window
and it'll include a free not afree full called window washing
service but, I would clean thatwindow free of charge so that
(19:05):
you're not just stuck with thispaint that you now have to get
off your windows.
But yeah, it'd be.
It's something that's going tohelp me get through, like that
December January.
Mike Murphy (19:15):
I think it's a great idea.
So I'm glad you're letting metalk about it now and let the
community know about it, becauseI think that that's something
that I don't know I mean, Ihaven't seen it done very often
but to me it makes perfect sense.
It's a wonderful way to justkind of get through that holiday
season, especially and I'massuming you're painting on the
(19:39):
inside of the window, correct?
Chad Zizelman (19:41):
Exactly so.
You'd paint on the inside ofthe window to show on the
outside, and it's something I'vealways been more artistic.
I love drawing.
If you ever see me in a meetingor whatever many times, I just
You're a doodler a meeting orwhatever.
Many times I just, yeah, I justdoodle, I'm actively listening,
(20:01):
I just tend to doodle while Ilisten and so, yeah, I saw that
as something that I can kind ofdig into my artistic side and
also keep myself busy during thecold months.
Mike Murphy (20:11):
Okay, well, looking forward to that too.
Is there anything that we havenot talked about that you want
the community to know, eitherabout you, your family or your
business?
Anything else that we shouldmake sure to discuss before we
sign off?
Chad Zizelman (20:31):
Yeah, so I'm just like I said.
I'm a local dad trying to builda window cleaning business.
We are solely focused onwindows.
I think that's something thatmakes us stand out.
Is window cleaning isn't one ofseveral services.
Now we do partner with manycompanies that offer like power
(20:51):
washing and all those things,but something that's unique with
Mr Ziz and it was honestly afactor in why I went this route
was that we specialize inwindows.
I spoke to one of my favoriteclients.
He's over in Walton.
He said you know he's like.
I decided to start bundlingwindow cleaning with all these
other services he's like, andonce I did, I noticed that my
(21:13):
window cleaning quality wentdown and so I saw it as an
opportunity.
I'm like you know what?
I'm going to be very good atwindow cleaning and that's what
I train my employees on.
I go hey, we got to.
I want you to master this.
I want you to master only this.
I want you to be the bestwindow cleaner you can possibly
(21:34):
be.
Everything else doesn't matter.
This.
I want you to be the bestwindow cleaner you can possibly
be.
Everything else doesn't matter,and if someone needs like power
washing or whatever, I have apartner company that does that.
Mike Murphy (21:42):
Okay, that's good.
So is there such a thing asbeing able to easily quote for
somebody Like if somebody islistening to this and they're
like, okay, what's it cost perwindow?
Or I guess you know what arethe factors that you need to
consider when you're quoting itout to somebody, Maybe even if
it's just to give them kind of athumbnail understanding of what
(22:06):
it might cost to properly cleanthe windows, professionally
clean the windows in their home.
What's that look like?
Chad Zizelman (22:13):
Yeah.
So that is another thing that Istarted because obviously you
do market research before youstart a business, right?
And I noticed, well, first off,there weren't a ton of
reputable companies.
There are some incrediblecompanies in this area I'm not
going to go and diss anyone butthere weren't.
There wasn't a plethora of them.
And when I would get to manywebsites, with a few exceptions,
(22:37):
a lot of times pricing would becomplicated.
It's like per pane.
It's like.
Then people are going okay,what's is it per pane of glass,
like how many does that add upthrough?
Gridded windows change.
So my pricing is very simpleit's $10 per window unit.
Now, the biggest thing is like,you see this small window
(22:58):
behind me, it's $10, right, butnormal window units usually it's
like one bottom window pane,one top window, $10 for that
window pane inside and out.
So it's very simple.
If it's a deep, clean, $17 perwindow.
Sorry, not window pane windowunit, yeah.
So I created special pricingfor that.
(23:18):
The only exceptions are, say,gridded windows, because a lot
of those, especially the olderones, they require very special
techniques and overly dirtywindows Like there are.
I've only wanted ran into onehouse since starting this in
(23:40):
November that I had to go.
Okay, I mean, there were, therewas waxy stuff all over these
windows.
It took.
It was taking me, I'd say, halfhour to 45 minutes per window
and, as you can imagine, that issome very heavy residue.
But I don't try to nickel anddime because I think that that's
(24:04):
.
I noticed that when I got mywhat was it?
My dishwasher fixed a about ayear ago, is that?
Then they're like you get thisreceipt and it's like this this
charts, this starts, this starts.
You get this receipt and it'slike this this charge, this
starts, this charge this turn.
It's like why can't you just beup front with that?
So hard water stains?
I don't require, I don't chargeextra for that, I don't charge
(24:27):
extra to get the pollen off yourwindow.
Listen, it's all the sametechniques.
I'm not going to try to nickeland dime.
You and my pricing is simpleand that's what I pride myself
on.
Mike Murphy (24:37):
And there's a difference in the water that you
use versus just, uh, turning ona garden hose and spraying
windows down, correct?
Chad Zizelman (24:44):
Yeah, so we use um either deionized or distilled
water, depending on what kindof work we're doing, like
especially um like when I'mcleaning the tracks and sills, I
want to make sure that anyspray that gets on the windows
is um doesn't like dirty up thewindows in the meantime.
So I use distilled water forthat, because I'm not going to
(25:06):
hook up like the whole filterand everything but um deionized
water is the main thing that weuse.
Mike Murphy (25:13):
Okay, so if people want to get ahold of you, what's
the best way to do that?
Chad Zizelman (25:17):
Yes, so they can go to my website, which is very
simple, mrzizcom, or they canlook me up on Google, mr Ziz LLC
, or even contact me, call me ortext me on my cell phone, which
I keep available on my websiteit's 419-953-0755.
Mike Murphy (25:38):
Okay, and again, what's that area code from?
Where's 419 lead to?
Chad Zizelman (25:44):
Yeah, so that's technically a Toledo area code.
Now, I come from a small littletown called Saline, ohio.
It's up near Lima, if you knowwhere Lima is, and our
population isn't that big.
So we just even though Toledois like an hour away, we just
get their area code.
Mike Murphy (26:01):
Okay, interesting.
Yeah, every time I call you, Ialways mean to ask you, but I
never do.
Chad Zizelman (26:06):
Yeah, everyone's like.
You're from Toledo, like it'srough up there I'm like no, I'm
from a small little town, wejust steal their area code, yeah
.
Mike Murphy (26:16):
Yeah, yeah, gotcha Okay.
Charlie McDermott (26:18):
All right.
Mike Murphy (26:19):
Well, I think that wraps it up for this episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Chad, it's been nice catchingup with you.
It's nice to see you.
Likewise, I look forward toworking on nonprofit stuff with
you.
I look forward to meeting thekids in person someday Yep, to
meeting the kids in personsomeday.
And if you ever get over hereand clean my windows, I think
(26:43):
I'll insist that you bring powerwith you.
And let me see some of hiswindow cleaning skills.
I mean, this kid sounds likehe's going to be a natural at
maybe helping dad out with thebusiness someday.
Chad Zizelman (26:55):
Oh yeah, oh, he definitely will be, okay.
Mike Murphy (26:57):
Perfect, All right.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
Chad thanks for being with us.
Everybody, until we meet again,be good to your neighbor.
So long, everyone.
Bye-bye.
Charlie McDermott (27:10):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast Union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
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