Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)

The Cadence companies are uniquely positioned as both:

• Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) 
  
• Minority Business Enterprise

Ogie Banks – US Navy

Mr. Banks is the President and majority owner of Cadence. During his four years from 1969 to 1973 in the Navy, he had the unique privilege to serve on three USS ships in Vietnam, and he received the following honors:

Those years cemented his work ethic and helped prepare him to be the professional he is today. At an early age he learned dedication, focus, and how to follow instructions. He displays that same dedicated spirit today when serving Cadence customers with his ethical, charge up the hill attitude.

Ogie Banks - Disabled Veteran

While serving off the coast of Vietnam abroad the USS St. Paul, Mr. Banks suffered a personal tragedy. Before firing the ships guns, and during a planned pause period, there was a sudden unexpected blast. The ships guns had started bombarding the Vietnam coast. The unexpected blast knocked him to the edge of the ship’s deck – nearly sending him overboard. Despite the injuries sustained, Mr. Banks feels fortunate to be alive and is enthusiastic about the opportunities for his company and for all Service Disabled Veteran companies like his.

Ogie Banks – Served on Three US Naval Ships:

USS St Paul CA 73

Mr. Banks served on the St Paul until it was decommissioned April 1971. It is one of the most famous and most loved ships in the history of the United States Navy. Presidents and Kings have walked her decks. She has been a proud stately flagship for a long line of distinguished admirals. No other ship in naval history has fired as many rounds of ammunition as the USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73). Mr. Banks remembers her guns firing day and night off the coast of Vietnam - Bombarding targets in support of US troops. The St. Paul earned eight battle stars for Vietnam service. As an interesting side note, Actor John Wayne filmed the motion picture "In Harm's Way" with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas on this ship.

USS Iwo Jima LHD-2

The USS IWO JIMA is named for the epic battle of February 1945, in which three divisions of the United States Marine Corps took control of the island of Iwo Jima from 22,000 determined Japanese defenders. The USS Iwo Jima, was the first ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship. It was the lead ship of the Navy's IWO JIMA - class of amphibious assault ships (helicopter) and also the first ship in the Navy to bear the name.

The USS Denver LPD-9

The USS Denver LPD-9 was an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD). It was capable of carrying troops, cargo, and tanks. In addition, it operates troop and cargo-carrying helicopters, VSTOL (Vertical / Short Takeoff & Landing) fixed wing aircraft, and UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). These aircraft are used to project assault, special warfare, and reconnaissance forces inland in support of the beachhead from the helicopter-landing platform. In 1972 over in Vietnam the USS Denver received the Navy Unit Commendation from the Secretary Of the Navy for making aeronautical history as the first ship to launch U.S. Marine attack helicopter on missions in North Vietnamese waters.

Ogie Banks – Honorable Discharge & Project Transition (to Xerox)

Mr. Banks received his honorable discharge from the Navy on August 8, 1973. Just prior to his honorable discharge, his captain selected him to participate in a new Navy program called “Project Transition." Xerox was a main sponsor of this project which trained service men as they were leaving the service. Under this program, Mr. Banks worked for Xerox Corporation, on the Sigma 5, 6, and 9 mainframe computers. After 4 months in this program, Xerox realized what an exceptional talent Mr. Banks was and offered him a job. Upon his release from the Navy, he immediately started working for Xerox in their IT department. In that same year he entered college on the GI Bill and later finished college on a Xerox scholarship.