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 MISSION

The mission of the ToolBank is to serve community-based organizations by providing the tools, equipment, and expertise needed to empower their most ambitious goals. Our vision is to equip all communities with tools for change.

TOOLBANK USA VALUES

We are a values-based organization that serves our affiliates, member agencies, volunteers, community partners, associates, and suppliers with open hearts and equity.

RESPECT & INCLUSION

We believe in diverse and inclusive participation in our communities and we intentionally strive to create a welcoming environment for all people, regardless of race, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or creed.

INTEGRITY & TRANSPARENCY

We are committed to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity. We support transparency in our financial and operating standards and commit to accountability.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

We are committed to accessibility, professionalism, and open communication focused on those we serve. Our goal is to exceed the expectations of all member agencies, volunteers, donors, and visitors.

TOOL STEWARDSHIP

We manage ToolBank resources responsibly to maintain inventory value, promote long-term viability, and ensure responsible usage and care of the tools by the borrower.

SAFE USAGE OF TOOLBANK TOOLS

We believe in our responsibility to foster and maintain strong relationships with our member agencies that promote responsible usage and care of ToolBank tools. We acknowledge our duty to practice sound stewardship in all activities with our member agencies related to the promotion of safety and responsible usage and care of the tools.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

We have a responsibility to collaborate with our partners to best support the interests of the communities in which we serve.

Our Leadership

Krish Das

President
Ulta Beauty

Camille Smith McMakin

Vice President
Alston & Bird

Kitt (Kathryn) Shipe

Secretary
Shipe Dosik Law LLC

Kimberly Antifave

Treasurer
MarketAxess

Kathleen (Katie) Barton

Director
Kilpatrick Townsend

Darby Bryant

Director (Affiliate Board Representative)
Volunteer / Charlotte ToolBank

Kyle Green

Director
Ford Motor Company

Eric Jacobs

Director
Finance Director

Bill Kruger

Director
UPS

Marly Maskill

Affiliate Executive Director Representative
Houston ToolBank

Paul Mitchell

Director
Retired IT

Brian Pham

Director
Break a Difference

Abby Probst

Director
Grainger

Melissa Slone

Director
StrongMind

Allison Stone

Director
UL Solutions

Jeremy Torok

Director
Stanley Black & Decker

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

Bill is a US Marine Corps Veteran, having served 22 years active duty retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. Bill joined the team in 2021 and currently serves in the role of ToolBank Disaster Services Manager. He began volunteering in Panama City after Hurricane Michael with the TDS team which eventually lead to him being brought on as a full-time team member.

Favorite Tool: Fubar…it demands authority!

Matt Walenciak

Director of Replication & Sustainability

Matt returns to the ToolBank USA team after serving as the Atlanta ToolBank’s Executive Director for the past five years. He has been a familiar face to the ToolBank Network and worked for ToolBank USA where he headed up our Disaster Services Program. Matt began volunteering after disasters which initially lead him to the ToolBank and we’ve been lucky have him on board in the network ever since.

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 Yorkies, Cici and Coco.

Favorite Tool: Tape measure. Measure twice, cut once!

Adam Phlegar

Manager for Special Projects and Assets

Adam is originally from the small town of Vinton, VA where he made his way to the Metro-Richmond area for college and grad school. He met his wonderful bride while attending Randolph-Macon College and got married in 2008. They have two amazing kids and a four-legged family member.

In 2015, he started volunteering with the Richmond ToolBank when they first opened their doors and then transitioned into a part-time position in 2016. In 2019, Adam shifted to a full-time employee at the Richmond ToolBank as Program Manager where he oversaw the Tool Lending and Building Change programs.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, being outside, golfing, and watching sports.

Favorite Tool: Depends on what needs fixing!

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!

Kristi Thum

Southeast Territory Manager - TDS - Tampa

Kristi hails from New Jersey but has been in the St. Pete, FL area for over 30 years. She owned a successful home renovation business before being drawn to Habitat for Humanity and their mission to provide decent, affordable housing. Kristi went to work for Habitat for Humanity as a site supervisor guiding volunteers in building the new homes. She moved into a Project Manager position and stayed with Habitat for 9 years.

She joined the ToolBank Disaster Response team in November 2023 and will be heading up the ToolBank’s presence in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

In Kristi’s spare time, she likes to camp, hike, bike and get out on her paddleboard. She’s been spending a lot of time training her newly rescued yellow lab, Buddy.

Favorite Tool: Reciprocating Saw…makes the big jobs small.

Arturo "Art" Garciacano

West Territory Manager - TDS - Los Angeles

Art is a US Marine Corps Veteran, having served over 13 years of active duty. He began volunteering alongside our Director of ToolBank Disaster Services, Bill Hess, at the Palms Spring Home Depot Community Build Invitational in August of 2023 and joined our ToolBank USA team in January of 2024 as the West Territory Manager-TDS-Los Angeles.

In his spare time, Art loves spending time with his children and girlfriend Yvette, cooking, listening to music, and traveling.

