Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award Recipients

Meet Our 2025 Honorees

Brandi Foreman (’25), Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities

Brandi Foreman brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work in compliance and regulatory affairs. Having started her career in direct support, she carries with her a deep respect for the day-to-day realities of providing person-centered services. She now uses that grounding to navigate complex regulations, ensuring that providers can maintain high-quality supports while adapting to change.

Brandi’s leadership has already opened new doors for people with disabilities and their families. She helped launch the eMPower Academy, an innovative program that created personalized career and life pathways through modular learning labs in technology, retail, food service, and more. She also founded SIBS Support IN, a sibling-focused initiative designed from listening directly to families, ensuring siblings have the resources, support, and connection they need.

Her impact is equally felt in the ANCOR community, where she serves on the Board of Representatives, contributes to the Grassroots and Professional Development Committees, and is an engaged member of the Leadership Academy. She is widely recognized for her ability to listen deeply, empower others, and foster collaboration—qualities that make her a trusted leader and team player.

Brandi embodies the spirit of the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who combines technical expertise with compassion, building innovative solutions that strengthen providers, empower families, and create more inclusive communities.

Jennifer Hodges (’24), Trinity Services (Illinois)

With more than 30 years of service in the I/DD field, Jennifer Hodges has built her career around advocacy, education, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive. She is widely respected as a subject matter expert in sexuality education and rights advocacy—areas where her leadership has set a new standard for inclusion.

Jennifer led the development and delivery of agency-wide sexuality education, training more than 700 staff and individuals with disabilities. Her work has ensured that people receive accurate, respectful, and empowering education about their bodies, relationships, and choices—topics too often ignored. Beyond this, she serves on the Human Rights Authority, investigating rights violations and driving systemic change to protect people with disabilities.

Her influence extends beyond her agency. Jennifer has created employment opportunities by building direct relationships with employers, helping people with disabilities secure meaningful jobs—including what one person described as their “dream job.” She has launched internship programs for high school students, organized inclusive community celebrations, and built partnerships to open doors to major cultural and sporting events.

Jennifer’s service to ANCOR is equally impactful. She has contributed to the Foundation’s Awards and Recognition Committee, reviewed DSP of the Year nominations, and is a proud alumna of the ANCOR Leadership Academy. She is known for uplifting Direct Support Professionals, encouraging their participation in advocacy and professional development opportunities, and ensuring their voices are heard.

Jennifer embodies the spirit of the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who combines compassion and courage to break barriers, expand opportunities, and make sure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are fully included in their communities.

Rachit Pandey, Bayberry (California)

Rachit Pandey’s leadership is grounded in both lived experience and professional expertise. As a neurodivergent adult, a sibling to a brother with an intellectual disability, and a dedicated advocate, Rachit brings both heart and skill to every role he takes on.

From supporting his family’s school for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in India to directing strategic initiatives, he has remained focused on one goal: advancing true community inclusion. He has guided trainings across multiple countries, championed wage equity and person-centered practices, and transformed projects into models of belonging—such as an inclusive organic farm that created real jobs and equal pay for people with disabilities.

Through his service on ANCOR’s Global Council, Rachit has strengthened international partnerships, connected best practices across borders, and expanded opportunities for collaboration and learning.

Rachit embodies the spirit of the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who removes barriers, builds connections, and advances inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities worldwide.

Erica Thomas (’25), RCM of Washington (District of Columbia)

Erica Thomas is a passionate educator and advocate whose work centers on respect, inclusion, and empowerment. She combines deep expertise with a clear belief that every person’s voice should be heard and valued.

Erica has built her career around two critical areas of support: healthy relationships and meaningful employment. She has designed and led person-centered trainings on sexuality, consent, and safe relationships—topics too often overlooked for people with disabilities. She has also guided programs such as the Direct Support Professional Academy, Guided Group Discovery, and Travel Training, helping individuals build skills and pursue competitive employment.

Her leadership extends into the broader ANCOR community, where she helps guide the People & Culture Community of Practice, serves on the Professional & Organizational Development Committee, reviews DSP of the Year nominations, presents at conferences, and participates in the Leadership Academy. A lifelong learner herself, Erica invests in her own growth while mentoring others, modeling what it means to lead with respect, accountability, and care.

Erica embodies the spirit of the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who breaks barriers, builds opportunities, and ensures that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are recognized as full and valued members of their communities.

Meet Our 2024 Honorees

Maghan Bowman (’24), Exceptional Persons, Inc. (Iowa)

Maghan Bowman is a purpose-driven leader whose career reflects both the heart of direct support and the vision of executive leadership. Like many in the field, she began as a Direct Support Professional, and during her seven years in Des Moines grew into management and then a director role. In 2014, she returned home to Waterloo and joined Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI), where she now serves as Executive Operations Director, overseeing services that support more than 400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across residential, employment, payee, and intermittent programs.

Maghan’s expertise spans accreditation, credentialing, auditing, and public policy, all carried out with a collaborative spirit and a steadfast belief that quality supports lead to meaningful lives. She holds certificates from the Gerry Howe Leadership Academy and is a proud member of the ANCOR Foundation’s Leadership Academy Class of 2024.

Her leadership within ANCOR has only deepened over time. Maghan is Co-Chair of the Board of Representatives, serves on both the Government Relations and Professional & Organizational Development Committees, mentors members of the Leadership Academy classes of 2025 and 2026, and contributes her insight as a member of the Board of Directors.

Recognized with the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award, Maghan embodies the award’s spirit: a leader who grows from lived experience, lifts others through mentorship, and advances equity at every level of the system.

Jordan Eddings (’25), LifeSkills, Inc. (Kentucky)

Jordan Eddings has built his career around one of the most critical areas of support: crisis services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is known for his expertise, steady leadership, and deep compassion.

For more than a decade, Jordan has guided crisis services across a ten-county region, training staff, mentoring peers, and building stronger partnerships with law enforcement and behavioral health providers. Thanks to his bridge-building, communities now benefit from a more coordinated, person-centered crisis response system—ensuring that individuals and families get the timely, respectful support they need.

Jordan invests in his own growth through certifications in crisis prevention, critical incident investigation, and person-centered planning, as well as through active participation in ANCOR’s Leadership Academy. He is also a sought-after trainer, sharing his knowledge with law enforcement, colleagues, and future leaders in the field.

Colleagues describe Jordan as someone who “just loves to help people”—whether that means problem-solving complex cases, mentoring new crisis managers, or even grilling hamburgers for his team.

This spirit of care and commitment is why he is recognized with the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who listens, collaborates, and ensures that people with disabilities are supported with dignity in their most vulnerable moments.

Rachel Neumann (’25), COF Training Services (Kansas)

Rachel Neumann brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to her leadership. With deep knowledge of organizational operations, crisis prevention, and supporting people with complex needs, she is known for turning challenges into opportunities for change.

Rachel helped author and advance the Kansas Targeted Employment Act, landmark legislation that created tax incentives for employers to hire people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her advocacy has expanded opportunities in rural areas, removing barriers to meaningful work and helping people build purpose, connection, and independence. Her leadership is also shaped by her lived experience as a sister and caregiver, grounding her professional work in empathy and determination.

Within the ANCOR community, Rachel is a committed member of the Foundation Leadership Academy, the Board of Representatives, and multiple committees. She contributes actively in seminars and discussions, shares tools and insights with peers, and consistently steps up to strengthen ANCOR’s grassroots and fundraising work.

Rachel embodies the spirit of the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award: a leader who leads with courage, elevates the voices of people with disabilities, and creates pathways for lasting inclusion and equity.