Check Out Eva Mccallister’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Mccallister

Hi Eva, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Milwaukee, WI, I’ve always had a deep love and passion for animals. My husband, Tyler, and I fostered cats and kittens with Community Cat before deciding to move to Nashville in 2017.
I first discovered Nashville Cat Rescue at Oktoberfest after moving. I walked through the cat mobile and received some information about fostering. It would be 6 years until I would be ready to foster as my kitty, Dexter, at the time was the king of the castle.
In the beginning of 2023, I took a chance and quit my job that I was not happy at and threw myself into Nashville Cat Rescue; fostering and volunteering with whatever I could help with. This transitioned into the Director position as Nashville Cat Rescue was rapidly growing and they were in need of someone to handle a lot of the day-to-day items full-time. It is an absolute dream job!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have a lot of experience in handling animals and managing people, but putting the two together has been a learning curve. Aside from getting my feet under me as the Director, my first year was focused on moving NCR to a digital adoption platform. We previously had paper packets for each cat, one set of medical records, and endless spreadsheets. This has streamlined a lot of our processes for the better but, of course, had its own challenges.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My career path has been dynamic, but the common thread has always been leadership, adaptability, and a passion for making a difference. With over a decade in retail management, I focused my team on customer service, problem-solving, and creating efficient systems. Transitioning into export logistics deepened my understanding of operations, coordination, and managing critical tasks under pressure—skills that directly apply to running a cat rescue.

As the director of a cat rescue, I combine these experiences to oversee operations, manage resources, and lead a dedicated team of volunteers. I’m proud of creating systems that allow us to maximize our impact, whether it’s streamlining the intake process, coordinating adoption events, or building community partnerships to support our mission.

My previous experiences have taught me that with the right systems, clear communication, and a passionate team, we can achieve extraordinary outcomes—and now I get to bring that to a cause I’m truly passionate about.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has played a big role in my life and where I am now! The bad luck of losing my previous kitty to cancer opened up the opportunity for me to jump back into fostering and with the support of my husband, I was able to leave a job I was unhappy at and focus on a path that gave me meaning and joy. The good luck spread into a job and position where I can make a difference in the community and help the cats in need.

Pricing:

• $150 adoption fee for cats and kittens
• $250 adoption fee for adopting two
• $100 adoption fee for special needs kitties (FIV+)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nashvillecatrescue.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillecatrescue/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleCatRescue