Meet Our Leadership Team

Bob Malenchini

Bob Malenchini joined Acme‑Hardesty in December 2000 and has spent more than two decades helping shape the organization from the inside out. Over the course of his career, Bob has held a wide range of roles across the commercial organization, giving him a deep, firsthand understanding of Acme‑Hardesty’s markets, customers, people, and operating model.

Today, Bob serves as Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing all sales functions and leading the commercial strategy that will guide the organization forward. His broad experience across commercial segments and leadership roles allows him to connect strategy with execution, align teams around shared goals, and make informed decisions grounded in a deep knowledge of the business.

Prior to becoming Chief Commercial Officer, Bob held multiple senior leadership roles within he organization. These experiences provided him with end‑to‑end visibility into Acme‑Hardesty’s diverse portfolio and reinforce his reputation as a trusted, well‑rounded leader within the organization.

Bob holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

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

Jim Coy

Jim Coy joined Acme‑Hardesty as Chief Operating Officer on April 8, 2024, bringing deep experience across the pharmaceutical and supply chain industries. He has held senior leadership roles at globally recognized organizations, including Executive Director at Merck, Chief Operating Officer at G&W Laboratories, and Senior Director of Supply Chain at Teva.

Jim is known for his strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, working closely with senior management and key stakeholders to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth. His areas of expertise include multi‑site global operations, strategic planning, P&L optimization, customer success, and supply chain management. He excels at scaling people, processes, and technology with a strong emphasis on quality, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Jim holds a B.S. in Accounting from The Pennsylvania State University and is passionate about fostering innovation and building high‑performing organizations.

"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."

Guy Kalbach

Guy Kalbach serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Acme‑Hardesty LLC, Jacob Stern & Sons, and JST Global, leading enterprise‑wide HR strategy with a focus on talent development, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable growth. Since joining the organization in 2020, Guy has played a key role in strengthening HR foundations and advancing initiatives that support employee engagement, leadership capability, and operational excellence across the enterprise.

Prior to joining JST, Guy held senior HR leadership roles at Amazon and Primark, where he led workforce planning and HR operations in high‑growth environments and supported large‑scale expansion efforts across the U.S.

Guy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an Employment Law Certificate from Cornell University. He is an active 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 the company’s Core Values, Guy approaches HR with transparency, trust, and strategic alignment ensuring people and business goals move forward together.

“At Acme-Hardesty, our strength has always come from our people. We hire individuals who take pride in their work, care about doing the right thing, and understand the responsibility that comes with serving customers and partners who rely on us every day. Our role in HR is simple—foster an environment where people are respected, supported, and accountable, so they can do their best work and build careers they’re proud of.”

Jeffrey Berger

Jeffrey Berger serves as Chief Information Officer for Acme‑Hardesty LLC, Jacob Stern & Sons, and JST Global, providing strategic technology leadership and hands on support across the organization. Jeff’s leadership style is grounded in natural curiosity and a strong respect for people, process, and technology, bringing these elements together to drive meaningful, business-focused outcomes.

Prior to joining JST, Jeff led IT organizations across multiple industries, with a proven track record of building innovative solutions and high performing teams that deliver value to stakeholders. His experience includes senior technology roles at Customers Bank, Trinity Logistics, NFI Industries, and Philadelphia Media Network, publisher of The Inquirer, Daily News, and philly.com. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Rutgers University.

Brittany VanGilder

Ravi Shaheed

Ravi Shaheed joined Acme‑Hardesty in 2015 and has been a driving force behind the company’s sourcing strategy and global supply network ever since. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President, Global Sourcing and International GM, leading a highly experienced sourcing team and overseeing the global development and execution of Acme strategies and businesses that deliver the best total value for the company.

As an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) member, Ravi leads sourcing and commodities risk management initiatives to help shape and execute Acme‑Hardesty’s broader business strategy. Known for his deep industry knowledge and thoughtful leadership approach, Ravi has been instrumental in strengthening global supplier partnerships and positioning the company for long-term success.

