Charity Storage, a nonprofit that serves the self-storage industry, has reorganized its operating structure and changed its key leadership. Kerry Henriksen, executive director, and Mariela Pattinson, director of marketing and development, have resigned. Mario Macaluso, a board member and industry veteran, will serve as program manager to educate and enroll self-storage operators in the program, according to a press release.

As part of the transition, Charity Storage headquarters will be housed within the Phoenix corporate office of OpenTech Alliance Inc., a provider of self-storage kiosks, call-center services and other technology. OpenTech has recruited dedicated staff to provide infrastructure, accounting and marketing to support the organization.

“Today’s announcement marks a reorganization that will position Charity Storage for continued success, building on the legacy the existing team has worked so hard to create,” said OpenTech CEO Robert Chiti, who’s also chairman of the nonprofit’s board of directors. “These shifts represent a critical step to streamline our operations in a way that will enhance our ability to maximize funds raised for local charities and achieve our goal of becoming a self-sustainable organization. In addition, we have strengthened our ability to support the success of participating self-storage operations.”   

During their tenure, Henriksen and Pattinson built strategic partnerships with industry members, helped establish and improve organizational processes, and dedicated countless hours to the advancement of charitable causes nationwide, the release stated.

Macaluso is the founder of Best Self Storage Insurance and a founding member of SBOA Tenant Insurance. “Though my time on the board has been limited, my passion for Charity Storage was immediate,” he said. “As a member of this community, I know how fortunate we are to operate in a ‘recession-proof’ industry. Charity Storage is an easy way for operators to pass that good fortune along and have a direct impact in the communities and to the local causes that matter to their team.”

Charity Storage uses self-storage auctions to raise money for charitable causes. Participating facilities establish donation drop-off centers at their sites, and engage their community to collect donations and raise funds for local nonprofits through their storage auctions.