Legacy Senior Living Leadership
Because We Care…
At Legacy Senior Living, we are passionate about delivering quality care, exceptional service, professional support and compassionate friendship to our residents and their family members. We seek to serve every resident with honor, respect, faith and integrity — from those with active, independent lifestyles to those in need of ongoing special care.
Legacy Senior Living's internal Quality Assurance Program exceeds many of the state and regulatory standards in the communities we serve. Licensed nursing professionals are actively involved in upholding the standards of care in each of our senior living communities.
Our programs and services are designed to deliver superior quality to satisfy the needs of our residents. If we miss the mark, we want to know. Please share your suggestions, recommendations, and concerns, with any member of our leadership team.
Leadership
Barry Ray
Founder and CEO
Barry Ray, Founder and CEO
Barry Ray has served in key leadership roles in the senior housing and long-term care fields.
Initially with Life Care Centers of America, he served in various capacities, including director of facility accounting, director of asset management, vice president of assisted living development and vice president of finance. During the last three years of his tenure at Life Care, Barry served as president of American Lifestyles, Inc., Life Care's assisted living subsidiary, where he oversaw the development, operations and marketing of 40 retirement facilities in 28 states.
In 2002, Barry founded Vision Senior Care Partners to operate and develop retirement facilities and consult on senior housing and health care, including an additional focus on church and para-ministry organizations desiring to enter the senior housing industry. In 2006, he and Bryan Cook formed Legacy Senior Living to manage related and third-party retirement facilities. Under Barry's leadership, Legacy Senior Living now owns or operates multiple retirement communities across the southeast United States.
Barry is a graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., a member of Westmore Church of God and a member of several nonprofit boards. He and his wife, Iris, have three children and seven grandchildren.
Bryan Cook
Founder and President
Bryan Cook, Founder and President
Bryan Cook is a veteran of the senior housing and long-term care industry. He entered the profession in 1992 and has served continuously in the industry for the entirety of his career. He began with Life Care Centers of America serving as a skilled nursing facility administrator and progressively grew to responsibility for sixty-three nursing facilities. In 2006, Bryan left Life Care to partner with Barry Ray to form Legacy Senior Living.
A graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., Bryan is a frequent speaker on senior housing and long-term care related matters. He is a of the American College of Health Care Administrators. Cook frequently serves on various industry boards and state councils relating to industry issues and opportunities. Bryan and his wife, Traclyn, have three children and one grandchild, and are members at Peerless Road Church in Cleveland, Tenn.
Melissa Boatwright, RN
Vice President of Clinical Services
Melissa Boatwright, RN - Vice President of Clinical Servicess
Melissa joined the Legacy team in 2015 as the Resident Care Director at Legacy Village at Park Regency, in Moultrie, Ga., and was later promoted to be the Executive Director of that same facility.
In 2016 Melissa joined the support team of Legacy Senior Living. As part of this team, she has served in the positions of Quality Assurance Coordinator, Director of Clinical Support and since 2020 is the Regional Director of Operations for the Georgia and Alabama region.
Melissa received her associate of science degree in nursing in 2010 and her associates in applied science in microcomputers in 2006. Melissa resides in Thomasville, Ga., with her husband and two children.
Blake Ray
Vice President of Asset Management
Blake Ray, Vice President of Asset Management
Blake began his career with Legacy Senior Living as the special projects coordinator and advanced to executive director of Renaissance Marquis Assisted Living and Memory Care community located in Rome, Ga., where he oversaw 109 units with excellent results. In 2018 Blake was promoted to Director of Asset Management where he assists in new developments, coordinating facility financing, and supporting executive leadership in both real estate and operational analysis.
Blake, a native of Cleveland, Tenn., and student-athlete at Lee University, graduated with a double major in accounting and psychology. He and his wife, Kelli, and two children currently live in Cartersville, Ga., and attend Crosspoint City Church.
Duane Pace
Vice President of Finance and Administration
Duane Pace, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Duane joined Legacy Senior Living as the Vice President of Finance and Administration in November 2022. He joins the Legacy team with over 33 years of experience in finance, with 16 years of those years being in senior living.
Duane received his bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Lee University. He also has a Master of Divinity degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
Duane hails from Pahokee, FL., but currently lives in Cleveland, TN with his wife Elizabeth,Z who he's been married to for 25 years. They have 4 wonderful children: Sophie, Micah, Sadie and Sarah.
Duane and his family attend North Cleveland Church of God. In his spare time, he enjoys being outside spending time fishing, hunting and hiking.
Allison Haun
Vice President of Human Resources
Allison Haun
Allison earned a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Chowan University. In 2021, she gained certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through HR Certification Institute®.
Allison sought a career in the senior living industry because of her close relationship with her grandmother who always inspired her. She keeps a picture of her grandmother at her desk to be a constant reminder that what she does each day is helping to care for someone's loved one.