Ravi brings more than 24 years of experience in senior leadership roles across the fertilizer, chemical, and defense sectors. Prior to his business career, he served ten years in the Indian Armed Forces, achieving the rank of Major and qualifying as a helicopter pilot. Ravi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Punjabi University in India and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary in Canada.

Caren Dres-Hajeski

Caren Dres-Hajeski joined Acme‑Hardesty in March 2018 to lead and grow the company’s Personal Care business, bringing deep specialization in the personal care market to the organization. She now serves as Senior Vice President, Personal Care, Marketing & Technology, reflecting her expanded leadership responsibilities and strategic impact across the business.

In this role, Caren leads the Personal Care business unit while also overseeing marketing and research and development, ensuring strong alignment between innovation, commercialization, and market strategy. Her expertise in global marketing strategy and the commercialization of specialty ingredients makes her a key member of Acme‑Hardesty’s Senior Leadership Team.

Caren brings more than 25+ years of experience in the personal care industry. Prior to joining Acme‑Hardesty, she served as Global Marketing Director at Vantage Specialty Ingredients, where she led global marketing initiatives focused on strengthening product portfolios and revitalizing product lines. Caren is a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and 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.”

John Hamilton

John Hamilton brings more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business development within the global chemical industry. As National Sales Director – Oleochemicals at Acme‑Hardesty, John leads commercial strategy and growth for the oleochemical portfolio, working closely with customers to deliver value‑driven solutions aligned with market needs and performance requirements.

Throughout his career, John has held senior roles spanning business development, global market management, and strategic marketing with leading chemical producers and distributors. His expertise includes market analytics, product lifecycle management, large account leadership, and bringing specialty chemical products from concept through commercialization across multiple end markets.

With a reputation for deep market knowledge and a highly collaborative leadership style, John excels at building long‑term customer partnerships and translating technical capabilities into commercial success.

Dawn Neuls

Dawn Neuls brings more than 30 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry, with expertise spanning pricing strategy, customer service excellence, and commercial operations. As Director of Pricing and Customer Service at Acme‑Hardesty, Dawn leads pricing optimization and customer experience initiatives, ensuring strong alignment between commercial strategy and operational execution.

Dawn’s background includes leadership roles across sales, product management, purchasing, and global customer care, giving her a well‑rounded, end‑to‑end understanding of the value chain. Prior to this role, she held senior commercial and product leadership positions within the personal care market, developing deep insight into market dynamics, cost structures, and value‑based pricing.

Known for her strategic and customer‑focused approach, Dawn excels at driving data‑informed decisions, building scalable processes, and fostering cross‑functional collaboration. She holds a degree from The College of New Jersey and is passionate about delivering consistent value to customers while supporting sustainable business growth.

Carolina Soldatelli

Carolina Soldatelli serves as Director of Business Applications for Acme‑Hardesty LLC, Jacob Stern & Sons, and JST Global, overseeing the company’s business systems and leading a range of strategic and forward‑looking technology initiatives. With more than 15 years of experience in business systems, Carolina brings a fresh, global perspective to Acme‑Hardesty, shaped by her background in enterprise system implementations and multilingual, multicultural consulting environments.

Carolina is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to translate complex business needs into effective, scalable solutions. Her experience spans multiple industries and geographies, and her leadership is reflected in the success of the cross‑functional initiatives she leads across the organization.

Carolina holds a degree in Electronic Systems Engineering from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. She is also a member of 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 and brings a broad and well‑rounded background in information technology across financial services and nonprofit organizations. His experience spans infrastructure, cybersecurity, IT support, data analytics, business intelligence, and the application of artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making and system performance.

At Acme‑Hardesty, Sid plays a critical role in advancing the company’s cybersecurity posture while also exploring innovative technologies, including AI driven insights and automation, to support secure, efficient, and scalable business operations. His thoughtful, solutions oriented approach and deep technical expertise help safeguard the organization while enabling continued growth in an increasingly digital environment.

Sid holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s in Information Systems, and a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University, Drexel University, and Temple University.

“Acme-Hardesty is a place where values are real and technology is trusted to move the business forward.”