Franco's LEadership Team
Tammy Nunez
CLUB MANAGER | Franco’s Mandeville
Tammy@MyFrancos.com
Tammy started her career in the fitness industry as a group exercise instructor and then personal trainer at Franco’s before becoming a fitness director at the club. She then became a director over marketing and sales for the three Ochsner Fitness Center gyms (Harahan, Metairie, downtown New Orleans) before moving to become a director over commerce, Ochsner Vision Centers, and the Total Health Solutions home medical supply store. Tammy returned to Franco’s in 2024 as a fitness and marketing director. She became a club manager in 2025.
Nichole Doyle
CLUB MANAGER | Franco’s Mandeville
Nichole@MyFrancos.com
With a strong passion for community, wellness, and personal development, she brings both vision and compassion into her leadership at Franco’s. Whether she is motivating others, building meaningful connections, or balancing the beautiful chaos of family life, Nichole leads with authenticity, purpose, and positivity. Her mission is to create an environment where every member feels supported, empowered, and truly at home.
Larry and Merryanne Welch
CLUB OWNERS
Since purchasing the club in 1994, Larry and Merryanne have lived and worked in the Slidell Community. After meeting at Elmwood Fitness in New Orleans and discovering their joint passion for the Fitness Industry, they moved to the Northshore and purchased Cross Gates Athletic Club. Since then, we have seen the club grow and evolve into Cross Gates Family Fitness and have helped people just like you live fit, live better. Together, they are active in the day to day operations of all of our clubs and spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Nate & Sima Welch
PRESIDENT & OWNERS | Nate@CrossGatesClub.com
Nate and Sima Welch, a family deeply rooted in South Louisiana, pour their hearts into Cross Gates Family Fitness. With Nate’s 15 years of experience in the fitness industry and Sima’s background in education from LSU, they share a profound passion for creating a healthy and welcoming space for families. Together, with their four boys, they embody the mission of their club, striving to build a community where health and togetherness flourish.
Their dedication extends beyond business; it’s a personal commitment to the well-being of their community. They love sharing their passion and using their talents to grow the vision that began with Larry and Merryanne, ensuring that Cross Gates Family Fitness continues to be a place where families can connect, be healthy, and thrive for generations to come.
Zach Landry
FITNESS DIRECTOR | Zach@MyFrancos.com
After spending time managing fitness programs in Florida, including Don Schula’s gym, Zach returned back to his home state of Louisiana. His love of fitness started when he was in 8th grade and he knew he wanted to help people become better versions of themselves through coaching. He has a wide array of knowledge and perspectives from his education in kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana University and his diverse experience working in Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Education and Personal Training. As a personal trainer, Zach is able to help his clients find a program that works for them and is able to hold them accountable to their workouts and nutrition to help them get results.
Chantelle Lancaster
Fitness Manager | Chanetlle@MyFrancos.com
Chantelle is an ACE-certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and ACSM exercise physiologist with a decade of experience in the fitness industry. She’s passionate about helping clients of all fitness levels. Outside of work, she loves to stay active and spend quality time with her two kids and husband.
Tracy Smith
GROUP EXERCISE MANAGER | Tracy@MyFrancos.com
BIO
Kristy Silbernagel
BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER | Kristy@MyFrancos.com
Kristy was born and raised in Slidell and found her passion for fitness in 2014. What began as a personal journey quickly grew into a calling — leading her to become a Group Exercise Instructor. She’s an active part of the Cross Gates community and loves taking Bootcamp and Group Ex classes whenever she can.
Her journey at Cross Gates began in Group Exercise, then evolved into a role at the front desk, where she loved connecting with members. From there, she transitioned into the Business Office, where she is now the Business Office Manager. She supports all five Cross Gates & Franco’s locations behind the scenes, with the same dedication she brings to every workout.
Kristy is a proud mom of three amazing children and has a wonderful husband who supports her every step of the way. Together, they inspire her to stay strong, stay active, and keep moving forward.
Greg Johnson
PROGRAM DIRECTOR | Greg@CrossGatesClub.com
Greg has a Master’s Degree in English with a Concentration in Professional and Technical writing. As Program Director, he works with all of the departments to create and manage world class offerings in health, nutritional and recreation for CG Members. Greg is also a group fitness instructor at the club. He coaches Body Pump, Spinning, Yoga and Group Training programs. As the marketing director for Cross Gates Family fitness, he is responsible for creating all internal and external marketing and communication for the club. Greg started working with Cross Gates Family Fitness in 1997. His career began in the Youth Activity Center where he has developed many children’s programs including Slidell’s finest Summer Camp and is still actively involved in managing the club’s youth programs.
Lauren Canciene
O Spa Manager | Lauren@MyFrancos.com
Lauren Cancienne is the Spa Manager at The O Spa, bringing over six years of experience in wellness and a seasoned background in retail management. A Mandeville native currently residing in Madisonville with her husband and two children, Lauren is driven by a passion for creating memorable guest experiences. She particularly enjoys event planning and the “behind-the-scenes” details that elevate an occasion. Having grown up at Franco’s Health Club, she weaves the values of community, connection, and hospitality into every aspect of her work.
Janelle Knudsen
Lifestyle Store Manager & Buyer | Janelle@MyFrancos.com
BIO