# John Kawola

> John Kawola is a 3D printing industry veteran who has spent nearly three decades turning niche additive-manufacturing technologies into real businesses. He led Z Corporation through the dawn of full-color 3D printing, ran a farm-and-warehouse robotics company, built Ultimaker's North American footprint, and then took the helm of Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), the company making 3D printers that resolve features down to two microns - smaller than a human hair. In 2025 he handed off the CEO role at BMF to become a strategic advisor.

- **Role:** Strategic Advisor at Boston Micro Fabrication (former CEO, Global Operations)
- **Organizations:** Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), Ultimaker, Harvest Automation, Z Corporation, Albany International, General Electric
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS, Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, MS, Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, MBA, Union College
- **Known for:** Sold the first 30-40 machines for Z Corporation personally as its first salesperson, Led Z Corporation as CEO through the full-color 3D printing era until its 2012 acquisition by 3D Systems, Built Ultimaker's North American business, expanding channel partnerships and brand awareness

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Joins Z Corporation as its first salesperson, employee number nine, at age 30
- **2008** — Becomes CEO of Z Corporation
- **2012** — Z Corporation acquired by 3D Systems; Kawola becomes CEO of Harvest Automation
- **2016** — Joins Ultimaker as President, North America / Americas
- **2020** — Appointed CEO, Global Operations at Boston Micro Fabrication
- **2025** — Steps down as BMF CEO to become strategic advisor; Bryan Ferrand becomes president

## Achievements

- Sold the first 30-40 machines for Z Corporation personally as its first salesperson
- Led Z Corporation as CEO through the full-color 3D printing era until its 2012 acquisition by 3D Systems
- Built Ultimaker's North American business, expanding channel partnerships and brand awareness
- Scaled Boston Micro Fabrication globally across Boston, Singapore, Shenzhen and Tokyo
- Helped bring micro-precision (2-micron resolution) 3D printing into medtech and life-science research

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — Stepped down as CEO of Boston Micro Fabrication to become a strategic advisor; Bryan Ferrand named president and Donna Kelly COO.

## Links

- Website: https://bmf3d.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkawola/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHGvELTEZk8

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/john-kawola
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-11