Meet Vickie Harris | Director of Music City Animal Rescue and co/owner of Nashville City Productions, Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vickie Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vickie, how does your business help the community?
As the Director of an animal rescue, our impact on the community is huge. We are considered a “safety net” for our local animal control and humane association. This means that when these facilities are full (which they always are these days) or when there is an animal that has special needs or simply does not do well in a shelter environment, we are next in line. We are their last lifeline.

Due to shelter over-crowding and lack of employees, our foster home network is often the only avenue left for families needing to surrender their pets, strays, or abuse cases.

By stepping in and giving animals a second chance to receive the medical care and socialization they require and placing them in loving homes, we reduce the need for euthanization of unwanted animals.

What should our readers know about your business?
Aside from being the Director of a 10 year old animal rescue organization, my profession is co-owner & graphic designer for an audio/video duplication company (Nashville City Productions, Inc.). This company has been working with musicians, singers, songwriters and local businesses for over 40 years.

The music industry has made many changes in the past 40 years but none as great as the past 10 years. From changes in audio/video formats, products and product shortages, to promotion and marketing. All of these changes can make or break
a company if you are not ready to adapt, learn, and make the necessary changes to still be productive in the industry. I’m very proud of the fact that thru all of these changes, we are still here!

As a female co-owner, it took time for me to gain credibility with clients. The music industry was male dominated when it came to making important decisions in a clients career and their album, CD, video, release and how it is designed and delivered it one of the major components. It just took time and consistency of proving my designs and ideas were good and my advice was sound. Pretty soon, male promoters and managers were referring me to their friends.

I learned to just be me. I wasn’t a female using my charm to win them over and I wasn’t trying to be a tough business woman. I was just a person that was there to offer my advise and ideas. I didn’t cry when they didn’t like something and I didn’t get defensive when they talked down to me. I think they came to respect me and in the end, that’s all I asked for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s NASHVILLE!! So the first thing you think of is downtown – Music Row – the Grand Ole’ Opry – the Ryman Auditorium. I think everyone should experience these things, once, if they come to town but that’s not all Nashville has to offer. Nashville and its surrounding counties are steeped in southern heritage as well as quaint little towns and businesses.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage would be on the list to see. Cheekwood historic estate and gardens would be a wonderful tour as well. If you wanted to travel just a bit further outside of the city, you could visit the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, TN or drive to a little place on the cumberland plateau called Muddy Pond. It is a Mennonite community with a sorgham mill, a general store and much more.

There are many yummy restaurants located close to downtown but also as you travel toward the Natchez Trace (which in the fall in a fantastically beautiful drive). The Loveless Cafe’ is located on the Trace. A great place to eat and shop.

Just ask the locals – we will let you in on all of our secrets!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The saying “Alone we can do little – but together we can do much” certainly applies when it comes to business of animal rescue. A rescue does not exist without the support of many.

You need dedicated foster homes and volunteers that give so much of their time and resources (receiving no pay or compensation) except the love and gratitude of the animals whose lives they have helped save.

You need compassionate individuals that have a heart for animals in need that will donate to your efforts of rescue because, especially in small foster-home based rescues, we do not receive government funding or grants. We rely completely on donations from the public to continue.

You need local companies and organizations that support animal rescue and allow your organization to either hold adoption events or fundraisers at their location and often make contributions to the rescue as well.

You need the support and encouragement from your family and friends. Animal rescue is an all encompassing endeavor. Your individual time, emotions, and funds are often dominated by rescue needs and without the support of understanding family members (in good times and bad) you could never have a successful animal rescue.
  

Website: www.Musiccityanimalrescue.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MCAR2013

Other: Nashville City Productions, Inc. has existed for over 40 years without a website presence. We have so much work just by word of mouth but our email is [email protected]