Charity Henning- Executive Directorimg_2687-2

Charity Henning became the Executive Director of the Arc of Laramie County e 2016. Charity was born and raised in Colorado but moved to Cheyenne in 1997 where she lives with her family. Charity graduated from Laramie County Community college with an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. In May of 2023, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Northwest College in Powell Wyoming. Charity has previously served on the Board of Directors for Uplift and beeen on the Mayor’s Council for People with Disabilities. She is currently serving on the Wyoming Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabibities. Charity is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Cheyenne. Charity was recently certrtified to write Person Centered Plans and is also certified as an employment specialist for individuals with disabilities. Charity is very passionate about ensuring that individuals with I/DD  are able to live a full and satisfying life.   

DONALD HEIDUCK-  Presidenta02p53214

Donald (Donnie) Heiduck is a Detective, assigned as the Crime Scene Investigator for the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department.  After graduating Cheyenne East High School, Donnie attended Laramie County Community College and received Associate Degrees in Anthropology, History, and Criminal Justice. He also received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming.

During his professional career history, Donnie was employed as both a Dispatch Communication Technician and a Police Patrol Officer with the Cheyenne Police Department beginning in 1979 after graduating from Laramie County Community College with his first two Associate Degrees. He was also employed at Equality State Bank as Bank Security Officer, Bookkeeping Supervisor, and Teller Supervisor.  Donnie began his career at the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department in 1987 in the capacity of a Reserve Deputy, then later as a Detention Deputy, Patrol Deputy, Court Security Officer, Evidence/Property Technician, Laboratory Technician, Department Quartermaster, Court Certified Fingerprint Examiner, Wyoming Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Instructor, Department Employment Recruiter, and is currently assigned as a Detective in the capacity of Crime Scene Investigator.  He has served or is currently serving on the Methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory Team, Traffic Fatality Accident Investigation Team, Fire Investigation Team, Department Honor/Color Guard Team, Detention SERT Team, EMR Technician, Deputy County Coroner, and the Cheyenne Police/Laramie County Joint SWAT Team.  Donnie also serves as his Department liaison /representative on a number of local, state, and regional boards.

In addition to his Sheriff’s Department commitments,  Donnie serves as an adjunct instructor for Laramie County Community College, as well as the Cheyenne Police Department, Laramie County Boy Scouts Merit Badge University, Wyoming State Parks, Laramie County Search and Rescue Team, Laramie County Financial Institutions, Businesses, and Churches, various schools within Laramie County, and the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy.

Over the past almost thirty years, Donnie also volunteers his personal time in the community and is currently serving or has served on the following;  The Laramie County Community College Foundation, the Laramie County Silent Witness Crime Stoppers Board, Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation Board, the NEEDS Advisory Board of Directors, Scottish Society of Southeast Wyoming Board , the Salvation Army Advisory Board, The Laramie County Youth Development and Drug Education Board, Laramie County Law Enforcement Torch Run Committee for Special Olympics, Cheyenne-Laramie County Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, “Nick’s Walk” for SIDS, Susan Koman-Race for the Cure Walk, “Jail and Bail” Benefit for the March of Dimes, Southeast Wyoming Fraternal Order of Police Board, member of the Wyoming Peace Officers Association, judge for the “We the People Program”, the DUI Victim Impact Panel Board, Rocky Mountain Division of the International Association for Identification Board, Junior Leadership of Laramie County Board, “Shop with a Cop and Shop with a Hero Programs”, Cheyenne Police Department Police Protective Association charitable activities, developed and assisted in the establishment of various scholarships at Laramie County Community College and participated in numerous other community programs.

Donnie is looking forward to his next challenge by serving on the ARC Board of Laramie County.

Brittany Hankinson-McGovern – Vice President

Brittany Hankinson-McGovern is the mother to Arc member Tina McGovern. Her husband Brandin is a Fire Fighter and EMT with the United States Air Force. They moved to Wyoming from Montana in October of 2018. She is the Family Support Specialist with Exceptional Family Member Program at FE Warren Air Force Base. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and is pursuing her Masters in Social Work. She has worked in the field of supporting individuals with disabilities and their families for over 14 years. She was a youth Family Support Specialist and Case Manager for the State of Montana for 3 years, managed four adult residential homes for 4 years, served as a Behavioral Technician in an ABA adult residential home for 3 years, and served as a youth in-home Habilitation Aid and ABA specialist for 4 years. Throughout those 14 years she has also provided in-home respite services, volunteered with Special Olympics, managed teen and youth social groups and served on the Montana Autism plan development committee. As a special needs mom to her wonderful daughter Tina who is an active Arc member, she is excited to be able to support and assist the wonderful Arc members and their families with living the best possible lives they can by serving on the Arc Board.

