IN THE BEGINNING

Founded in 1987 by David and Leslie Mihalik, Elite Cargo Systems focused on being a carrier of computer hardware, software and high tech materials. In 1990, a name change to ELITeXPO Cargo Systems, was required when the cargo mix had changed from high tech to trade show and trade show materials. Larger facilities and airport access prompted a move to Bensenville outside of Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

THE GROWING YEARS

As the company grew our services expanded and a local cartage business was created. After a few years it was evident that Trade Show Transportation was going to be the focus and the future of the company. The local cartage operation was sold to further advance the strategy of growing trade show shipping services worldwide. From that point, ELITeXPO immediately experienced rapid growth in shipments between points in North America.

ELITeXPO continued on our path of tradeshow industry innovations and high level shipping services. In 2002, a facility was purchased in South Elgin, Illinois to accommodate future requirements and to assist in the equity growth of the company. The new facility has customized offices, a Freight Operations atrium, a recreation/media room, and state of the art technology wired throughout. In 2007, ELITeXPO began a Green Initiative to reduce energy usage, recycle consumable waste and lower the carbon footprint. A Top Score Partner rating was achieved upon our joining in the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Program. ELITeXPO partnered with American Forests and began a program where a new tree is planted for every shipment delivered to a tradeshow on behalf of our customers.

In 2009, ELITeXPO started the Tradeshow Services division, once again expanding its services offerings to meet the growing needs of our clients. Our Tradeshow Services division is a perfect complement to our core discipline and now offers our customers with full Property Management.

ASSET MANAGEMENT GROWTH

In 2015, ELITeXPO once again expanded and purchased a warehouse in Aurora, Illinois to house its growing list of companies who have entrusted us to inventory and manage their exhibit properties. In 2022, with our Aurora #1 warehouse approaching full capacity, ELITeXPO took the opportunity to purchase another warehouse, 2 doors away, to expand our Asset Management capacity and still be able to utilize our experienced warehouse staff to work interchangeably between both buildings.

USING TECHNOLOGY

With our proprietary cloud-based transportation tracking software, ELITeXPO did not miss a step when the whole world was shut down early in 2020 and everyone was forced to work from home. ELITeXPO had already established cloud-based remote connectivity with many of our employees throughout the US for many years prior. Today, our Asset Management customers have the ability to electronically pick their own inventory from our digital online Inventory System and be able to manage and monitor their properties for any event worldwide, in real time. Our exhibit shipping customers and asset management clients enjoy our XPOTRAX email and text shipment tracking status notifications for their shipments both into their events and returning from those events.

WHERE WE’RE GOING

ELITeXPO remains committed to providing the best value for the dollar in the event industry. We provide 24-7-365 days a year service. There are dedicated account reps to assist you in Same Day, Overnight, 2,3,4,5 Day, Economy, Super Deferred, Nationwide and International, LTL, Trailer Load and Exclusive Use Truck or Aircraft. ELITeXPO can now offer a complete trade show management program that provides industry experienced trade show services from the planning stages, to set up and tear down and storage at all stages of the exhibit planning cycle.

After all, we realize that no matter where, no matter when, no matter how…the tradeshow must go on!

We want the opportunity to work with you! We love adding to the ELITeXPO Community! Please send us a message and we’ll get back to you after we finish our happy dance! Thank you for taking the time to contact us!