130 Years of Family Serving Family: Dimas Maldonado, UK/Norway Consolidated Exchange

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 130 years of family serving family.

Who he is: Dimas Maldonado, Services Business Manager, UK/Norway Consolidated Exchange.

Military connections: Maldonado’s ties to the military run through generations of his family and across branches. His father served in the Army, his brother in the Navy and his spouse in the Air Force, each connection adding another thread to a life woven into the U.S. military community. “The military world is smaller than people think,” he says. “You see the same faces in the most unexpected places.” His mother, affectionately known as “Ms. Maria,” has worked at child development centers around the world, and often runs into adults who remember her caring for them as babies. “She remembers every single one of them,” Maldonado says proudly. “I’m not as great with names, but I’ve definitely had my own surprise reunions.”

What brought him to the Exchange: Maldonado’s very first job with the Exchange was at Toyland in the Four Seasons store in Vogelweh, Germany, when he was just 16. “It was during the Beanie Baby craze, total madness,” he laughs. “People would camp out by the stockroom door just waiting for the next shipment. I’d barely have the box opened before it was empty.” It was his first glimpse into the high energy and community connection that define the Exchange.

Later, in 2010, during a difficult time for their family, he found himself circling back. His spouse had retired from the military and was working as a civilian, on furlough. Maldonado had lost his job during the recession and was exploring new options. That’s when the Exchange re-entered his life. “I told myself, ‘If I get this job, I’ll stick with it, no matter the role,’” he said. He was hired as a crew member at Anthony’s Pizza, and never looked back.

What he did next: Since that return to the Exchange, Maldonado has grown into a leadership role as a services business manager, helping shape operations across the UK and Norway Consolidated Exchange. Whether managing services or supporting frontline teams, he brings the same energy and care that first led him to stock shelves and sling slices. “It’s not just a job,” he says. “It’s a place that feels like home. I’ve grown up in this environment, it’s part of who I am.”

What it’s like being a military spouse: Maldonado and his partner have been together for 23 years. In the early days, he was the one holding down the fort while his partner was deployed or on TDY. Over time, they weathered big life changes together—military retirement, job loss and career shifts, but the Exchange gave him a way to stay grounded and give back. “This life isn’t always easy, but it’s familiar,” he says. “And being with the Exchange, serving this community, it just makes sense.”

Best part of working for the Exchange: For Maldonado, the best part of his job is knowing he’s helping create the same kind of memories he cherished growing up. “The PX was a huge part of our family life,” he says. “My dad would say, ‘Let’s go to the big PX,’ and we’d hit the food court, usually Robin Hood. Best sandwiches ever. Later, when I was in high school, the Exchange was the hangout spot during lunch breaks. I’ve always been surrounded by it.”

Family Serving Family: To Maldonado, Family Serving Family isn’t just a mission, it’s a legacy. “My mom’s first job with the Exchange was at Anthony’s Pizza in the ’80s. Now I’ve worked there too. That sense of continuity, of giving back to a community that gave so much to me, that’s what keeps me going.”

Whether it’s a childhood memory, a career milestone or a warm encounter with an old friend, the Exchange has been a constant in his life. “I want the next generation to have those same good memories,” he says. “To feel seen, valued and supported, just like I did.”