Company Leadership
USA Firmware’s leadership team combines decades of executive, engineering, and financial expertise to drive innovation and sustained growth. Founder and CEO Bob Scaccia leads the organization with over 40 years of experience, supported by President Michael Kress, a seasoned engineering leader with a track record of scaling technology companies and delivering complex products. Financial strategy is guided by an accomplished CFO with deep experience in capital formation, operational scaling, and high-growth environments. The company is further strengthened by a board of experienced advisors with backgrounds in investment banking, product development, and engineering leadership, collectively providing strategic oversight, transaction expertise, and industry insight to support USA Firmware’s continued expansion and market leadership.
Bob Scaccia
Founder & CEO
Bob Scaccia is the Founder and CEO of USA Firmware, an award-winning engineering firm now in its 15th year. The company has been recognized twice on the Inc. 5000 list and three times on the Midwest Inc. 5000—ranking in the Top 200—as well as earning honors from the Akron Chamber and Case Western Reserve University’s business school. With more than 40 years of experience in embedded systems engineering, product design & innovation, and leadership, Bob has built USA Firmware into a multi-million-dollar organization known for its engineering-first culture, strong client relationships, and designs that work the first time. A respected industry voice, Bob advocates for the critical role of firmware in modern product development and for cultivating the next generation of engineering talent. He also supports regional technology initiatives through his involvement with the Greater Cleveland Partnership.
Michael A. Kress
President & COO
Michael Kress brings 40 years of leadership in engineering and product development to his role as President of USA Firmware. Since joining the company in 2023, he has rapidly progressed into executive leadership, driving strategic growth while overseeing project delivery. A co-founder of Applied Vision, Michael helped grow the company into a global leader in machine vision systems. He has extensive experience across systems, hardware, and software engineering, contributing to hundreds of products and dozens of U.S. and international patents.
Gary Owen
CFO & Principal Consultant
Gary is an accomplished CFO, consultant, and board advisor with broad experience across industries including technology, telecom, logistics, education, and transportation. A results-oriented finance leader, he is known for building high-performing teams and strong relationships with investors, banks, and key partners. Gary has raised over $125M in capital, led an IPO, and played key roles in high-growth and turnaround organizations achieving strong profitability. His expertise spans financial strategy, operational scaling, M&A, ERP implementation, and international finance operations, with a consistent track record of driving growth, improving controls, and delivering significant cost savings and investor returns.
Adam Sonnhalter
Advisory Team, Board Member
Adam serves as Board Member for USA Firmware and brings an extensive background in merger and acquisition transactions. Adam graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a BBA Degree in Finance and spent the next eight years as an investment banker on Wall Street for companies like Patricof & Co., BNY Capital Markets (a subsidiary of The Bank of New York), and Bear Stearns.
Bill Merkel
Advisory Team, Board Member
Bill Merkel, former USA Firmware President and current Board Member, brings nearly 50 years of experience in product development, industrial automation, semiconductors, and electric vehicle charging innovation to this advisory role. His ability to drive meaningful business results along with his business development acumen have helped lead USA Firmware to significant growth and business momentum. Previously, Bill held positions at USA Firmware, Nidec Industrial Solutions, DynaMotors, Inc. and Keithley Instruments, Inc. He holds a B.E.E.E. from Youngstown State University and three U.S. patents.
Rick Benson
Advisory Team, Board Member
Rick joined USA Firmware as a Board Member in 2019 and brings to the team over 37 years of experience in design and engineering management, earned from his former role as president of AVID Technologies, a successful design services firm. Rick holds a BS Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from SUNY of Buffalo and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University.