Our Management and Sales Team

Darren Jachts
CEO

djachts@jns-smithchem.com
Darren Jachts manages JNS-SmithChem, LLC’s executive responsibilities including finance, logistics, warehousing, trucking, and strategic growth opportunities, along with overseeing select key sales accounts and operations.  Darren has 28 years of distribution expertise ranging from a diverse raw material background to an extensive entrepreneurial career in industrial packaging.

Prior to the formation of JNS-SmithChem LLC, Darren founded Jachts Chemical and Container Corporation in 1987 and JNS Supply, LLC in 1999. He started his career in the industry as a sales representative for Seegott Inc. of New Jersey.

Alan Newfield
Co-President

anewfield@jns-smithchem.com

Alan Newfield manages our resins and additives line of products, and oversees all product-specific sales, customer service, and operations-related activities. Alan has over 25 years’ experience in the raw material distribution industry and is co-founder of JNS Supply LLC, which along with the SmithChem & Young division of Lansco Colors LLC, formed JNS-SmithChem LLC.

Prior to co-founding JNS Supply, Alan served as vice president, sales & marketing at Seaboard Sales Corporation.

Alan holds a B.S degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Brockport.

Michael Smith, Co-President

msmith@jns-smithchem.com

Michael Smith manages our minerals and functional fillers line of products, and oversees all product-specific sales, customer service, and operations-related activities. Michael brings over 25 years experience in the raw material distribution arena to JNS-SmithChem, LLC, and is the former president and sales manager at SmithChem & Young, LLC, which along with JNS Supply LLC in 2009 formed JNS-SmithChem LLC.

In previous roles he held executive positions as vice president, SmithChem Division of Lansco Colors, and as president of SmithChem.

Michael holds a B.A. degree in business and psychology from the University of Michigan.

Jerry Norton

Regional Sales Manager

jnorton@jns-smithchem.com

443-591-5334

Jerry Norton manages JNS-SmithChem sales and marketing in the Middle Atlantic states region. Jerry brings 20 years of international chemical experience in high performance paint, plastics, coatings, ink, food, personal care, cosmetics and raw material distribution.

Prior to joining JNS-SmithChem, Jerry served as a sales and marketing manager of Akzo Nobel’s Cellulosic Specialties Division. Previously, Jerry served as the Mid Atlantic regional sales and marketing manager for Kohl Marketing and has held various roles within the professional sport surfaces, cementitious and bituminous emulsion industries.

Jerry holds a B.S. Degree in Chemistry from King’s College and studied advanced coatings technologies at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Ron Warren

Regional Sales Representative

rwarren@jns-smithchem.com

774-334-0213

Ron Warren manages the New England sales territory and portions of New York State.  Ron has over 25 years industry experience and came to JNS-Smithchem  from  Reichhold where he served as Technical Sales Representative for the Northeast.  His prior experience includes positions with Air Products and Chemicals sales with DSM NeoResins and distribution companies.  Ron hold technical degrees from   UMASS Lowell and UMASS Amherst in Coatings Chemistry and mechanical engineering.

Luis Otero
Regional Sales Representative
lotero@jns-smithchem.com
786-487-9827

Luis will be responsible for growing the company’s customer and supplier base in the New York Metro area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He brings 6 years of US & International chemical experience in paint, plastics, coatings, adhesives, polymerization, rubber, construction, personal care and raw material distribution. Prior to joining JNS-SmithChem, Luis served as Chemical Sales Director of GJ Chemical and held various sales-commercial roles within Brenntag Specialties. Luis holds a B.S. Degree in Communications from University of Puerto Rico.

Martin Carter
Executive Vice President – CheMarCo Division
mcarter@jns-smithchem.com
864-414-2111

Martin Carter manages the CheMarCo Division of JNS-SmithChem including the sales team, CheMarCo supplier relationships, and has sales responsibility for various accounts. Martin has over 25 years of experience in the chemical industry in both manufacturing and distribution and served as President of CheMarCo before the acquisition by JNS-SmithChem in 2021. Prior to joining CheMarCo, Martin was a Sr. Research Chemist for Polyfibron Technologies, a former division of WR Grace, working on UV curable applications for the graphic arts market. He holds a BS in Chemistry and a MS in Polymer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Sherry Carter
Technical Account Manager
scarter@jns-smithchem.com

864-979-2483

Sherry Carter manages accounts both in South Carolina and across the US and Canada. She has over 25 years of experience in chemical sales in the coatings, graphic arts, and flame retardant markets.  Prior to JNS-SmithChem, Sherry managed inside technical sales and handled all EHS&S/Compliance for CheMarCo. She also worked as a R&D chemist for the Industrial Maintenance Division of Sherwin Williams.  She holds a BS in Polymer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Ann Crispino
Sr. Technical Account Manager
aquick@jns-smithchem.com

770-846-9064

Ann Crispino manages all accounts in Georgia and Eastern Tennessee.  She has over 20 years of experience in chemical sales in the coatings, graphic arts, plastics and additives markets.  Prior to JNS-SmithChem, Ann was a global account manager for Innovative Coatings Technology, a technical account representative for several distributors, and worked as a R&D and process engineer for LaRoche Chemicals.  She is a prior member of the Board of Directors for the Southern Society of Coatings Technology Atlanta Section.  She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Keith Walter
kwalter@jns-smithchem.com
Cell 813-293-2831

Keith Walter manages JNS Smith-Chem LLC’s sales responsibilities for the Gulf Coast Division. This includes supporting and assisting territory sales managers, Principal and Customer relationship building, sales growth initiatives, and over-all operations supervision.

Keith has operated 35 years in specialty chemical distribution and has an in-depth working knowledge in warehousing, logistics, purchasing, sales, and administration.  

Prior to joining the JNS Smith-Chem LLC team, Keith was President of Gulf Coast Chemical Corporation.

Mark Staack
Regional Sales Manager, Gulf Coast Division
mstaack@jns-smithchem.com
cell 813-833-5774

Mark covers the mid and southern Florida territory for the Gulf Coast division as well as provides product and sales support for certain suppliers.  

Mark had experience in the packaging machinery industry prior to joining the Gulf Coast Division sales team in 2002.  He is a  Past President and currently on the Board of Directors for the Southern Society for Coatings Technology. 

Mark has a degree in Technical Sales & Product Support/Operations Management from University of Florida.

Kim Basnett
Regional Sales Manager, Gulf Coast Division
kbasnett@jns-smithchem.com
cell 813-520-9630

Kim covers the mid and northern Florida territory for the Gulf Coast division. 

Her career included Project Design Engineer and Environmental Engineering at BASF in TX (8 years); Consulting Engineering at URS and Environ in CA (5 years); and R&D Chemist and Project Management at Behr Process Corporation in CA (12 years).  Kim joined Gulf Coast Chemical Corporation in 2015 as a Technical Sales Representative in Florida.  

Kim was a member and officer in American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Gulf Coast TX; Environmental Engineering Societies in TX and CA; and Los Angeles Paint & Coatings Society in CA.  She is currently active with Southern Society of Coatings Technology (SSCT) and Florida Paints & Coatings Association (FPCA).

Kim Basnett graduated with a Bachelor Science degree in Chemical Engineering, New Mexico State University

Dylan Eling
Sales and Marketing Associate
Office: (813) 623-5471
deling@jns-smithchem.com

Dylan provides support for the Regional Sales Managers, handles information and sample requests and supports the customer service department.  He has served as an Inside sales and marketing representative for Gulf Coast Chemical for 8 years.  Dylan holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from University of South Florida.