June 2, 2026
Meet Ethan Sodoma, Thumbs Up Movers' Mover of the Month, and discover his expert moving tips and customer stories.
Tell us about your move and we’ll send you a quick, no-obligation quote. Our team makes it easy to plan your next move with trusted local help and transparent pricing.
Moving day is inherently filled with moving parts, emotional transitions, and logistical hurdles. At Thumbs Up Movers, we have always maintained that a successful relocation depends far less on the size of a moving truck and far more on the quality of the individuals handling your life’s possessions. Our mission revolves around excellence, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to prioritizing people.
This month, we are incredibly proud to spotlight an individual who embodies these values every single day on the job: Ethan Sodoma, our latest Mover of the Month.
Whether he is navigating the blazing Arizona heat, engineering a masterfully stable truck load using a classic trucker's knot, or chatting with a client about the exciting new chapter ahead, Ethan brings an unmatched blend of physical skill and positive energy to our team.
Let’s dive into our recent conversation with Ethan to learn about his background, his top "pro mover" tips, and what makes him an indispensable asset to families throughout our community.
Ethan's journey in the moving industry began when he was just 17 years old. Originally from Las Vegas, he was drawn to the profession because he wanted a role that kept him physically active while allowing him to serve others in a tangible way.
After taking a brief break, Ethan recently chose to rejoin the team. His reason? The profound sense of community and friendship behind the scenes. "I rejoined again with the team recently just to be a part of the friend group and camaraderie that I experienced earlier," Ethan explains.
With roughly four years of industry experience under his belt, Ethan has transformed moving into an art form. While some view moving as repetitive heavy lifting, Ethan approaches it with the mind of a strategist.
"What keeps me passionate is the new puzzles the job provides on the daily," Ethan says. "Every job is different with different parts needing to be done."
The true measure of an elite mover is how they handle a client's anxiety. Moving is widely recognized by psychologists as one of life’s most stressful events, ranking alongside major career changes or divorces. For Ethan, easing that emotional burden is the most fulfilling part of his day.
"One of the most rewarding parts is knowing you made a difficult task easier for everyone involved," Ethan shares. "Some may have large families, difficult stairs, or a large amount of stuff, and at the end of the move it is always rewarding knowing I eased the stress of the customer being serviced."
Ethan recalls a recent job where a client had rented their own commercial moving truck but was completely panicked that their furniture simply wouldn't fit inside the cargo hold.
Instead of rushing or brushing off their concerns, Ethan calmly stepped in as a stabilizing force. He systematically analyzed the spatial dynamics of the truck, assured the client that everything would fit, and masterfully packed the space.
The result? Absolute success. At the end of the move, the relieved client laughed and told him, "Well, I am glad you all are able to fit my stuff cause honestly we may have had to start a garage sale on the spot if not." Thanks to Ethan’s expertise, the emergency garage sale was avoided, and the client was incredibly grateful.
At Thumbs Up Movers, our crews operate across diverse regions, from the beautiful Pacific Northwest to the scorching desert climates of the Southwest. Dealing with extreme weather conditions requires both physical endurance and creative problem-solving.
Ethan highlights a particularly challenging summer move in Arizona where the extreme heat posed an immediate threat to the client’s belongings. The client was deeply concerned that their expensive wooden furniture and specialized metal pieces would sustain permanent sun damage or warp from overheating while sitting out on the hot pavement.
Instead of pushing forward and risking damage, Ethan and his partner adapted on the fly. They tracked down an outdoor tent structure on the property and set it up to create a makeshift cooling and wrapping station.
By wrapping the furniture entirely under the protective shade of the tent, they added crucial protective layers without exposing the materials to destructive heat. When the amazed client asked how they came up with such a clever solution, Ethan kept it humble, jokingly explaining that the crew was just trying to keep themselves cool, too!
With four years of hands-on experience loading trucks, trailers, and portable storage containers, Ethan has a deep understanding of what makes a move succeed or fail. He recommends that homeowners focus on these three essential preparation rules to reduce moving day stress:
What truly elevates Ethan to Mover of the Month status is his mastery of advanced moving mechanics and professional techniques. He points to two specific skills that make his jobs safer and more efficient every day:
A great move isn't just about getting items into a truck; it’s about ensuring they don't move an inch during transit. Ethan stresses that proper tie-downs using high-quality rope or ratchet straps are non-negotiable. Taking the extra time to secure a load with a traditional, tightly locked trucker's knot ensures the entire cargo hold remains perfectly safe, preventing items from shifting and breaking on tight highway turns.
"I have learned that almost anything can be placed on a dolly," Ethan notes. True professionals don't rely on raw, uncontrolled muscle power to force an item into place. Instead, they use balance and leverage. Ethan explains that almost any heavy or awkward item has a natural sweet spot that allows it to be rolled smoothly on two wheels, saving time and protecting the mover's back.
An athlete at heart, Ethan plays competitive hockey to keep himself in peak physical condition for the demanding manual labor of the job. But he doesn’t stop there; he also plays golf to sharpen his mental focus and endurance. This mental discipline is crucial for staying sharp and attentive during long, complex moves that require hours of sustained concentration.
Ultimately, the main reason Ethan stands out to our clients and earned this month's recognition is his exceptional ability to connect with people while maintaining a fast, efficient work pace.
"I always enjoy being personable and finding out the reasons why someone may be moving," Ethan says warmly. "Transitioning to a new place is a big step, and I find it fun for both the client and me if we are able to talk about the exciting new steps to come."
When you choose Thumbs Up Movers, you aren't just getting an unvetted, temporary crew from an open classified marketplace. You are partnering with highly trained, dedicated experts like Ethan Sodoma who treat your belongings with the utmost care, respect, and professionalism.
As a premier labor-only service provider, we focus exclusively on supplying the specialized lifting power, precision packing, and loading expertise you need to make your move a complete success. Whether you are renting a U-Haul truck, utilizing a portable storage container, or simply need heavy furniture rearranged inside your home, our teams are ready to deliver outstanding results.
Explore our comprehensive array of residential and commercial moving services or complete our quick online form to get a free quote today. Let Ethan and our exceptional team bring our signature "Thumbs Up magic" to your upcoming moving day!