Favorite Tool: Level

Lynsey Georgen

Rocky Mountain Territory Manager - TDS - Denver

Lynsey is a Colorado native with over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership. Her background as a professional artist and photographer allowed her to volunteer for all types of organizations in hands-on roles and she’s excited to bring this experience to ToolBank. With her children now (finally) adults, Lynsey’s free time is managed exclusively by her 2 one-eyed dogs and their hobbies, including neighborhood watch duty and cheese tastings.

Favorite Tool: A Power Drill—nothing is as versatile!

Our Investors

CORPORATE INVESTMENT PARTNERS (Community & Disaster Services)

CORPORATE BUILDING PARTNERS (Community & Disaster Services)

DISASTER SERVICES PARTNERS

Become an Investor

Are you interested in becoming an investor with the ToolBank? Take a moment to fill out the information below and we will contact you.

ToolBank Awards

WATCH THE 2023 TOOLBANK NATIONAL AWARDS

ToolBank "Affiliate of the Year" - Golden Hammer

ToolBank USA has created the ToolBank Affiliate of the Year Award to recognize outstanding performance and/or accomplishments of an Affiliate who exemplified the mission of the ToolBank by supporting their member agencies and partners. In a coordinated effort, the Board, staff and volunteers worked together to fulfill a need in their community to provide the right tools, training, and/or conduit to get it done.

2023 Winner: Charlotte ToolBank

Wilkinson Millenary Volunteer Award

ToolBank USA has created the Wilkinson Millenary Volunteer Award (WMVA) to honor those individual Volunteers who make a substantial impact to the ToolBank Nation. The WMVA will be awarded to individuals who give 1000 Hours of Volunteer Service at an affiliate ToolBank or ToolBank USA

History: ToolBank USA has created the Wilkinson Millenary Volunteer Award(WMVA) in honor of longtime Volunteer and Supporter of the ToolBank, Erik Wilkinson. Erik started volunteering with the ToolBank when it was an all-volunteer organization, giving of his time to provide home repairs to low-income seniors in South Atlanta, keeping them warm, safe, and dry in their own homes. Today, 25 plus years later, he continues to assist ToolBank USA with several IT projects and upgrades, helping ToolBank prove its impact by putting the right tools in volunteer hands! His effect on the ToolBank success is beyond measurement but is always deeply felt.

2023 Winners: Stephanie Eaddy (Baltimore ToolBank) & Linda Rincon (Houston ToolBank)

Rupert Barkoff Exemplary Affiliate Director Award

The Rupert Barkoff Exemplary Affiliate Director Award has been established to honor an affiliate Director who has demonstrated outstanding and dedicated leadership and service to their affiliate ToolBank.

History: Rupert M. Barkoff, age 71, passed away in June of 2019, in Atlanta, GA and at the time was serving as Pro Bono legal counsel for the ToolBank USA board. Rupert spent his entire career as an attorney with Kilpatrick Townsend (originally Kilpatrick & Cody), joining in 1973 upon moving to Atlanta following law school graduation. He was a pioneer in the field of Franchise Law, demonstrating expertise in franchisor and franchisee practices, both nationally and internationally, with frequent trips to Australia to support new business concept development. Everyone who encountered Rupert remarked about his gentleness, intelligence, and sense of humor. Rupert joined the ToolBank family in 2011 as a national ToolBank board member and used his franchise expertise to help make the ToolBank a network of affiliates.

2023 Winner: Jessica Pohto from the Windy City ToolBank

Bobby Mason Award for Technology Innovation

The Bobby Mason LFNt Award for Technology Innovation honors the affiliate who most positively impacted the ToolBank network by either sharing a technological innovation or participating in the technological advancement of the network as a whole.

History: The award for technology innovation is named after Robert “Bobby” Mason, who in 2009 built the first network-wide tool tracking platform for ToolBank, known as LFNt. LFNt served as an essential inventory management tool for the network for over a decade, thanks in large part to Bobby’s oversight, architecture, and many help ticket fixes. Bobby is remembered in the ToolBank network for his outsized cowboy hat, his outsized pickup truck, and his outsized personality – but most of all for his outsized dedication to the ToolBank mission, which motivated him to donate countless hours volunteering as ToolBank’s IT support. In creating this award, we hope never to forget Bobby’s impact on the ToolBank and the many communities it serves.

2023 Winners: Atlanta ToolBank & Charlotte ToolBank

Dan Webber ToolBank Brand Ambassador Award

ToolBank USA has created the DAN WEBBER TOOLBANK BRAND AMBASSADOR AWARD to honor those individuals who go above and beyond to promote and advocate for the ToolBank.

HISTORY: Dan joined the ToolBank Board of Directors in April of 2009 and always remained heavily involved with ToolBank. He served as treasurer from 2011-2013 and then served as board president from 2014-2015. As soon as Dan left the board, he started the ToolBank Executive Advisory Board, where he led a group of past ToolBank USA board members to help advocate on behalf of the ToolBank network. Dan was the epitome of service, gratitude, and optimism. ToolBank could go on and on about the work that he did on behalf of the ToolBank. He has left an indelible mark on the ToolBank network, and his legacy of service, and love of the ToolBank will live on forever. ToolBank will always be grateful to have had Dan as one of our best brand ambassadors.