Live Fit. Live Better.

Blake Benedict

Military Rd. Club Manager

Blake’s journey began in 2000 at, then, Cross Gates Athletic Club when his family joined the club. Blake grew up at Cross Gates and always knew he wanted to work at the club someday.  Blake joined the Cross Gates Family Fitness team in 2010 in the Youth Activity Center and quickly became the Summer Camp Billing Coordinator and then a Shift Leader.  In 2012 Blake joined the Front Desk team and quickly found his love for customer service. In 2015 he was promoted to Front Desk Manager and enjoyed training our team members to provide an exceptional member experience.  Blake graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Management.  Since then Blake has taken on the role of Club Manager at our Military Road Club where he continues to use his years of knowledge and continues to provide an exceptional member experience.

Tammy Phillips

Gause Blvd. Club Manager

Tammy Phillips started with Cross Gates Family Fitness in 2000 as our Childcare Manager. She has worked with children her entire adult life and her passion for working with the families of our community has allowed her to become even more involved in all areas of the club. In 2016 she joined the Gause Blvd management team as Club Manager while continuing to manage our children's programs. As a club manager, child care manager and even a certified personal trainer, Tammy uses her passion for the fitness industry to support and encourage everyone in their fitness undertakings. She wants everyone to feel welcome at Cross Gates Family Fitness and looks forward to meeting new people and helping them in their journey. In addition to her roles at CGFF, Tammy is also the owner or Slidell Gym Rompers and teaches the Gym Rompers classes as well.

Megan Greul

Pontchartrain Dr. Club Manager

Megan is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana who moved to Slidell in 2008. Not long after her move, Megan joined the Cross Gates Family Fitness team. Megan started at Cross Gates in our Youth Activity Center & has since taken on more responsibilities. While working, Megan pursued her degree in Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University. Currently the Pontchartrain Dr. Club Manager, Megan has a passion for making members feel welcome & offering her services wherever they are needed.

Larry and Merryanne Welch

Club Owners

Since purchasing the club in 1997, 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 raising their 3 children.

Nate Welch

Vice President of Operations

Nate has 10+ years of experience in multiple areas of the fitness industry. He is degreed in Finance from Louisiana Tech University but his sales acumen is what got him started in the fitness industry. He started as a Membership Representative and with his success in sales, he took on the Director of Business Development role and eventually became Vice President of Operations. He oversees all management teams and operations at all 3 locations . As a coach, he enjoys teaching fitness industry seminars and the latest trends. He is also a bit of data geek (yes, nerd alert!). He is a Level 1 Certified Functional Strength Coach and an avid promoter of functional exercise for the general population.

Greg Johnson

Marketing Director

Greg has a Master’s Degree in English with a Concentration in Professional and Technical writing.  As Program Director he work 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.

Zach Landry

Fitness Manager, Military Rd.

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.

Kembra Smith

Fitness Manager, Gause Blvd.

Kembra had been a member with us for over 10 years before deciding to come on staff as part of the Cross Gates Family. Formerly, one of our Club Managers, her love of personal health and fitness lead her direction to getting more involved in Personal Training. Now, as the Fitness Manager she is able to work more hands on with members to design plans that work specifically for them. With a degree in Psychology and Personal Training Certification through AFAA, her passion lies in encouraging and helping others to figure out what their personal goals are, and then set their mind to achieve them.

Michelle Marques

Fitness Manager, Pontchartrain Dr.

Michelle started with Cross Gates Family Fitness as a Body Motion fitness coach. It was there that she found a love for health and wellness and how it can help members look and feel their best. She has her personal training certification with NASM, and is currently working with members as a trainer and fitness consultant. Michelle believes that there is a fitness program for everyone and dedicates her time to finding the best fit for each member.

Theresa Stein

Group Exercise Manager

Born in Baton Rouge, Theresa lived in Northern Virginia, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, and most areas of Louisiana before settling in Slidell in 1999. Theresa graduated from the University of Miami with a double major in Mass Communication and Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She began taking group fitness classes at Cross Gates in 2004 and soon decided to become a fitness instructor herself. Theresa worked in television production for several years, primarily at WDSU, then  as a part-time office administration/payroll specialist while she taught fitness classes at Cross Gates. She became the Group Exercise Manager in July 2018, continuing her transition from her school/work background to fitness. She loves people and she loves exercise and she truly enjoys combining them; her enthusiasm for group exercise classes is contagious. In addition to her management responsibilities, Theresa teaches Bodypump, Bodyattack, and CXWorx and you can usually find her in the Da Groove classes, too.

Darla Mirelz

Spa & Lifestyle Store Director

Jodie Graham

Business Office Manager

Courtney D’Amelio

YAC Manager, Military Rd.

Courtney has been with Cross Gates Family Fitness since January of 2011. She started out as a Helping Hands teacher with the 2-year old and 3-year old classes, worked as a Summer Camp Counselor for Cub Camp and in July of 2013 was promoted to Youth Activity Center Assistant Manager . In May of 2014 , she was promoted to full time Childcare Manager and was more then happy to take on the job. Children of all ages are her passion and she loves that she can offer them a place to go that is fun, safe and secure.

Tammy Phillips

YAC Manager, Gause Blvd.

Tammy Phillips started with Cross Gates Family Fitness in 2000 as our Childcare Manager. She has worked with children her entire adult life and her passion for working with the families of our community has allowed her to become even more involved in all areas of the club. In 2016 she joined the Gause Blvd management team as Club Manager while continuing to manage our children's programs. As a club manager, child care manager and even a certified personal trainer, Tammy uses her passion for the fitness industry to support and encourage everyone in their fitness undertakings. She wants everyone to feel welcome at Cross Gates Family Fitness and looks forward to meeting new people and helping them in their journey. In addition to her roles at CGFF, Tammy is also the owner or Slidell Gym Rompers and teaches the Gym Rompers classes as well.

Darlene Ting

YAC Manager, Pontchartrain Dr.

 Darlene is the perfect combination for CG, she is a retired school teacher with over 20 years in the classroom and a fitness enthusiast as a group exercise instructor and our Body Motion coordinator. Darlene is sure to make the Youth Activity Center a place all the kids want to be! Join us in congratulating her!