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 J. Larry Sanders, Ph.D.
President and CEO
As head of SFP, Larry Sanders develops and patents technologies in the use of biopolymers for increasing agricultural potential. 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 for 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. 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 for SFP. He also acts as legal counsel and advises 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, Mo., respectively. He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
 Jake Sanders
Vice President, Market Development
As vice president of market development for SFP, Jake Sanders is responsible for developing and managing SFP’s international sales program and overseeing all domestic and international marketing initiatives.
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, Mo.
 Melanie Acklin
Director of Marketing
Melanie Acklin leads the company’s national marketing efforts. She is an active member of the National Agri-Marketing Association and co-chair of the American Royal Calf Scramble. Additionally, she is a CropLife Ambassador.
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 graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2002 with a degree in general agriculture.
 Michael Berry
Marketing Manager, Branded Dealer Program
Michael Berry, SFP’s Branded Dealer Program marketing manager, joins SFP with more than five years of experience in agricultural marketing. Berry works to maintain relationships with product dealers and to design and execute local marketing plans that best fit the dealers’ operation.
Previously, Berry was a senior account executive at Osborn & Barr, where he acted as a client liaison for SFP, AgraQuest and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Berry earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Berry also is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association and has served as a chairman on several committees. Berry enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, working on the farm and watching the Kansas City Royals.
 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 the President’s Award for sales 12 consecutive times. 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.
 Jim Barnett
Latin America Account Manager
Jim Barnett, SFP’s Latin America Account Manager, joins SFP with more than 25 years of international sales experience. In this role, Barnett is responsible for sales and product education and building relationships with customers, distributors and retail partners.
Previously, Barnett worked at Sumitomo Corp. of America as a sales and product manager. Barnett developed strong trading relationships in markets around the world while creating new business opportunities and increasing profits dramatically.
Barnett earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Amherst College and a juris doctorate degree at Pace University School of Law. Swimming and gardening are the favorite hobbies Barnett pursues when he’s not building new business for SFP.
 Tony Donoho
Northeast Regional Account Manager
As northeast regional account manager for SFP, Tony Donoho is responsible for product sales, distributor relations and technical support in the U.S. Northeast region.
For more than a decade, Donoho has held a variety of product and sales positions. Prior to joining SFP, he was employed by Cargill in a product-marketing role.
Donoho is a graduate of St. Xavier University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business finance. He is pursuing a master’s degree in agribusiness at Purdue University.
 Bryan French
Midwest Application Consultant
Retail Business Adviser
Bryan French is SFP’s Midwest application consultant and retail business adviser. A Midwest native with more than 30 years of agri-retail experience, French specializes in application and mixing equipment throughout the Midwest and provides sales consulting, product placement and retail strategies for SFP product retailers throughout the United States.
Before joining SFP, French held executive management positions at agriculture cooperatives in Nebraska and, most recently, Kansas. Previously, French worked for Farmland Industries’ chemical sales team.
French attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
 John Meece
Illinois Regional Account Manager
John Meece, SFP’s Illinois regional account manager, joins SFP with more than 30 years of experience in agronomy sales. Meece is responsible for sales and product education as well as building relationships with customers, distributors and retail partners.
Meece joins SFP from Nationwide AgriBusiness. He also spent time at UAP, Gateway Seed and Pioneer Hi-Bred. During his long career, Meece has been involved in agronomy research and sales in a variety of territories.
Meece earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy from the University of Illinois. When he’s not building relationships in Illinois, Meece likes to fish and travel.
 Jim Otte
Southeast Regional Account Manager
Jim Otte is SFP’s account manager for the southeast region, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama and Florida. With nearly 40 years of fertilizer experience, Otte supports the SFP business through product sales, public speaking, consultation and research and development.
Before joining SFP in 2004, Otte worked as an executive business analyst for George S. May, a full-service business consulting firm in Chicago.
Otte attended Kansas State University, studying agronomy. Additionally, he is a Certified Crop Adviser and Iowa-certified Customer Applicator.
 Jeff Pewitt
Central Midwest Regional Account Manager
Jeff Pewitt is on SFP’s national sales team with primary responsibility for regional sales and market development in Missouri and southern Illinois. In this role, he works with customers, distributors and retail partners to plan and oversee technical training and product education.
Before joining SFP, Pewitt spent the entirety of his 30-year career in the agricultural chemical industry, which includes 22 years with Rhône-Poulenc/Aventis and, more recently, with FMC Corporation. Additionally, he’s been a contracted Certified Crop Adviser throughout his career.
Pewitt graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy.
 Steve Pickle
U.S. Northern Regional Sales Manager
Steve Pickle is SFP’s U.S. northern regional sales 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., and provided 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 Adviser in 1994.
 Larry Shivers
U.S. Southern Regional Sales Manager
Larry Shivers is on SFP’s national sales team with primary responsibilities that focus on sales within the U.S. Midwest and southern regions.
Larry Shivers is SFP’s U.S. southern regional sales manager with primary sales efforts in the Midwest and Southern U.S. regions. In this role, he works with customers, distributors and retail partners to plan and oversee technical training and product education.
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, serves as Chairman of the Board of the Kansas Ag Mediation Board and is a board member of Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. Shivers is a graduate of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.
 Andy Snell
Nebraska Regional Account Manager
As Nebraska regional account manager, Andy Snell is responsible for product sales, distributor relations and technical support throughout the state.
Before joining SFP, Snell held various roles in agronomy sales and crop consulting in the Nebraska area. He previously was the Nebraska area business manager for MANA of North America.
Snell graduated from Iowa State University and earned a bachelor’s degree with distinction in science and agronomy.
 Jeff Thompson
Iowa Regional Account Manager
Jeff Thompson, SFP’s Iowa Regional Account Manager, joined SFP with more than 10 years agriculture seed and supply product management experience. Throughout Iowa, he’s responsible for sales and product education as well as building relationships with customers, distributors and retail partners.
Coming to SFP from Channel Bio, where he managed business across Iowa, Thompson led a large sales team, overseeing all forecasting, recruiting, market analytics, sales training and development programs.
Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Iowa State University.
Reggie Underwood
Regional Account Manager for Texas & Oklahoma
Reggie Underwood, SFP’s regional account manager for Texas and Oklahoma, joins SFP after having been a district sales manager and regional business manager for 18 years. Underwood is responsible for sales and product education as well as building relationships with customers, distributors and retail partners in Texas and Oklahoma.
Underwood has previously worked in sales and managerial roles for Ciba-Geigy, Helena Chemical Inc. and Albaugh Inc.; working with farmers, ranchers and agri-retailers across the United States. Underwood fulfills his entrepreneurial spirit as a store partner with his daughter in their ARK Country Store in Waxahachie, Texas. The store is recognized as an expert and premier store for Purina and has grown 10 fold since they took over.
Underwood received a B.S. in animal science from Tarleton State, a branch of Texas A&M. Underwood and his wife, Pam, have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren. Underwood enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, and lives the western lifestyle through rodeos and raising premium roping and barrel racing horses.
 Eddie Walley
Delta Regional Account Manager
Eddie Walley’s responsibility is to focus market development efforts in the U.S. Delta region. In the role of regional account manager, he’s responsible for 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, earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He resides in Hattiesburg, Miss.
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