R&D Machine Mill Lead Becomes Compass Precision Employee of the Month
Compass Precision recently completed the acquisition of R&D Machine in Oldsmar, FL (Compass Precision Purchases R&D Machine and Engineering (April 26, 2022) – Compass Precision, LLC). On the heels of R&D Machine joining Compass, the company has announced that Matt Schiano, R&D’s milling lead operator, has been named as Compass’s Employee of the Month for July. Matt is the first R&D Machine employee recognized for this distinction.
“I was pretty surprised when I learned of receiving this honor” said Matt. “R&D Machine is a good place to work. People here are pretty great. And being acquired by Compass has not changed that.”
Matt joined R&D Machine in 2017 as a CNC machinist/operator. Over time, he assumed additional responsibilities within the company’s CNC milling area. Previously, he worked for Crabil Manufacturing for one year and Tampa Bay Machining for eight. His interest in CNC machining developed as a result of a job right out of high school working for a company making vacuum pump parts. Shortly after that, Matt entered, then completed, a program in CNC machining at the nearby Pinellas County Technical Education Center.
“One of the cool things we do at R&D Machine is manufacture really complex parts’” explained Matt. “We do this with complicated programs running our 5-axis Haas machining centers. I really like doing what most shops can’t do.”
“Matt was instrumental in our recently completing an order of very complex parts for a large aerospace and defense customer,” explained Justin Kovscek, R&D Machine’s Vice President & General Manager. “He ran the entire job and completed the order first time through without scrapping a single piece. Our customer was shocked when they learned we would have some extra components and quickly agreed to take the overage.”
In addition to relishing the challenges of machining complex components, Matt also enjoys the teamwork atmosphere that prevails within R&D Machine. He prides himself at helping other employees and like to teach others the CNC machining skills that he has worked so hard to master.
“I liked Matt from the first time I met him,” said Gary Holcomb, Compass’s CEO. “We are very fortunate to have him at R&D Machine and Compass.”
“One of the things I am looking forward to working within Compass are the things a larger company can do,” explained Matt. “Compass likes to buy new cool equipment. I can’t wait for the opportunity to do more of that at R&D Machine.”
Away from work, Matt enjoys competing with his own drag racecar at the Bradenton Motorsports Park. The number of his drag car is 1677 in recognition of his birth date and year. He also spends his free time being involved with his family’s used car dealership.
Matt has been married to his wife Kathy for five years. They have been together for ten years and have a twelve-year-old son Joseph and a dog named Reese.