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 J. Larry Sanders
President & CEO
As head of SFP, Larry Sanders developed and patented technologies in the use of biopolymers for increasing agricultural potential. In addition to continuing new product development, his present responsibilities include management, research, sales and marketing.
Sanders’ previous experience includes positions at American Plant Food and the Potash & Phosphate Institute. He also worked for the Rockefeller Foundation as a consultant in Bangladesh and Indonesia and served as an international educator throughout Asia including India, Sri Lanka, China, and Canada.
Sanders is a member of the American Society of Agronomy and the International Society of Soil Science. He has served as past president and research committee chairman for the Texas Forage and Grassland Council. In 1996, Sanders received the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from Vice President Al Gore. He graduated cum laude from Northeast Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in soil chemistry and soil fertility–plant nutrition, respectively, from the University of Arkansas.
 John Hardy
Executive Vice President
John Hardy is co-founder and executive vice president of administration. He also acts as legal counsel for SFP, advising the company regarding all legal matters.
His primary responsibilities include contract negotiation, securing and protecting patents related to SFP products and technologies and ensuring the proper structuring and viability of operations and new ventures. In addition to his duties at SFP, he currently serves as legal counsel for the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation.
Hardy graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in political science. He received his master’s degree and doctorate in divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri, respectively. He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
 Jake Sanders
Vice President
As the vice president of marketing for SFP, Jake Sanders’ responsibilities include leading international sales initiatives and managing all advertising and public relations efforts.
Prior to accepting responsibility for international sales, Sanders worked as marketing coordinator and marketing manager for SFP. He has previously been involved in the CropLife Ambassador Network.
Sanders earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.
 Melanie Acklin
Director of Marketing
Acklin joins SFP to lead the company’s national marketing efforts. Prior to joining SFP, Acklin worked as a senior account executive at Osborn & Barr Communications, the agency of record for SFP, where she led the day-to-day communication efforts for SFP and a variety of other clientele out of the agency’s office in Kansas City, Mo. Before joining Osborn & Barr, Acklin worked for Rhea & Kaiser, an agricultural marketing and communications agency headquartered in Naperville, Ill.
Acklin is an active member of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), serving as vice president of the MoKan chapter. She is also a Crop Life Ambassador.
Acklin graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 2002 with a degree in general agriculture.
 Dave Schwartz
National Products Manager
As national products manager for SFP, Dave Schwartz oversees domestic sales, technical training and product education efforts. He also works with distribution and retail partners to strengthen and grow sales opportunities.
Before joining SFP, Schwartz served as an area sales manager for Van Diest Supply Co., where he received 12 consecutive president’s awards for sales. He also worked as a sales representative and trainer for Ciba Geigy (currently Syngenta), where he was honored with the Custom Applicator Magazine award for top salesman in the nation and set several company sales records.
Schwartz earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and mass communications from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
 Larry Shivers
West Midwest Regional Account Manager
Shivers joins the national sales team of SFP with primary responsibilities focused on sales within the Midwest region. Prior to joining SFP, Shivers served as regional manager for Terra Industries Inc., a leading international manufacturer and distributor of nitrogen-based products for agricultural and industrial markets. He also spent 17 years in sales with Van Diest Supply Co., and 15 years with Ciba-Geigy as a sales representative and district sales manager.
Shivers is a certified crop adviser and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Kansas Ag Mediation Board and a board member of Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. Shivers is a graduate of Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
 Charlie Carter
Texas Oklahoma Regional Account Manager
Carter brings 13 years of commercial fertilizer and crop consulting experience to SFP’s national sales team, with a sales scope focused in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Prior to joining SFP, Carter spent 10 years working in agriculture’s retail fertilizer and chemical industry, and most recently in a wholesale fertilizer capacity. Additionally, he has practiced crop consulting for a variety of growers and agribusiness organizations throughout his career.
Carter is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in crop science, and became a certified crop advisor in 1996.
 Jeff Pewitt
Central Midwest Regional Account Manager
Pewitt joins SFP’s national sales team with primary responsibility for regional sales and market development in Missouri, northeast Arkansas, southern Illinois and southeast Iowa. In this role he works with customers, distributors and retail partners to plan and oversee technical training and product education.
Before joining SFP, Pewitt has spent the entirety of his 30-year career in the agricultural chemical industry, including 22 years with Rhône-Poulenc/Aventis and more recently with FMC Corporation. Additionally, he’s been a contracted certified crop advisor throughout his career.
Pewitt graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia earning a bachelor's degree in agronomy.
 Steve Pickle
North Central Regional Account Manager
Pickle joins SFP as north central regional account manager with primary sales efforts in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In this role he works with customers, distributors and retail partners to plan and oversee technical training and product education.
Before joining SFP, Pickle spent 15 years serving the agriculture chemical industry. He began his career at United Agri Products providing chemical sales, product training and managed its retail operations in North Dakota and Minnesota. Most-recently Pickle worked for United Suppliers Inc, providing chemical sales and education.
Pickle earned a bachelor’s degree in crop and weed science from North Dakota State University in 1994. He also became a Certified Crop Advisor in 1994.
 Eddie Walley
Delta Regional Account Manager
Eddie Walley joins SFP to focus market development efforts in the U.S. Delta region. In the role of regional account manager he’s responsible sales and product education as well as building relationships with customers, distributors and retail partners.
Prior to coming to SFP, Walley had a 26-year career with Syngenta Seeds, where he earned numerous sales awards, including the 2002 Presidential Sales Leadership Award.
Walley graduated from Mississippi State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He resides in Hattiesburg, Miss.
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