We were lucky to catch up with Meagan Licari recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Meagan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear you experience with and lessons learned from recruiting and team building.
We did not have employees at all. We were 100% volunteer run. Once we started to grow I knew I needed reliable help. I was fortunate that we had so many volunteers. When you are dedicated volunteer, you have experience and have already proven dedication. So it was really easy to select who would make an amazing staff member. Some of it happened naturally during covid when many people lost employment. Some just wanted a change. What was so smooth about the process was that they were basically already trained so on boarding was super easy!
Meagan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve always loved animals. Ever since I was a child I was running around with some sort of animal with me. My cousin had a ferret and it was in most of our family photos in my arms for years. I was a cat for halloween most years. I loved all animals so it was only natural that I headed down the path of rescue. I grew up in CT and moved to NYC In 2011 not knowing the absolute over population problem that was going. I started to see on social media the problems and knew I wanted to help. Once I got a taste and realized the huge difference I could make I never turned back.
I am so proud of how much PKNYC has grown. I have never run a non-profit before and I have learned so many things as I go. It’s been an incredible learning experience and I will always cherish it. The animal piece is easy its learning the ins and outs of non-profit management, social media, and dealing with the humans that’s the real challenge.
My background as a veterinary technician has been a huge asset. I originally went to school to become a vet tech, and those skills have been invaluable. Whether it’s recognizing health issues, administering treatments, or handling medical emergencies, having that technical knowledge allows me to make informed decisions quickly. It’s also helped me communicate more effectively with vets and manage the medical side of running PuppyKittyNYCity, which is so crucial to what we do.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Story telling is really how we grew on social media. People love to see the cats come back stories! They get so invested in these animals and become their real life cheerleaders! I constantly push people to make sure we are documenting these animals stories from rescue to adoption. There is nothing better than a happy ending to really speak to people and have them believe in our mission! Some notable cats who have great stories you must check out: @figaroandhisfriends and @legendalegendarycat they both happen to be my fur children and I told their stories from day one of rescue to adoption and people really love them like their own. Their transformations have been nothing short of miracles and its really inspiring for me and others!
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
I think you really have to talk the talk and walk the walk, especially in this line of work. I find that if people see me leading by example they follow suit. I have to be willing to get down and dirty to save lives. I show that I am 100% dedicated to cause and it inspires people to want to do the same. And of course praising people for their efforts and properly compensating them!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.puppykittynyc.org
- Instagram: @puppykittynycity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@puppykittynycity
- Linkedin: Meagan Eastman Licari
- Twitter: @puppykittynycity
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@puppykittynyc?app=desktop
Image Credits
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