Our Board

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  Kim Hannah

  Founder - Executive Director

  I have had a great passion for rescued animals since I was about 4 years old and brought home my first stray kitten. It was only after adopting my fist Cockatoo, Lilly Bean, and started doing many hours, days, and months of research, that I became aware of the many needs of Parrots. That was in 2003, and I have worked tirelessly to gain as much knowledge as I possibly could, and also to protect parrots ever since.

  I was in Corporate Aviation for 20 years, until the bottom fell out and I found myself unemployed. After about a year of sending out resumes, I decided to start my own Pet Sitting Business. This allowed me to be around animals that I love and also have a very flexible schedule. This also gave me ample time to provide for my parrots, and the parrots under my care.

  By combining my passion for parrots in need, my philosophy of compassion and respect, and my customer service background and experience, I am working towards directing the best possible programs for parrots in need.

  My ultimate goal in life has always been to provide the exotic birds under my guardianship with a natural habitat, a good diet, and lots of enrichment.

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  Kelly Tipler

  Director

  Kelly has worked in the nonprofit field for nearly thirty years. She has a degree in social work and is currently completing a graduate degree in art therapy and counseling.  She began her career as a front line social worker and has worked as a director for several local non-profits, currently the Nashville Tree Foundation.

  She founded Turnip Green Creative Reuse in 2010. She has co-founded the TN Caregiver Coalition and was a founding board member of Pet Community Center. She has a deep commitment to animal rescue, having many dogs and a few cats in her care over the years. She has a strong commitment to EAST because of one special parrot, Crackers, that captured her heart many years ago.

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  Liz Dooley

  Director

  Liz is originally from Florida and was surrounded with many different animals growing up such as parrots, fish, dogs and reptiles. She attended the University of West Florida and earned degrees in Studio Art and Psychology. After college, she moved to the Nashville area and began her career in healthcare working for HCA.

  Soon after moving, she found 4 small feathery companions who sparked a passion for avian advocacy in her and she quickly looked for a rescue she could give her time to. Liz started her involvement with EAST back in 2017 and has felt so honored to be more and more involved each year.
  Liz’s ultimate life goal is to run a sanctuary of her own and continue to care for animals in need.

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  Kathleen Foster

  Director

  Kathleen studied design at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and has worked as a designer and art director in advertising agencies and design firms in cities across the U.S. She founded Crackerjack Design in 1997 in Nashville, Tennessee and specializes in visual communication.

  Kathleen and her singer/songwriter husband are “parronts” to a delightful, almost 27-year old, blue and gold macaw, Crackers. They adopted Crackers when she was four years old, from a family who could no longer care for her. She had no prior experience with parrots, though her husband had. It was love at first sight—and smell.

  Their involvement with parrot sanctuary work began several years ago when they began looking at sanctuaries for a future home for Crackers. Because she is so much younger, they knew they would need a plan for her life after they are gone. Once they saw the incredible and overwhelming need all over the country for parrot rescues and sanctuaries, Kathleen and John began volunteering. It became a passion for both of them and now they are completely committed to the mission of sanctuary, rescue, and education: education to adopt, not shop, and to make a plan for one’s parrot should it outlive it’s family.

  Kathleen feels fortunate to be able to give back by providing print and digital design services to EAST, and with aviary design and building, which she has been researching and working on for several years. Additionally, she and her husband have an airbnb in their home in Nashville and donate 100% of the proceeds to EAST. They consider it an honor, and their lives’ priority to help improve the lives of as many of these beautiful, intelligent creatures as possible. Their sweet Crackers has led them on quite an unexpected, and wonderful journey.

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  Megan Smith

  Honorary Staff Director

   

   

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