Any time you're around Allison, you hear music! Music energizes her and it isn't any particular genre – it ranges from instrumental, to oldies, to folk pop! She also has a passion for restoring and renovating old houses. She has worked on houses built in as early as the 20s! A native to Charlotte, NC, Allison now makes her home in Cleveland, TN, with her husband, David, and their two daughters, Chloe and Emmi.
Allen Trent
Vice President of Culinary Services
Allen Trent, Vice President of Culinary Services
It is with great pride and excitement that we announce the promotion of Mr. Allen Trent to Vice President of Culinary Services for Legacy and Dominion! Allen joined the Dominion family in 2019 as a Regional Culinary Specialist before being promoted to Director of Culinary, and now Vice President of Culinary. In this position, Allen will continue to oversee the culinary services of all Legacy and Dominion communities.
Allen has been a pivotal part in ensuring the highest level of quality in our food and dining programs. He will continue to lead and develop high quality meals in an enjoyable setting for each of our communities. He has a proven track record, and I am eager to see how he continues to lead well in this area!
Amber Moran
Regional Director of Operations
Amber Moran, Regional Director of Operations
Amber is no stranger to Legacy Senior Living. Prior to becoming Regional Director of Operations, she served as Executive Director and Marketing Director for both Renaissance Assisted Living and The Harbor Memory Care facilities and has been with Renaissance since 2013.
Amber earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in business from the University of Virginia and is a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Virginia.
Though she grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, Amber now makes her home in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has a son, Logan, and two daughters, Iona and Nola. She's considered opening a petting zoo with her three cats, Spicolli, Tigger and Twigs, and two dogs, Maggie and Dolly. Since giving up competitive swimming, which she did for over 10 years, Amber now fills her free time with cooking, reading and gardening.
Becky Ballas
Regional Director of Operations
Becky Ballas, Regional Director of Operations
Becky joined Legacy Senior Living in 2021 as Regional Director of Operations serving communities in South Georgia and Alabama. She brings over twenty years of progressive and successful leadership experience in the senior living industry. Becky has worked in assisted living, memory care, and also in a continuing care retirement community setting.
A licensed Category II Assisted Living Administrator in Alabama isn't Becky's only notable accomplishment. She was a fierce competitor in her church's Bible Bowl growing up and played on their softball team. Then she was voted "Most School Spirit" as a cheerleader in high school! Her enthusiasm for all things she loves spills over to this day in her spirited leadership.
Originally from Oneonta in Northern Alabama, Becky and her husband, Jerry, make their home in Opelika, Alabama. Together, Becky and Jerry have three children: Casey, Christian and Bryan.
Becky considers the joy that seniors bring to her life as limitless, and she couldn't imagine any more rewarding work than serving the senior community.
Beth Baxter
Area Director of Operations
Beth Baxter, Area Director of Operations
Beth Baxter began her professional career directly out of college as a senior health care social worker. From the very beginning, her passion for helping those around her and assisting seniors with excellence as they navigate the aging process has been evident.
Beth has spent the past 20 years working along the entire continuum of aging care, working in acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living retirement communities. This vast knowledge base has helped her develop the skills that contribute to her leadership style which Beth describes as person-centered from every aspect.
Beth joined Dominion in 2016 where she helped open Dominion Senior Living of Hixson as the Executive Director. In late 2020, Beth became the Campus Executive Director for Hixson and then opened Everlan by Dominion, an 89-unit independent living community. For 8 years, she has built a strong and knowledgeable team at both communities and has created a reputation and brand in Hixson that stands out among the competition. In December 2024, Beth advanced to Area Operations Specialist, adding to her leadership portfolio Dominion Senior Living of Athens and Legacy Village of Cleveland.
Beth has been married for 22 years to her husband Eric, who is a Sergeant with Hamilton County Sheriff's Department. They live in the Chattanooga area with their teenage son, Bennett, and two dogs, Cooper and Jolene. Beth loves spending time with family and friends, living in and enjoying the outdoor beauty and peace of the Tennessee Valley and volunteering on the Board of Directors for YMCA-North River.
Chris Pepper
Area Director of Operations
Chris Pepper, Area Director of Operations
I must start by giving God all the glory. Without his grace and guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today. I feel called into the senior living industry and am thankful for this calling.
While at Lander University, I chose to study healthcare management but was unsure what specific area of this field I wanted to pursue. My last semester of college required an internship, and I was blessed with the opportunity to complete this requirement in a senior living community. I had a wonderful experience, met many great people, and thoroughly enjoyed the interactions I was able to have with the staff, residents, and their family members. Being able to help and serve our seniors warmed my heart. That is when I knew that I wanted to positively impact the senior living industry for the rest of my life. After graduation, I kicked off my career by starting as a caregiver in a senior living community before moving into an administrative role. My desire to continually learn and grow helped mold me into the leader I am today.
As followers of Jesus Christ, I believe we are called to serve and love others unconditionally and sacrificially. Life should be positive, encouraging, and pointing people to Jesus. Senior living allows me to live out this calling in the way I serve and lead.
