Legacy House of Mesa

Leadership Team

Terel Nichols

Executive Director

Bio
Terel Nichols brings deep experience and a passion for senior care to his role as Executive Director of Legacy House of Mesa. Terel has served as an Executive Director in Arizona across Assisted Living, Memory Care, and most recently, Skilled Nursing communities. He completed his Administrator in Training (AIT) program with Ensign in Washington, equipping him with a strong foundation in operations and leadership. Outside of work, Terel enjoys mountain biking, camping with his family, and all things mechanical. Boating has become a summer must for his family of six—with a fifth child on the way! Terel is excited to lead the Legacy House of Mesa team and is committed to fostering a community where residents and their families feel truly at home.

Heather Helopoulos

Sales and Marketing Director

Bio
As the Sales and Marketing Director at Legacy House of Mesa, Heather brings a wealth of expertise and passion for senior living. With a deep commitment to helping families find the right care for their loved ones, Heather excels at building meaningful relationships with residents and their families. Her background in sales and marketing, combined with a dedication to Legacy’s Personal Touch Culture, ensures a welcoming and supportive experience for all who visit. Heather is driven by the mission to create a warm, engaging community where seniors thrive, and families feel at peace.

Michelle Mistico

Administrative Assistant

Bio
As Administrative Assistant, Michelle provides daily support for the leadership team while building meaningful relationships with residents. No matter what stage of life we’re in, maximizing independence, maintaining dignity, you’ll find a personal touch approach to life at Legacy House. 

Mayra Cardenas

Assisted Living Director

Bio
As Assisted Living Director, Mayra oversees assisted living level of care which supports residents with daily living support. No matter what stage of life we’re in, maximizing independence, maintaining dignity, and having choices are important at Legacy. 

Mercedes Velazquez

Memory Care Director

Bio
As Memory Care Director, Mercedes oversees our memory care community and our professionally trained caregivers who provide specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss. Our expert caregivers help residents with memory support as well as assistance and supervision for daily activities such as personal care, medication assistance, and meals.

Kyle Graves

Dining Services Director

Bio
As Dining Services Director, Kyle oversees our restaurant-style dining program. Food is important. From new tastes to classic favorites, our dining program connects residents and families in unforgettable experiences. 

Matty Ruiz

Housekeeping Director

Bio
As the Housekeeping Director at Legacy Retirement Residence of Mesa, Matty plays a crucial role in ensuring a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for residents. With extensive experience and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, Matty leads a dedicated team focused on creating a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. Her attention to detail and passion for service help enhance the daily lives of residents, ensuring that the community is always a place of pride. Matty is dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive environment, making Legacy feel like home for everyone.

Rudy Fragosa

Maintenance Director

Bio
Rudy has been working with Legacy Mesa since 2019 and is excited for the many more years of service he gets to spend with our residents. Rudy wants to give everyone the best services he can. Rudy has been working in maintenance for 14 years and proud of the work he has done and looks forward to learning more. Rudy and his wife have been married 25+ years, we have 3 beautiful children. He enjoys mechanical maintenance and building motorcycles from scratch. He also enjoys going to car shows/races with his kids. Rudy loves to travel with his family and making memories on the go.