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
Jim Richmond
President
InMoment
Melissa Slone
Vice President
StrongMind
Camille Smith McMakin
Secretary
Alston & Bird
Eric Jacobs
Treasurer
Finance Director
Jabarr Bean
Director
The Home Depot
Eric Khan
Director (Affiliate Board Rep)
PNC
Krish Das
Director
Ulta Beauty
Kyle Green
Director
Ford Fund
Jon Howland
Director
Stanley Black & Decker
Bill Kruger
Director
UPS
Paul Mitchell
Director
Retired IT
Kitt (Kathryn) Shipe
Director
Shipe Dosik Law LLC
Richard Porter
Director
The Home Depot
Abby Probst
Director
Grainger
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

Chad Pickett
SE Territory Director (TDS)
Chad joined ToolBank USA as the Southeast Territory Director of TDS in June of 2020. Prior to joining the ToolBank USA team, he managed the tool lending program at the Atlanta ToolBank. With a background working for several non-profit home repair organizations, Chad has experienced how the lack of tools and resources can hamper a project. He loves being able to connect organizations to the tools that they need to fulfill their mission.
Favorite Tool: Hammerdo…what’s a Hammerdo? You should ask him

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

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.
Favorite Tool: Chainsaw

Bill Hess
TDS Manager & Panama City Program Manager
Favorite Tool: Fubar…it demands authority!

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!
Become an Investor
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