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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.
 Jan Strem
National Products Representative
Jan Strem is a national products representative for SFP. In that capacity, he works directly with customers, distribution and retail partners to build sales and knowledge. He also oversees technical training. Strem previously served SFP as a sales representative for the eastern region, developing and directing sales and training programs.
Before joining SFP, he worked as specialty products manager for The Andersons, Inc., managing the sales and marketing of plant nutrition products.
Strem earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.
 Larry Shivers
National Products Representative
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.
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