Board of Directors
Our Board is wholeheartedly committed to our mission and ensures SLS’ prosperity by collectively directing the organization’s affairs.
Nicolle Nelson
Board President
Nicolle (Nicki) Nelson is a solo practitioner who provides legal services in the following areas of law: estate planning, trust administration and probate. Previously she was an attorney in the Law Office of Lucille Des Jardins. Prior to that, she was an associate at Paul, Hastings, an international law firm, in the employment law department, from 1989 to 1999. Nicki has dedicated many hours to helping Senior Legal Services grow. She served previously as a volunteer for the organization and in November 2020 officially joined the Board.
Stacy S. Hopkins
Board Vice President
Stacy Hopkins is an attorney and a Bay Area native. Over the last 17 years she has been an instructor and the Chair of the ABA approved Paralegal Program at West Valley College in Saratoga. She is one of our newest Board Members and adds a vibrancy and dedication which has helped propel the growth of the organization by connecting the organization to paralegal interns from her program. She is committed to serving the senior community and in fact created an area of elder law concentration within her program. In her free time she enjoys the beach and mountain biking in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Victoria MacIntyre
Board Secretary
Victoria Louise MacIntyre is a Workers’ Compensation Certified Legal Specialist and Partner in the firm of MacIntyre & White, LLP. She graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2003. Victoria’s practice specializes in the defense of Workers’ Compensation matters with emphasis on defending public entities and self-insured employers. She is a dedicated board member for Senior Legal Services having served as the Board Secretary for many years. As a longtime resident of Santa Cruz, she appreciates the opportunity to give back to our community, especially those most vulnerable members by SLS. Outside of the office, Victoria enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with her two sons.
Melanie Cleveland
Board Treasurer
Melanie is a graduate of San Jose State University with a B5 in Business and Accounting. Melanie began her career in audit and tax with Ireland San Filippo in the Silicon Valley where she became a CPA. She has worked with Everett Meisser since 2005 as a tax professional, preparing individual, corporate, partnership, trusts, and not-for-profit tax returns. She returned to audit for a few years to manage the Audit and Assurance team of Eckley Lombardi Giascott LLP in Silicon Valley, and has now returned to the Santa Cruz area to be nearer to her family and the beach and to devote her time to tax practice.
As for other interests, Melanie is an avid sports fan enjoying the SF Giants, LV Raiders, and SJSU Spartans, and is often walking for running along the cliffs of East Side Santa Cruz or hiking in the woods. She is also a fan of loud music and enjoys attending music festivals with her family and friends.
Anne M. Hartman
Board Member
Anne M. Hartman is an Associate Attorney in the law firm Laughlin, Falbo, Levy and Moresi, one of the most prominent firms specializing in the defense of Workers’ Compensation claims in the state of California. She joined LFLM in 2017 and defends insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and self-insured employers in all areas of state workers’ compensation law. Ms. Hartman received her law degree from Monterey College of Law in 2008 and as part of her studies spearheaded a homeless court program with the Santa Cruz Superior Court. The Court, based upon a showing of work and progress by the individual in getting their lives back on track, would absolve tickets and fines incurred as a result of homelessness. Upon graduation, Ms. Hartman served as the Adjunct Professor supervising the law students who represented homeless clients. Ms. Hartman received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in English Literature.
Nancy Coleman
Board Member
Nancy Coleman has been active in the philanthropy, aging and policy community for the last fifty years. Ms. Coleman was the first director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging where she served for over twenty-five years. She served as a member of congressionally mandated study for the National Academy of Science studying the Social Security Representative Payee Program. During the 1990’s, Ms. Coleman represented the United States at the Hague Conference on Private International Law in negotiating an international agreement on incapacitated persons. She is the recipient of many national awards and is often called upon to make presentations at state, national, and international events. She moved to the Los Angeles area in 2011 and joined Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles as the Director of Older Adult Services. Nancy served twice on the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury and in 2018 – 2019 served as the Foreperson. She continues to serve on Los Angeles County and the City of Santa Monica committees and commissions. She holds both an MSW and an MA in Political Science from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz as a founding student at Stevenson and Merrill Colleges. Her fondness for Santa Cruz and her long standing expertise in the area of agency led her to join the Board of Directors for SLS in December 2020.
Kayla Grant
Board Member
Attorney Kayla M. Grant brings over 15 years of legal expertise and knowledge to her solo-practice, which concentrates in the areas of estate planning, trust administration and probate law. Prior to focusing on this specialized practice area, Kayla had experience with bankruptcy, immigration law, workers’ compensation law, unlawful detainer and real estate law. She understands that for many people, facing financial and legal issues can be overwhelming. She takes the time to listen, understand your situation, and to explain all of your options to help you find the solution that best suits your needs. Kayla is well-known for the high-level of professional and personal service and attention that she offers her clients. Her goal is to provide individualized, caring and confidential legal services at a a reasonable price to the community.
Kayla was raised in Sonoma County, but relocated to Santa Cruz County in 2017. When not practicing law, she enjoys reading, yoga, and hiking the her pup, Teddy.
Tom Brezsny
Board Member
Tom Brezsny is a 44 year resident of Santa Cruz County during which time he has supported and served on the Boards of numerous school, charitable, arts and business organizations throughout the community including the Downtown Association, Santa Cruz Area Restaurant Association, the SC Conference and Visitors Council, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Gateway School, St Francisco Central Coast High School and Dominican Hospital Foundation. He has coached a long list of local kids sports teams both on the club and school levels and participated in a number of Santa Cruz city-sponsored task forces as well as the Public Works Commission.
Tom has been a professional Realtor for 32 years and is a recognized thought-leader in the local real estate industry. He was recently recognized by RealTrends magazine for being a top-selling Realtor nationally and he also received the SC Association of Realtors Community Service Award in 2004. He has authored a weekly real estate column called Real Estate of Mind for more than 25 years and he is currently the Coastal Vice President for Christie’s International Sereno Real Estate and responsible for the oversight of three local offices in Santa Cruz County.