Meet Our Leadership Team

Guy Kalbach

Guy Kalbach serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Jacob Stern & Sons, Acme-Hardesty, and JST Global, where he leads enterprise-wide HR strategy, talent development, and organizational transformation. Since joining the company in 2020, Guy has been instrumental in shaping a people-first approach, driving initiatives that support employee engagement, leadership development, and operational excellence.   Prior to his current role, Guy held senior HR leadership positions at Amazon and Primark, where he gained deep expertise in high-growth environments and global workforce management. At Amazon, he led HR operations for large-scale distribution centers, focusing on performance management, labor relations, and workforce planning. At Primark, Guy supported the company’s U.S. expansion, building HR infrastructure and guiding talent acquisition strategies across multiple locations.   Guy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an Employment Law Certificate from Cornell University. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is known for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to continuous improvement. As a steward of our Core Values, Guy’s approach to HR is grounded in transparency, trust, and strategic alignment—ensuring that people and business goals move forward together.

"A key differentiator at Acme-Hardesty is our unique culture and the foundation of our continued success is built on our clearly defined Core Values Our alignment to those Core Values is the catalyst which fuels our sustainable, profitable growth."

Jeffrey Berger

Jeff Berger joined Jacob Stern & Sons, Information Technology, parent company to Acme-Hardesty, in October 2022. Jeff provides strategic leadership and tactical support at the Corporate and Divisional levels (Jacob Stern & Sons, JST Global, and Acme-Hardesty, Blue Bell). Jeff brings a leadership style that is built on a natural curiosity and respect for people, process, and technology. Prior to joining Jacob Stern & Sons, Jeff has led IT departments in multiple industries with a track record of building innovative solutions and leading teams to achieve business goals and deliver value to stakeholders. Jeff has held senior level technology positions at Customers Bank, Trinity Logistics, NFI Industries, and Philadelphia Media Network (The publisher of the Inquirer, Daily News, philly.com). Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Rutgers University.

Jim Coy

Jim Coy joined Acme-Hardesty as the Chief Operating Officer on April 8, 2024. With a rich background in the pharmaceutical and supply chain industries, Jim brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. Before Acme-Hardesty, he served as Executive Director at Merck, Chief Operating Officer at G&W Laboratories, and Senior Director in Supply Chain at Teva.   Jim is known for his strategic vision and ability to collaborate with senior management and key stakeholders to drive business success. His expertise includes multi-site global operations, strategic planning, P&L optimization, customer success, and supply chain management. He excels in scaling capabilities across people, processes, and technology, always with a focus on quality and cost efficiency.   A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Accounting, Jim is passionate about continuous improvement and innovation.

"I am excited to announce that I’ve joined the Acme-Hardesty Team as Chief Operating Officer. Acme-Hardesty has a rich history and commitment to excellence as one of the largest distributors of castor oils and derivatives, oleochemicals, preservatives, and bio-based products. Being in business for more than 80 years, a customer-first / trusted partner approach is foundational to our culture and each employee’s way of working, our word is our bond.

I look forward to continuing Acme-Hardesty’s strong commitment by working with our business partners in a manner that continues to build on strategies that best leverage innovation, renewable/sustainable supply, and excellence in operations that drive mutually beneficial growth."

Brittany VanGilder

Caren Dres-Hajeski

Caren joined Acme-Hardesty in March 2018 as Business Unit Director for Personal Care. In 2024 she assumed the new role of Sr. Vice President of Personal Care & Marketing. In her role, Caren manages all aspects of Acme-Hardesty’s personal care business unit as well as all aspects of marketing across the business.   Caren’s expertise in implementing global marketing strategies and commercialization of specialty ingredients make her an integral part of our Senior Leadership Team. Caren brings over 20 years of personal care market experience to Acme-Hardesty. Her most recent position was as Global Marketing Director with Vantage Specialty Ingredients, where her responsibilities included implementing her company’s global marketing strategy with focus on product portfolio improvement and re-energizing product lines.   She’s a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and the Cosmetic Executive Women.

“Acme-Hardesty by far has the best corporate culture that I have experienced in my career. I am proud to be a part of this amazing and rapidly expanding organization.”

