I met Jason and Tori Harless at the neighborhood social event hosted by Stroll Red Rock Park at Rose & Ivy in downtown Sarasota a few months ago, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to either one of them until the week in between our latest two storms.  I remember their introduction as the proprietors of the local Pink’s Window Services franchise, which offers services from window and screen cleaning to pressure washing, gutter cleaning and more, and their winning smiles.  Tori later tells me, “We attend Stroll events when we're able and love supporting other business owners in our community.”  

After  spending time getting familiar with the Harless clan, which includes Tristan (5) and Isla (3), along with adorable shih tzus Ellie (9) and Thor (7), I learn that their lives have been defined by family and by helping others, which includes Jason’s many years of service in the United States Marine Corps.   I am very proud to pen the feature of them this Veteran’s Month.

Tori and I connected on the phone as we were each coincidentally (and luckily, in retrospect), headed out of town for what would prove to be a longer exile than anticipated, driven by Hurricane Milton.  She and I both grew up in Minnesota, and right away there is an easy rapport.  Tori is nice, easy to talk to, and faintly, there is a trace of an accent that is familiar to me.  We share a love of visiting Minnesota.  “I love that my kids get to experience the way I grew up,” she says.

Jason and Tori are relatively recent transplants, having arrived in the Sarasota area during the pandemic from “everywhere”, after having each lived and travelled to many places, before finally settling in on their house on Kennilworth.  “I was very pregnant with Isla then,” Tori says.

As with many transferees to Sarasota, Tori and Jason chose the area because it was already familiar.  Her grandparents had a home on Siesta, and there were many vacations with family, beach walks, and adventures on the key when she grew up.  Their relocation timing was especially fortuitous as the Harless family got to spend Tori’s grandmother’s last few months with her. 

In fact, family has driven a lot of Tori’s particular trajectory.  A proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority, she attended the University of Arizona, receiving a degree in molecular biology and business, but it was really family that led her to pick Tucson.   “At the end of high school, I learned my mom was moving there with my brother, and he was 11 years younger than me.  I didn’t want to pick a school that was far away when he was growing up.”

After college, family again provided an opportunity. Her uncle, the owner of the famous Hansen’s Surf Shop in Encinitas, California, offered her a job.  It was during this phase of life that Tori met Jason, a Chicago native who had been in the Marine Corps since enlisting in 1997. 

“Technically Jason and I were set up, although I didn't know it at the time. I was invited out to a bar where I was told there would be tons of marines looking for dates to the upcoming Marine Corps Ball. I met Jason that night, along with many of his friends, and he promptly asked me to be his date, “she explains. The next evening, Tori and Jason went to dinner to get to know each other a little better, and two nights later they attended the ball together downtown San Diego. 

Dazzled by the gorgeous military ceremonies, the  handsome uniform and traditions of the evening, she concludes, “that night he told me he was going to marry me and the rest is history!” It certainly was, but it wasn’t always easy.  Jason, already over a decade into his service, was stationed in international combat deployments often, both before and after their wedding (which took place at Tori’s grandparents’ place in St. Paul, of course). Of his service, Jason remarks, “I've always enjoyed challenges and teamwork.”

Some of his specific deployments? East Timor (2000),Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq (2003-2011), Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (2001-2014), Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (2014).  His medals and citations?  Too many to count.

(We moved to North Carolina for Jason’s last 2 years of service where he served at camp Lejeune and retired out of in 2017) Jason officially retired and moved the family to North Carolina in 2017, when the family lived for a time just prior to their trek to Sarasota.  When Jason was recruited to work for another franchise(he was recruited to manage another company under the same family of brand’s as Pink’s), the family decided to take a leap and become franchisees themselves, buying Pink’s exclusive rights to the Sarasota and Bradenton areas. We were among the first 6 franchisees of the brand (a total leap of faith!), but it has since exploded and has sold all up and down both coasts of FL (and all over the country)

Life for the Harless family these days harkens back to Tori’s childhood.  There are beach walks, fall trips to Minnesota, quality moments with family and friends, and beautiful family meals.  Always up for trying a new recipe, Tori says, “We get fresh fish about once a week from Walts, just down the street, that we cook at home. We’re over at Trader Joe’s shopping more than I’d like to admit. Isla seems to appreciate my cooking, but Tristan is a tough critic. He asks for noodles with butter almost every night.”   Tristan and Isla prefer to dine out and love their regular family pizza nights at Origin and Taco Tuesday’s at Plaza Mexico.

Pink’s is still relatively new to Tori and Jason, but they are enjoying the ride. “We offer a luxury service at a fair price, and we hope to bring integrity and pride back to the service industry more pride to service-oriented businesses.  Do what you say, you show up on time, and you make sure the customers are always one hundred percent satisfied,” she says.  “Our business puts us in direct daily contact with our community and this is one of the things we love about it the most! Meeting neighbors, business owners and connecting with others is what we are all about.”  I can almost feel Tori glowing when she talks about their work.

Jason offers something that, to me, knits the Harless philosophy of service and family together so perfectly.  He says, “Do good. Be courageous and brave, especially when others aren't. Accept challenges, enjoy wins, learn from losses. Be responsible up front, and accountable always. Smile and share joy.”    

Harless family, we’re so happy you’re here.  Sarasota intends to keep you a very long time.