About Us

Ladessa Heimbouch, AS

President

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Scottsbluff, NE

Ladessa is a Training and Quality Manager at Faneuil. She was born and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. After earning her Associate of Science degree from Western Nebraska Community College in 2007, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. After seven wonderful years of experiences there, Ladessa decided to move back to the Panhandle to be closer to family and friends, and to contemplate her next chapter in life. Not long after moving back , she secured a training position at Faneuil where she applies her teaching and writing skills to the fullest. When she’s not writing training manuals, creating online resources, or developing spectacular spreadsheets, Ladessa loves to sing karaoke, jam on her guitar, ride her motorcycle, and spend time with her dog (Odie) and two cats (Khaleesi and Ori).

As one of the founders of Panhandle Equality, Ladessa is determined to make the Nebraska Panhandle a more inclusive and safe place for other LGBTQ+ individuals. She is confident that she and her fellow board members will continue to grow the organization and make a positive impact in the community.

"Out lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future." ~ David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

Megan Barhafer, BS

Vice-President

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Iowa City, IA

Megan moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska for her first job out of college, in 2018. She has been committed to human rights from a young age. Growing up in Iowa and watching the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights was the spark for her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. In college, at Iowa State University, Megan studied environmental science and community and regional planning which laid the foundation for her current position working in public health. Megan is passionate about the social determinants of health which include environmental factors of health like access to food, safe and affordable shelter, and preventing trauma.

Megan is very honored to serve as Vice-President of Panhandle Equality, which she sees as an amazing opportunity to do the work of creating inclusive communities. Megan enjoys singing, acting, hiking, and most especially knitting!

Brandi Ward, BA

Secretary

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Chadron, NE

Brandi is a Legal Assistant at Ellison, Kovarik & Turman Law Firm. She was born in Chadron but moved around a lot as a kid. Brandi moved back to Chadron in 2006 and began attending Chadron State College as a part-time student where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies – Legal Studies. She then moved to Scotts Bluff in 2013 to begin her career as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.

Brandi looks forward to serving on the Board of Directors and hopes to help the organization achieve its goal of advancing LBGTQ+ rights. One of her favorite quotes is by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and states:

"To sin by silence, when they should protest, makes cowards of men." ~Unknown