Bob Malenchini

Bob joined Acme-Hardesty in December 2000, contributing his expertise across various roles throughout his tenure. Previously serving as the National Sales Director for the Personal Care and Life Science business units, Bob now represents the organization as Senior Vice President of Industrial Specialties & PU CASE SBU. In this capacity, Bob oversees all aspects of Acme-Hardesty’s household, industrial, and institutional business, in addition to managing distributor partnerships and polyurethane technologies.   Before joining Acme-Hardesty, Bob held a position at Rohm & Haas as a Senior Sales Representative. In his prior roles, he marketed and sold specialty chemical intermediates to surfactant, pharmaceutical, powder coating, and epoxy resin manufacturers, bringing extensive knowledge of the specialties market to the Acme-Hardesty sales team.   Bob holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and is a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

“Acme-Hardesty is a company that continually invests in its employees and is always looking at ways to evolve, to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Brian McGrath

Brian McGrath joined Acme-Hardesty in October 2021 and holds the role as Senior Vice President of Life Sciences. He has over 35 years of experience in the specialty chemicals space including Pharmaceuticals, Wellness, Personal Care, and Industrial Specialty segments.  Brian has held several global, senior level, business and supply chain positions, in various companies including Axalta, Ashland, Hercules and DuPont. Brian now oversees the Industrial Specialties division in conjunction with the Life Sciences Business Unit.   Brian has a proven track record of transforming organizations and delivering differential results by providing strategic leadership and assembling strong, customer focused teams. We are thrilled to have him as a member of our Senior Leadership Team. Brian received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware and his MBA from the University of Richmond. Moreover, Brian is a member of Société de Chimie Industrielle.

“The Acme-Hardesty culture is truly exceptional and is based on respectful relationships and collaboration with our customers, employees, and supply partners to drive customer intimacy and innovation.”

Ravi Shaheed

Ravi joined Acme-Hardesty in 2015 to direct the company’s global sourcing, aid in business development and serve as Strategic Sourcing Advisor to the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the President. Today, Ravi leads our knowledgeable sourcing team as VP Global Sourcing. He is responsible for the global development and execution of sourcing strategies. Ravi is leading the sourcing and commodities’ risk management initiatives to achieve the best total value for the business. As advisor to Acme-Hardesty’s Senior Leadership Team, Ravi is also instrumental in formulating and executing company’s business strategy. Ravi has more than 24 years of experience in strategic leadership roles in the Fertilizer/Chemical industries and Armed Forces. Prior to his business career, Ravi served 10 years in the Indian Armed Force, in various roles of strategic importance, achieving the rank of Major. Ravi is also a qualified helicopter pilot from the Indian Armed Forces. Ravi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Punjabi University, India, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Dawn Neuls

John Hamilton

Rishabh Shah

Rishabh Shah was welcomed into the Acme-Hardesty family in September 2016. Since joining the team, Rishabh has brought invaluable expertise to our newly developed Innovation Center. He has extensive experience as a scientist and a technologist and now leads the research & development, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs department. Known as Acme-Hardesty’s resident “chef”, Rishabh offers knowledge in upstream and downstream product development in diversified market applications. He provides value-driven solutions that are innovative, efficacious, and sustainable to our partners and customers. Rishabh earned his Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and Biochemistry from Rutgers. He is also a member of the NY Society of Cosmetic Chemists and NACD.

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life; I chose Acme-Hardesty. Absolutely love the transparency, inclusivity, and integrity we have at this company.”

Carolina Soldatelli

Carolina Soldatelli joined Acme-Hardesty in early 2020. In her role as Director of Business Applications, Carolina overseas all business systems and leads many cutting-edge IT initiatives. With over 10 years of business system experience, Carolina has brought a fresh perspective to Acme-Hardesty. Her experience stems from global system implementation to multi-lingual, multi-cultural consulting. She has achieved great success in previous jobs and her leadership skills shine through in all of her projects. Carolina received her Electronic Systems Engineering degree from University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. She is also a member of the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) and the Society of Information Management (SIM).

“Acme-Hardesty’s genuine care for its employees result in a genuine care for its Customers. It is a virtuous cycle supported by its amazing atmosphere and Cultural Beliefs.”

Sid Lyons

Sid Lyons joined Acme-Hardesty in August 2021. His passion for IT is unmatched, lucky for Acme-Hardesty. Sid has held multiple roles in the financial services and non-profit industries, ranging from infrastructure, cybersecurity, IT support, data analytics and business intelligence. In the digital age, Acme-Hardesty’s focus on cybersecurity is critical. We are grateful to have Sid lead this initiative. Sid holds multiple degrees including a Bachelor’s of Science, Masters in Information Systems, and MBA from Villanova University, Drexel University, and Temple University respectively.

“This is a place that truly lives its cultural beliefs and values. I am proud to be part of the family.”