meet the detect-it team
company
Nearly a century of combined expertise in automotive engineering, AI, software development, and manufacturing — all under one roof in Oak Park, Michigan.
leadership
kevin kerwin
PRESIDENT & CEO
Founded Detect-It in 2020, drawing on 35+ years at ARKK Engineering implementing thousands of automated and robotic systems across automotive, industrial, and manufacturing environments. Also founded International Wheel and Tire Inc. (IWT) in 2004, growing it into the dominant player in North American high-volume automated wheel-tire assembly with a competitive presence in the EU and South Asia, before its sale to a multinational conglomerate in 2017. A career built on serial entrepreneurship, deep technical expertise, and the conviction that the next wave of industrial innovation belongs to those bold enough to build it.
RICK DILORETO
COO / CMO
Joined Detect-It as COO/CMO at its founding, bringing three decades of experience building and scaling startups across AI, manufacturing tech, music distribution, and microbrewing. Instrumental in shaping Detect-It's brand identity, product naming, digital presence, and marketing strategy — including the complete redesign and rebuild of detect-it.ai. A career defined by the ability to take bold ideas and turn them into recognized, award-winning businesses through strategic storytelling, relentless execution, and a deep instinct for connecting products with the audiences that need them most.
engineering & development
zach davis
PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ARCHITECT
Principal Software Architect at Detect-It and the technical foundation everything else is built on. Zach co-created Detect-It with Kevin Kerwin and designed the entire application architecture and workflow from the ground up — every product Detect-It ships starts with Zach. In addition to overseeing product development and the engineering team, Zach manages the company's entire office technology infrastructure, server network, and cybersecurity posture, keeping the operation running with the same precision he builds into the software itself. He brings 20+ years of programming experience across Java, Python, C++, and Unix/Linux, with a professional background spanning automotive, financial, and publishing industries. Zach became a programmer at age 7 writing games in his spare time — a habit that never stopped. He develops games, networking tools, and automotive tuning software on the side, studies music, and is a classically trained percussionist with a keen ear that finds value in every style.
JACOB O’BOYLE
DEVELOPER / ENGINEERING DESIGNER
Developer and Engineering Designer at Detect-It, and the hands that keep every product working. Without Jake, Detect-It doesn't ship — he is the primary coder responsible for all product enhancements, bug fixes, interface creation and maintenance, and the relentless stream of customer product requests that come with building software that runs 24/7 on real factory floors. Jake handles tech support calls, troubleshoots deployments in the field, and turns customer feedback into working code faster than most teams can write a ticket. His background spans Unix and C++ development alongside architectural, mechanical, and civil engineering — a rare combination that shows up in the way he thinks about both software design and the physical hardware enclosures he designs for Detect-It's GPU, relay, and edge processor deployments, all produced in-house through the 3D print environment he manages. When something goes right with Detect-It software, Jake built it. When something goes wrong, Jake fixes it. A natural problem solver who enjoys puzzles in every form — which, at Detect-It, means he's never bored.
CHRISTIAN SIEFEN
APPLICATION / SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Application and Software Engineer at Detect-It with a rare combination of talents that bridges the gap between the software team and the customer-facing world. Christian operates at the intersection of coding, web and HTML development, 3D printing, and robotics — serving as the critical interface between Zach Davis and Jacob O'Boyle to implement cloud-based tools, web portals, and custom technology solutions requested by customers. When a customer needs something that doesn't exist yet in the standard Detect-It toolkit, Christian is the one who builds it. Prior to Detect-It, he honed his expertise at multiple robotics companies specializing in Autonomous Mobile Robots and Automated Guided Vehicles, and holds certifications from Fanuc, CompTIA, and Microsoft. Outside of work, Christian coaches a FIRST Robotics team — investing his technical expertise in the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers — and pursues web development, virtual reality, and DIY projects with the same ingenuity he brings to the office.
PETER JACOBSON
APPLICATION / SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Application and Software Engineer at Detect-It, and the company's boots on the ground. Peter was brought in specifically to handle the growing volume of customer Proof of Concept requests, on-site support needs, and on-site training — and he has become Detect-It's primary interface at customer locations when deep-level support is needed. When a deployment gets complex, when a customer needs someone in the plant walking the floor with them, or when a new POC needs to be built and demonstrated live, Peter is the one who gets on a plane. He travels the country representing Detect-It at customer sites, working directly with operators, engineers, and plant managers to ensure every deployment delivers on its promise. A University of Michigan Computer Science graduate with a foundation in computing, mathematics, and artificial intelligence, Peter brings both the technical depth to solve hard problems and the communication skills to explain them clearly to anyone in the room. Former UM Men's Glee Club member, disc golf enthusiast, and a relentless learner who is always picking up new skills — on the course and off it.
ben derosier
APPLICATION / SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Application and Software Engineer at Detect-It with a rare combination of talents that bridges the gap between the software team and the customer-facing world. Christian operates at the intersection of coding, web and HTML development, 3D printing, and robotics — serving as the critical interface between Zach Davis and Jacob O'Boyle to implement cloud-based tools, web portals, and custom technology solutions requested by customers. When a customer needs something that doesn't exist yet in the standard Detect-It toolkit, Christian is the one who builds it. Prior to Detect-It, he honed his expertise at multiple robotics companies specializing in Autonomous Mobile Robots and Automated Guided Vehicles, and holds certifications from Fanuc, CompTIA, and Microsoft. Outside of work, Christian coaches a FIRST Robotics team — investing his technical expertise in the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers — and pursues web development, virtual reality, and DIY projects with the same ingenuity he brings to the office.
SALES & APPLICATION ENGINEERING
KITT KOOLWICK
SALES / APPLICATION ENGINEER
Sales and Application Engineer at Detect-It, and the company's primary training resource — responsible for delivering all on-site and off-site product training to customers across every industry Detect-It serves. Kitt is the critical link between the sales process and successful implementation, working directly with operators, engineers, and plant managers to ensure every deployment goes live with confidence. His background in automotive manufacturing, engineering, and finance gives him a natural fluency with the factory floor environments where Detect-It runs — he understands both the technical requirements of a deployment and the operational pressures of the people depending on it. A metro Detroit native, avid golfer, and youth hockey coach who brings the same hands-on commitment to the ice and the fairway that he brings to every customer site.