Meet Our Team - the Faces Behind Welcome Home Retreat
Sheila Strickland-Owner
Sheila, a photo consultant and project advisor since 2002, has completed over 100 memory albums for her family and clients. Welcome Home Retreat fulfills her dream of providing a venue where guests are inspired to begin, continue, and complete projects, preserving memories for generations to come.
Jennifer Strickland - Manager
Meet Jennifer — Helping Welcome Home Retreat Grow and Thrive
Jennifer is a valued member of the Welcome Home Retreat team — and lucky enough to call Sheila her amazing mother-in-law (no bragging, just facts!). She brings strong critical thinking, organizational skills, and a passion for helping WHR continue to grow and thrive.
You might recognize Jennifer’s vibrant creativity from the colorful doodles and paintings that decorate our backyard pots. When she's not helping manage operations at WHR, Jennifer stays busy at home with two energetic boys and three dogs.
She loves meeting new guests, hearing their stories, and seeing the incredible creativity they bring to Welcome Home Retreat.
Sandy Dailey - Property Manager
Sandy brings joy to our guests with her passion for gardening and talent in embossing, creating stunning designs on albums. Explore examples of her creativity and downloadable forms on her website at www.Embossingbysandy.com. With her machines and tools conveniently onsite, you can leave with a beautifully decorated, embossed album by the end of your stay. Sandy's designs are distinctive and far from ordinary.
Joey Reale - Chef
Joey Reale began his culinary journey in 2012 when he moved to the Western Slope of Colorado to work under Chef Blanton at the historical Beaumont Hotel. "It was the perfect opportunity to learn a craft I've always loved from a superb chef and to live in paradise," Joey reflects. Over the years, he has honed his skills under several esteemed chefs, including North Texas's own local celebrity Chef Lou Lambert, with whom he continues to collaborate on major events, cooking private meals for celebrities and government dignitaries. "Meeting Lou changed my culinary trajectory more than I could ever express. He is an amazing man and chef, and I'm incredibly grateful that he saw my passion for cooking and took me under his wing."
With 23 years of skateboarding experience, Joey infuses creativity and love into his culinary creations. "Skateboarding has helped me see things differently; it provokes a side of me that helps me think outside the 'paint by the numbers' way of thinking." Joey is dedicated to providing fresh, healthy food that brings a sense of home and hospitality to his workplace, ensuring every dish leaves a smile on his guests' faces.
Beyond his culinary pursuits, Joey is a stand-up comedian and hosts two podcasts, showcasing his vibrant personality and love for entertaining others. "I'd love for people to leave WHR wondering just how fast they can make it back to come play with all of us again," Joey says.
Kyla Oberg - Social Media Manager
Kyla brings over 24 years of business experience to our team. Her diverse background has inspired engaging social media content for our business. When she’s on-site, you’ll often find her capturing moments and inquiring about your projects. In her downtime, she enjoys quilting.