Our Story
TOOLBANK serves community-based organizations by providing tools, equipment & expertise to empower their most ambitious goals.
Our Beginnings
The ToolBank concept was created in Atlanta in 1991 with the idea of neighbors helping neighbors by giving their time and loaning their tools to do home repairs for their neighbors in need. In 2008, ToolBank USA was launched to replicate the model and establish ToolBanks throughout the United States. The ToolBank’s signature lending model allows charities to focus on their mission by relying on ToolBanks to provide, store, and repair critically-needed tools and equipment. ToolBanks share their resources with charitable groups so they can equip volunteers to efficiently complete work in less time, with the right tools, at minimal costs. Using ToolBank tools, community-based organizations avoid the expense of purchasing, repairing, and storing tools. Each year, the ToolBank recognizes a ToolBank Affiliate who has been outstanding in furthering the mission and vision of the ToolBank.
Our Mission & Values
Our Leadership
Krish Das
President
Ulta Beauty
Jim Richmond
Past Presiding President
InMoment
Melissa Slone
Vice President
StrongMind
Camille Smith McMakin
Secretary
Alston & Bird
Eric Jacobs
Treasurer
Finance Director
Kimberly Antifave
Director
MarketAxess
Kathleen (Katie) Barton
Director
Kilpatrick Townsend
John Byrd
Director (Affiliate Board Rep)
ByrdGEO / Houston ToolBank
Kyle Green
Director
Ford Motor Company
Jon Howland
Director
Stanley Black & Decker
Bill Kruger
Director
UPS
Paul Mitchell
Director
Retired IT
Brian Pham
Director
Break a Difference
Abby Probst
Director
Grainger
Kitt (Kathryn) Shipe
Director
Shipe Dosik Law LLC
Wesley Staggs
Director
OncoHealth
Allison Stone
Director
UL Solutions
Jeremy Torok
Director
Stanley Black & Decker
Toby Vernon
Affiliate Executive Director Representative
Richmond ToolBank
Our Team

Patty Russart
CEO
Patty Russart joined ToolBank USA as CEO in May of 2018. Since late 2008, Patty was the Executive Director for the Atlanta Community ToolBank (ACTB). Her mantra is ‘where there is a will there is a way’ and that is how she approaches fundraising for the ToolBank. Patty successfully completed a $1.525 million Capital Campaign for the ACTB, which allowed them to purchase a much larger warehouse space and add a Tool Training Center.
Favorite Tool: Nifty Nabber

Trey Bearden
CPO
Trey joined ToolBank USA as Chief Program Officer in July of 2018. Most recently, Trey served as the founding Executive Director of the Richmond Community ToolBank. The process of building a ToolBank from the ground up taught him that action creates clarity and that the answer is always no unless you ask!
Favorite Tool: The right tool for the job

Kate Juergens
Executive Office & Compliance Manager
Kate joined ToolBank USA in 2016 with a background in advocacy and operations support for nonprofit organizations in Atlanta. She has experience working with immigrant and refugee families to provide services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for her two rescue cats, English literature, and Argentine tango.
Favorite Tool: Power Sander

Bill Hess
Director of ToolBank Disaster Services
Favorite Tool: Fubar…it demands authority!

Matt Walenciak
Director of Replication & Sustainability
Favorite Tool: Nail Gun

Julie Italiano
Director of Marketing, Communications & Outreach
Julie joined the ToolBank USA team in 2021 as a way to continue her passion for the ToolBank network after years of involvement with the Cincinnati affiliate. She brings an extensive marketing, advertising, and graphic design background to the organization and looks forward to translating these skills from a for-profit space to the nonprofit world. She’s an avid golfer, enjoys traveling and spending time with her Yorkie, Cici.
Favorite Tool: Tape measure. Measure twice, cut once!

Jaime Valle
Program Manager - TDS - Puerto Rico
Jaime is a native of Mexico and moved to Puerto Rico 21 years ago. He joined the ToolBank team in 2021 as the Disaster Services Manager for our Puerto Rico location. Jaime is a highly tenured disaster response and rebuild volunteer, starting back in 1985 during the earthquake in Mexico and most recently helping with the efforts after Hurricanes Irma and Maria and earthquakes in 2019/2020 in Puerto Rico. He aided in training workers and volunteers on roof reconstruction.
Jaime serves as a member of the board of directors and as a consultant for the Long-Term Recovery Group of San Juan. He also offers up consulting work for ProTechos and provides training for students and member agencies on tool handling and safety.
Favorite Tool: Chainsaw

David Melancon
Program Manager - TDS - New Orleans
After Hurricane Ida devastated parishes in southeastern Louisiana, David volunteered as the Logistics Coordinator for Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. After coordinating the delivery of thousands of meals and truckloads of supplies, David joined Catholic Charities serving as the Associate Director of Disaster Response and Preparedness, relocating to Thibodaux, LA, the town he was born and raised in.
In his TDS role, David combines his love for being an instrument of change for the betterment of all community members, tools, and working in the non-profit realm into one job.
David loves spending time with his family, his dogs, traveling, and enjoying all the parades, fairs, and festivals that New Orleans and the Pelican State have to offer.
Favorite Tool: Impact Driver… where diversity meets power to create change!

James Ramos
Program Manager - TDS - Sacramento
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