Tila had a career in biotech engineering before choosing to dedicate her life fully to animal welfare. Her lifelong passion for animals and years of rescue work inspired her to start Shiva Foundation in honor of her beloved cat, Shiva.

While her love extends to all animals, the Foundation’s mission focuses on improving the lives of community cats through medical care, TNR programs, and advocacy. Tila now leads the organization’s programs, partnerships, and strategy, ensuring the Foundation stays true to its vision of creating a kinder world for community cats.

Jennifer Reda – Director of Business Development

Jennifer Reda brings nearly 30 years of community roots in Chattanooga and a diverse professional background to her role as Director of Business Development at the Shiva Foundation.

With degrees in Early Childhood Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Jennifer has worked as an educator, trauma therapist, and for the past six years as a Tony Robbins Results Coach and Business Results Trainer, helping individuals and organizations build strategies for lasting growth and success.

A lifelong pet owner and passionate advocate for compassionate animal welfare, Jennifer is committed to strengthening the Shiva Foundation’s impact by building meaningful partnerships, expanding community engagement, and developing effective services that support volunteers, veterinary partners, adopters, and the cats and kittens we serve.

Outside of the Shiva Foundation, Jennifer continues her work as a Tony Robbins Results Coach while developing her own venture focused on creating meaningful personal transformation. She enjoys spending time with her family and beloved pets and finds inspiration in Chattanooga’s natural beauty

Beverly Jankura – Treasurer

Becky relocated from Marietta, GA to Hixson, TN in 1982 to manage the pet department at Richway, where she raised the standards of care for small animals and fish and earned multiple company awards with her team. She later built a career in financial management and now works at a federal credit union overseeing member accounts and financial performance.

In 2024, Becky encountered a feral cat and her five kittens near her workplace. After fostering them, she adopted the mother cat, who is now a cherished companion alongside her two older cats. This experience deepened her dedication to community cats and inspired her to join Shiva Foundation.

Outside of work, Becky enjoys exploring nature on her e bike and spending summer weekends boating on Lake Chickamauga. As Treasurer, she is committed to ensuring the Foundation’s resources are managed effectively to improve the lives of cats and kittens in need.

Hersh Patel – Director of Data and Analytics

Hersh moved to Chattanooga in 2007 and quickly made it his home. For more than a decade, he has served as a mathematics professor at Chattanooga State, where his passion for teaching and mentorship shines through. Beyond the classroom, Hersh is deeply committed to environmental sustainability and community service. He even started a volunteer group with his students and friends to clean litter along the Riverwalk, helping protect the local wildlife.

Hersh’s love for animals began in childhood, when he cared for stray dogs and cows. In 2023, he rescued a mother cat and her kittens, ultimately adopting four of them. That experience deepened his commitment to community cats and led him to Shiva Foundation, where his compassion now supports our mission.

In his personal life, Hersh describes himself as a quiet soul. When not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his cats, his neighbor’s dog, and a close circle of friends. He is also an avid soccer player, a hiker, and someone who believes in making the world better “one small step at a time.”

Caitlin brings her professional background as a compliance auditor to Shiva Foundation, where her attention to detail, organization, and commitment to doing things correctly strengthen the foundation’s operations and accountability.

As Secretary, she keeps processes organized, supports compliance, and helps the team move forward efficiently. Her structured approach plays an important role in the foundation’s day-to-day work.

Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Caitlin is a proud cat mom to Dumplin and Bean. Her personal connection to them fuels her passion for animal welfare and her dedication to Shiva Foundation’s mission of TNR, responsible community care, and giving cats second chances.

Rachel is co-secretary at Shiva and assists with a lot of behind-the-scenes operations like volunteer onboarding and tracking cats in the program. Rachel’s been living in Chattanooga since 1999 and has been giving kitties home since.

Caring for her childhood cat, Angel, is where she gained the love and absolute adoration for helping cats in the Chattanooga community. She lives with her husband and their current crew of cats Tina, Moo, and Peep; and, when she’s not knee-deep in paperwork or coordinating, she’s usually crafting, gaming, or manifesting one more foster to “foster fail” and become a permanent in her own home.

Chantel is a lifelong cat guardian who feels honored to have been “chosen” time and again by the mysterious cat distribution system. With a special heart for the less fortunate kitties, she is deeply passionate about ending the cycle of overpopulation and ensuring that neighborhood street cats find the safety and care they deserve.

Her home is often filled with the playful chaos of rescued kittens and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Dedicated to serving those who care for community cats, Chantel works to connect caretakers with resources, raise awareness, and spread hope that every cat’s story can turn toward a brighter chapter.

Outside of rescue, Chantel is a nature lover and a devoted mom of two. She hopes to inspire her children to always look out for those in need. For her, the perfect evening includes a good book, endless cups of tea, and a lap full of purring cats.