My senior living journey has already been amazing, and I look forward to what the future holds. It is truly an honor and privilege to serve older adults.
Ashley Young-Roesler
Director of Life Enrichment and Engagement
Ashley Young-Roesler, Director of Life Enrichment and Engagement
Ashley grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and attended Georgia State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She later attended Valdosta State University to obtain a Master of Social Work. Ashley shared with us that she's won several awards that were and always will be her favorite award to receive–most improved. These are awards for learning and growing!
Ashley and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Georgia with their son, Davis, and German Shepherd, Alexandria. Ashley spends most of her free time traveling and watching her son play football and baseball, but also enjoys reading and running, just not at the same time!
Ashley feels extremely fortunate that working with senior adults is her passion, so it's really not work – it's her lifestyle. She strives to be a servant leader in all she does, and one that her son would want to follow and then become.
Christina Clevenger
Director of Sales and Marketing
Christina Clevenger, Director of Sales and Marketing
Christina Clevenger joined the Legacy Senior Living family in 2016 as the Public Relations Coordinator. From the very beginning, she has loved working for Legacy because of the positive impact their communities have on residents and families alike. When Legacy Village of Cleveland opened in 2018, Christina was promoted to their Director of Sales and Marketing and helped fill the 71-unit community to 100% occupancy within 7 months.
Upon completing Legacy's Administration in Training program in 2019, Christina was again promoted to Executive Director of Legacy Village of Cleveland in 2020. After the birth of her fourth and fifth children, Christina took some time off and eventually returned in September 2024 as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Legacy Senior Living and their sister division, Dominion Senior Living. Now serving as Director of Sales and Marketing in the Legacy Senior Living division, Christina will be overseeing the sales and marketing efforts for Legacy's 18 communities.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, Christina graduated from Lee University in 2015 with a degree in Communications. Christina, her husband, Zach, and their five children now reside in Knoxville, Tennessee. She loves spending time with her amazing family, and you can often find her enjoying nature or being involved with church events in her free time.
Abbi Cox, RN
Director of Quality Compliance
Abbi Cox, Director of Quality Compliance
Having joined Legacy Senior Living in 2021 as an RN at Legacy Village of Cleveland, Abbi Cox has served in a variety of positions including Staffing Development Coordinator and Resident Service Director. In March 2025, Cox was promoted to Director of Quality Compliance, which has expanded her portfolio to include each of Legacy and Dominion Senior Living's 35 communities.
After having first-hand experience in helping to care for her grandmother who battled Dementia, Abbi decided to pursue a degree in Nursing at Lee University. Upon graduating in 2019, she worked the night-shift at Memorial Hospital in Hixson, Tenn. as an Emergency Department Nurse during the height of the COVID outbreak. It was during this time that she felt a confirmation in her calling towards geriatric care and led her to Legacy Village of Cleveland.
Abbi has always been eager to give the highest standard of care possible, and she maintains that excellent care and service should be the bare minimum found at Legacy Senior Living. She is eager to be an added support to Legacy's communities so that each resident not only feels like a family member but also knows their care is in the best possible hands.
Abbi lives in Cleveland with her husband, Tanner, and Chocolate Lab, Charlie. She loves spending time with her family and friends, especially her niece, Quinn, and nephew, Rowen. She also enjoys traveling, being outdoors, cooking and baking (including a delicious guacamole and banana bread).
Renita Carnes
Director of Culture and Training
Renita Carnes
Renita has also previously held the position of team member training coordinator for Legacy, as well as served in a regional marketing position for the company.
In this position, she'll visit all of the Legacy communities and will support the facilities in training new employees as well as retraining seasoned employees.
Renita and her husband, Tony, live in Rome, Ga., and enjoy riding motorcycles or spending time with family in their free time.
Reginald Richardson
Director of Culinary Services
Reginald Richardson
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Reginald Richardson to Director of Culinary Services for Legacy and Dominion! Reggie has been with the Dominion family since 2020, when he started as Executive Chef, then was promoted to Regional Culinary Specialist, and now Director of Culinary.
Reggie has been instrumental in helping to create and maintain the highest standard dining experience in our Dominion communities. He will continue to work with Allen to implement and uphold excellent culinary programs for Legacy and Dominion communities. I am eager to see him continue to grow in this role!
Allen Chambers
Director of Asset Management
Allen Chambers
Allen chose the senior living industry after he helped move his first couple into the Jacksonville community. He found the opportunity to be a gift from the Lord, and it is his mission to serve those who have served his generation with diligence and good stewardship.
Allen played DIII football at Berry College before completing his Bachelor's in Psychology at Kennesaw State University. He is a licensed assisted living administrator in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
After having moved several times for different job opportunities, Allen settled back in his hometown of Rome, GA, with his wife, Madison. Together they have a son, Theodore. He loves to go on adventures with his wife and son, serve alongside his church family, play golf and watch Florida Gators football.