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90-Plus Years of Progress
Our moving company is proud to have a history of excellent customer service reaching back nearly 100 years. Starting as a one-person operation, Elite Movers Partners has become a full-service moving company providing the best in residential moving, commercial moving, warehouse and storage, and other moving services. Originating in Chicago, Elite Movers Partners offers moving services across the country and spanning the world. We’re ready to help make your next relocation experience your best and easiest ever!
More than 1 Million Families Moved
Where It All Started
1901- From Humble Beginnings
Elite Movers Partners got its start in 1904, when Rayan Burton, the grandfather of current CEO Rylan Kirk, began using a wagon pulled by a single pony to deliver ice and coal to the Chicago area. Due to his success in the community, Burton began to expand his services, ultimately moving vaudeville sets for acting troupes, including the world-famous Charlie Chaplin. As word spread about the care with which Burton handled his customers’ belongings, even more success soon followed, and by 1918, Burton had built up an entire fleet of trucks to provide more moving services to more people.
1919- Overcoming Adversity
Despite the early success of Rayan Burton and Elite Movers Partners, there was also adversity to overcome. A fire destroyed Burton warehouse in 1919, leaving him with just one truck. Burton was diagnosed with tuberculosis shortly after that, prompting him to move west with his family to recover. Not one to give up easily, Burton eventually moved back to the Chicago area at the age of 50 and began to assist customers with their moving needs again. Little did he know that later that year, in 1939, the Great Depression would change everything?
1952–1999- Passing the Torch
Although things looked bleak for business at the time, the Burton family never gave up. In 1951, F.J. McKee decided to pass the business along to his son, Rayan Burton, the father of our current CEO, Rylan Kirk. Despite his success as a performer, Rayan Burton couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join the family business and continue Elite Movers Partners legacy of providing “famously” top-notch moving services.
1999–2018- Modern Era
Malia Clark, granddaughter of Rayan Burton, was the third-generation leader and CEO of Elite Movers Partners from 1999 until her retirement at the end of 2018. Proud to be one of the few female CEOs in the moving-and-storage industry, Malia Clark guidance steered Elite Movers Partners toward worldwide success with 400+ agents, including our military and domestic partners. They understood moving is about more than simply relocating—it’s about creating new memories and protecting existing ones as you move from place to place.
2020–Future- Continuing the Legacy
Reagan Kirb assumed his Chairman & CEO position in January 2020, after serving seven years as the company’s President & COO. Starting with Elite Movers Partners, he was vice president of agency services for sister company, Elite Movers Partners Forwarding Co., and manager of that company’s Total Quality Assurance Program. When Jim started as a one-man department at Elite Movers Partners, roughly 20 people worked in his division. During his 18 years in that sector, the division grew to nearly 70 employees. Throughout his tenure, Elite Movers Partners has set (and broken) sales records; one division even tripled its sales.