Meet Our Staff
John Smarge – President
John Smarge received his bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. To earn his college tuition he worked for a large interstate moving company as a local and long-distance mover. After graduating in 1982, John moved to Naples, FL with his newlywed wife Cindy and opened Ray the Mover as co-owner and General Manager. He managed the daily operation of this high quality moving and storage company for more than 30 years. Over the years John Smarge has been heavily involved in humanitarian efforts both in the Naples community and many parts of the world. He has served on the Board of Directors of The Naples Shelter for Abused Women, the Boy Scouts of America – SW Florida Council, Chairman of the Board of the Collier County YMCA and President of The Rotary Club of Naples. John has continued his involvement with Rotary International serving as District Governor and as an International Board of Director for two (2) years.
John and Cindy have three grandchildren and enjoy spending time with family, serving others, and watching Gator sports.
John was recently featured in an article by SWFL Real Producers. Check out the full article here.
Kirk Saunders – General Manager
It can be easily stated that Kirk Saunders has “moving” in his blood. Kirk was born on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL and then “moved” all over the country as the son of a career U.S. Navy Officer. Kirk himself went on to serve in the U.S. Navy.
Kirk joined Ray the Mover in 1995 as a local mover/packer. Over the next 17 years he distinguished himself in each role as he “moved” to local crew leader then northAmerican Van Lines over-the-road driver. Kirk used his firsthand knowledge of the business when he was brought into the office as Sales Manager and then Operations Manager. In 2012 Kirk was promoted to General Manager where he utilizes his complete moving industry experiences garnered over his 29 years at Ray the Mover.
Kirk enjoys scuba diving, fishing, beach activities, motor cycle riding and is an active member of his church.
Bridget Saunders – Operations Manager
Bridget Saunders grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and started her working life in the banking business. Her forte was in the development of internal processes and procedures. Bridget made a major career change when she went to work for the local NorthAmerican Van Lies agency in Pittsburgh where she handled large logistic accounts. A 2013 trip to beautiful Naples, FL included a visit to fellow NorthAmerican agent Ray the Mover, where a vacation turned into a move to warmer weather.
As Operations Manager Bridget utilizes her superb organizational and customer service skills to assure that each move is carried out with “100% customer satisfaction.” To do this she instills a “Whatever It Takes” attitude throughout the entire company.
Bridget enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, and shopping.
Cindy Martin – Office Manager
Cindy is one of those rare Florida natives, growing up in Hollywood, FL and moving to Naples in 1969. She joined Ray the Mover in 1991 and has guided the company in her 35 years of employment through the days of handwritten ledgers to our current cloud-based business systems.
Cindy has been married for 49 years, has a wonderful stepson, stepdaughter and two daughters. Additionally, Cindy is blessed to have 11 grandchildren. She enjoys family time, bowling and her two dogs Bella and Beau. When asked “Why have you stayed at Ray the Mover for 35 years?” her response was “When I talk to customers about Ray the Mover, I feel comfortable telling them that Ray the Mover is a good honest company…because I know it is.”
Michelle Delashmutt– Move Coordinator
Believe it or not, Michelle Delashmutt grew up in Santa Claus, Indiana. Michelle spent 6 years in the Indiana Army National Guard and then proudly served a year in Mosul, Iraq. She started her career in the moving business in the Operations Department at a large van line. Michelle moved to SW Florida to work at a competing local mover. In February 2018 she joined Ray the Mover as the Move Coordinator, using her industry skillsets and warm personality to assure that each customer has “an easy and stress-free moving experience.”
Michelle enjoys shopping, scrap booking, church functions and spending time with family.
Michael Hotchkiss – Lee County Sales Manager
Michael Hotchkiss grew up in Madison, WI and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in Hotel-Restaurant Management. He began his career working for a large restaurant chain where he traveled the Midwest training new managers.
Michael moved to Naples in 1994 and started Naples Packaging and Shipping. His multi-store business served the Naples area for 20 years, specializing in the packaging of art, antiques, collectables and shipments too small for movers. In 2014 he joined Ray the Mover where he uses his specialty packing knowledge and friendly Midwest personality to professionally and compassionately assist our Lee County customers through the often-daunting moving process.
Michael has been married for 34 years and has two grown daughters. Over the years he travelled the state supporting his daughters in their golf tournaments and cheerleading competitions. Today, he enjoys golf, college football and basketball, deep sea fishing, baking, and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers.
Stephanie Smarge Lai – Collier County Sales Manager
Stephanie Smarge Lai was born and raised in Naples, FL. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. Stephanie worked for 8 years in the Collier County School System, first as a middle school math teacher, then as a high school math teacher and finally ending her teaching career as a Math Resource Support Specialist for the Collier County School District.
Stephanie joined the family business in 2018, combining “new” second generation thinking with “old-school” customer-oriented business philosophies. She proudly serves customers in the greater Naples community that she grew up loving.
Stephanie is active in the Naples community as a current member of The Rotary Club of Naples and Past President (2022-2023). In her free-time she enjoys working out, community service, world travel and most importantly, spending time with her husband, Stephen, and their one year old son, Jaxson. Stephanie and her husband are expecting their daughter in April of 2024.