You Don't Have to Carry It Alone

I am a U.S. Army Veteran and an educator in Cambridge, Maryland. I came to Dion Banks worn down by VA processes I had been fighting for years, and looking for someone who would help me put my professional story in order as well.

Dion is a combat veteran. That mattered. He did not talk down to me. He listened, explained the process in plain language, and was clear from the first conversation that the benefits work we were doing would not put my existing disability rating at risk.

He redesigned my résumé to reflect who I actually am: a senior educator, Army Veteran, and community leader with more than 20 years supporting youth, families, and schools. The new résumé highlights my work as a Behavior Intervention Teacher with Dorchester County Public Schools, my case management and restorative practice background, and my record of building partnerships that serve children, families, and veterans. It reads like the professional I am — not a stack of disconnected jobs.

On the benefits side, he did real work, not slogans: a complete first-call intake, a written case and Veteran statement for my clothing-allowance application, draft answers for VA documents, language I could take to my VA doctor, and a step-by-step plan so I knew what to do next and in what order. He helped me name how service-connected conditions and required treatment have changed my daily life, and he kept the claim inside the rules so it could stand up.

If you are a veteran who is tired of asking and getting nowhere, or a professional who needs your story told with dignity, this is the support I needed: another veteran who will walk the process with you, protect what you already earned, and help you put complete, usable work in your hands.

Dion Banks served as my campaign manager for the 2026 Dorchester County Council District 2 race. Under his leadership, we defeated a long-serving incumbent by more than 100 votes in the Democratic primary and secured the seat. I will be the first African American woman to hold this office.

Dion built and managed the campaign from the ground up. He designed and launched the Friends of Penn website, established a consistent, professional digital presence, and managed day-to-day social media so our message reached voters clearly and on schedule. He coordinated my public appearances, community events, and church and neighborhood meetings; managed the calendar and key appointments; and kept fundraising organized and on track.

Just as important, he helped shape the messaging. Our platform — fresh leadership, transparent government, economic opportunity, infrastructure, education, and stronger communities — was communicated with clarity and respect. Dion understood both the historic nature of the race and the everyday concerns of District 2 families. He treated volunteers, supporters, and opponents with professionalism and kept the campaign focused on service rather than noise.

I recommend Dion Banks without reservation to anyone seeking experienced, disciplined, and community-rooted campaign leadership. He delivered results and represented our values every step of the way.

It is with great pleasure that I write this recommendation for Dion Banks. Dion was selected by the State of Maryland to serve alongside a host of other distinguished business leaders as a judge for the InvestMaryland Challenge (IMC) National Business Competition. The IMC was launched by Governor Martin O'Malley in 2012.

As a judge, Dion provided invaluable insight and mentorship to start-up companies in high growth industries including manufacturing, energy, and IT. His expertise helped the state select three exceptional start-up companies that ultimately received a total of $300,000 in grants.

Dion's commitment to serving the Maryland business community was once again recognized in September 2013, when he was selected to participate in the 2014 competition. It has been an honor to work with him.

I met Dion Banks during a Trade Mission to Brazil with Governor O'Malley. We were a part of a delegation who traveled with the governor in 2013. More than 30 companies and representatives of several Maryland-based universities, as well as Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), traveled to Brazil and El Salvador to explore trade and investment opportunities.

Dion did a stellar job at representing Cambridge International and the overall manufacturing industry for the state of Maryland. I highly recommend him!