Moving on Up: John Von Paris ’82

TU has sparked countless innovators. These are their stories.

John Von Paris

What started as one man with a horse and wagon has grown into one of the oldest and most recognizable moving companies in the country.

Maryland-based Von Paris Moving and Storage has moved three U.S. presidents, governors and sports stars. It’s stored priceless works of art for embassies and museums. But fourth-generation leader John Von Paris says it treats every customer like a VIP.

“People from all walks of life relocate for many different reasons,” he says. “Whether they’re buying their first house or moving into a retirement community, we like to make it easier for them.”

Although he’s run the company for more than a decade, Von Paris knows its success wouldn’t have been possible without the help of countless others.

“The people that are out on the road and are interfacing with our customers are the lifeblood of the company,” he says. “There were a lot of people that came before me who worked very hard to build the business. It was a team effort, and it still is today. I’ll never forget that.”