Leadership Team
Dan Kershaw, MBA, is a nationally recognized expert in charity-powered innovation and use of technology in the charity sector. He is a leader in successful social enterprise, impact measurement, and unconventional approaches to fundraising. With a passion for digital innovation, and a focus on data-driven processes and decisions, Dan is a successful Executive Director and entrepreneur and has led Toronto-based Furniture Bank since 2014.
Dan has a rare combination of education in business, technology and the environment. He completed his B.A. in Environmental Studies, and went on to complete his M.A.E.S in Environmental Economics and a M.B.A. in Marketing Technology from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Prior to his work in the charity sector, Dan led the management and growth of a variety of industries, business challenges, and product innovations from Internet Gaming, Telecommunications, Payment Processing, Web Hosting, Mobile Dating, Mobile Advertising, Mobile Content Solutions, and a variety of eCommerce projects. It was these intensive years that motivated him to build things, analyze everything, and push the limits of conventional thinking, skills he has brought to the charity sector.
In 2014, Dan led a financial turnaround at Furniture Bank, and his leadership and innovations has brought many distinctions including: a national Ingenious Award for Innovation in Technology in 2016, leadership awards from United Way in 2017, national social enterprise award in 2017 from TRICO’s Social EnterPrize, and environment awards in 2018 and 2022 for the Clean50.
Sean Peddle has over 12 years of experience in leadership and operations. Before joining the team at Furniture Bank, Sean worked primarily in commercial and residential consultation and contracting. His previous experience also includes roles in project management, supply chain logistics, real estate sales and accounting.
During his tenure, Sean has implemented a complete redesign of Furniture Bank’s day-to-day operations. Since completion, Furniture Bank has doubled its annual capacity to serve families and receive donations.
Sean has also initiated successful pilots of Furniture Bank’s Workshop and Studio social enterprises. These projects are still going strong and have become an essential to Furniture Bank’s mission. The Workshop and Studio have upcycled thousands of pieces to support hundreds of families.
Sean is an enthusiastic, efficiency focused and grounded leader whose management style has earned an Employer of the Year award for Furniture Bank.
Tammy Peddle is Furniture Bank’s Director of Development, and oversees the sales and fundraising team, and is accountable for the entire customer experience. She began working at Furniture Bank in 2008, and as a leader, encourages her team to learn, change and adapt, automate and simplify Furniture Bank’s processes.
In 2017, Tammy was asked to be a keynote speaker at Dreamforce alongside Executive Director, Dan Kershaw on Furniture Bank’s innovative use of technology.
Before joining Furniture Bank, Tammy was working in Sales & Procurement, along with fulfilling her passion in the travel industry selling and planning destination weddings.