 

 

HEATHER O’CONNOR – Secretary a02p53213

Heather O’Connor is the Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch Trainer. Heather started her career at Wyoming Highway Patrol as a dispatcher in 1996 after attending Idaho State University and majoring in elementary education. During her almost 20 year career she has been afforded the opportunity to attend over 1000 hours of POST certified training. Her training ranged from Instructor Development to First Line Supervision, as well as topics like Hostage Negotiation Concerns, Active Shooting Response, and Social Media for Disaster Responses.

Heather currently trains newly hired and tenured dispatchers as well as trooper recruits in radio procedures and computerized law enforcement files. Additionally Heather trains at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy for the WLEA Communications Basic and is the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) for the Wyoming Highway Patrol. She has trained at the Laramie County Community College for campus security, Cheyenne Citizens Police Academy, Junior Leadership of Laramie County, Laramie County Community College Law Enforcement class as well as Laramie County Sheriff’s Department. Heather has been a member of the WLEA Communications Training Advisory Board (CTAB) since 2000 and currently serves on the Junior Leadership of Laramie County Board, DUI Impact Panel Board, Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial Committee, Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation Board, and the ARC of Laramie County Board.

Heather has received numerous awards, including two Meritorious Conduct Awards; one for a Trooper involved shooting incident, and one for the Move Over Law. Heather also received the Colonel’s Commendation for the co-Initiation of the Move Over Legislative Bill which was signed and became the Move Over Law for the State of Wyoming in July 2001. Heather is especially proud of the Move Over Law because it provides protection for first responders on Wyoming highways. Heather served on the Wyoming Peace Officers Association Communications Division Executive Board from 2009 – 2011, served on the WPOA Stores Committee from 2008-2011 &  2016 to present, and is currently serving as the Executive Officer on the Communications Division Executive Board.

 


Daryl Hensel – Treasurer
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Daryl Hensel is the Treasurer for The ARC of Laramie County. Daryl was born and raised in Logansport, Indiana. He has a degree in Accounting with a minor in Computer Science from Ball State University. It was during his college years that he met his wife, Jounice. After graduating and living in Indianapolis for about 19 years, Daryl moved to Wyoming in 2007, living in Star Valley and working for a CPA firm in Jackson. In 2009, he moved to Cheyenne, where he has worked for a CPA firm, RPO Associates, CPA’s, LLC.

Daryl and his wife have been married for over 28 years, and have one son who lives in Indianapolis, and twin boys who have developmental disabilities and live with them in Cheyenne. For fun, Daryl enjoys going to the movies with his family, traveling, and camping.

 

 

Mickey Adolf-Board Member

Bio Coming Soon

Brandon Mendola – Board Member

Bio Coming Soon

 

 

Sierra Sinclair-Board Member

Sierra was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  She graduated from Cheyenne East High School in 2019.  In 2021 Sierra graduated from Northwest College in Powell Wyoming with an associates degree in Political Science. In May of 2023 she will gradute from Arizona State University with a bacholors degree in Political Science. Sierra is currently serving as the Communication Liason for The Arc of Laramie County. Sierra grew up with a sibling who has Autism and is aware of the struggles that those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and understands the importance of advocating for their rights and inclusion.  She is passionate about policy change and being a voice for those in her community.  She is excited to support the work the ARC is providing in its service to the community members with disabilities.   

When Sierra is not volunteering with The Arc of Laramie County she enjoys performing in the local theatre community. Her most recent shows include Mamma Mia, the 2022 Melodrama, and The Trials of Ebeneezer Scrooge.

 

 

Stephanie Danca- Board Member

Bio Coming Soon

 

 

Donna Evans- Board Member 

Bio Coming Soon

 

 

Chris Alcon- Arc Ambassador

Bio Coming Soon

 

 

JOSHUA HENNING – Ex-Offico Josh

Joshua is one of three new board members. Joshua was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He proudly served in the United States Air Force/Air National Guard for 16 years. He was deployed four times during his military career to Saudi Arabia, Qatar (twice), and Afghanistan. Joshua is currently the owner of  Believe, LLC and a bus driver with Laramie County School District #1. He also was the equipment manager for the Cheyenne Stampede from 2011-2013.

In his free time Joshua can be found cheering on his  favorite football team the Carolina Panthers or his favorite hockey team the Carolina Hurricanes.