Meet The Team

With a heart of gold and commitment to providing excellent care to Encore’s   residents, Cory Gatte is a ray of sunshine for residents, their families, and other caregivers. He is eager to please and brings positivity to every aspect of our community, from joining group activities to visiting with residents.

Our residents love Cory so much that when they are discharged to go back home, they often say they will miss the caring community they temporarily called home.

In addition to being a Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator in Louisiana, Cory has an accounting degree, but found himself drawn to the long-term care industry. With 12 years of senior care experience, he has found his true calling at Encore. Cory is an active member of the Crowley Chamber of Commerce, and serves on two boards, including the Leadership Excel and the LSUE Foundation.

With more than 25 years of nursing expertise, Rene Murray, RN leads Encore’s care team with a steadfast commitment to compassionate service. As Director of Nursing, Rene brings both clinical excellence and heartfelt dedication to her role, striving every day to ensure residents receive care that honors their dignity and individuality.

Drawing on over three years of experience in long-term care, Rene has enhanced residents’ comfort and trust through her personalized approach—advocating for their needs and nurturing an atmosphere where they feel valued and heard. Her passion for providing high-quality care is evident in every interaction, whether she’s mentoring team members or supporting families.

Rene’s education at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Alabama, equipped her with the foundation to care for residents safely and effectively, yet it’s her decades of hands-on experience that revealed her true calling. Her commitment to resident advocacy shines in all she does.

Beyond the walls of Encore, Rene is an active member of Bikers Against Child Abuse and enjoys crocheting, arts and crafts, and riding motorcycles with her husband—especially when she’s riding to support children in the Acadiana area.

As Clinical Intake Coordinator, Latonya Bernard helps new residents and their loved ones transition smoothly into our community, ensuring they feel informed and supported. Her dedication to making a difference and ability to build trusted relationships foster the family-oriented environment that defines Encore.

With more than 20 years in nursing—including 16 years in long-term care as an LPN and six years as an RN in nursing supervision—Latonya brings deep clinical knowledge and heartfelt compassion to her work. She is committed to educating families and caregivers about the care process, believing that knowledge brings comfort and clarity during challenging times. Her goal is for each family to feel confident and at peace with the decisions they make about their loved one’s care.

Latonya’s personal journey inspired her calling. At just 17, she experienced firsthand how overwhelming and isolating the lack of information can be for families—a lesson that drives her advocacy today to ensure every family feels heard, supported, and included in their loved one’s care.

Throughout her career, Latonya has served in diverse healthcare settings including the ER and ICU, various nursing homes, and as a Patient Care Manager. She earned her LPN from Louisiana Technical College and her RN from Excelsior College, and maintains certifications in CPR, ACIS, and PALS.

Outside of work, Latonya enjoys singing, listening to music, and spending cherished time with her family. She also serves in her local church leading children and youth ministries, singing on the worship team, and guiding life groups with the same warmth and care she brings to her profession.