Versatile R&D Machine Employee Gets Great Honor
Mike Shupe is one of the more unassuming employees at Compass Precision’s most-southern operating company. But that doesn’t make him any less important.
“Mike is R&D Machine’s utility infielder,” explained company President Justin Kovscek. “He contributes all over the place. We would be lost without him.”
This month is Mike’s time for recognition.
For his contributions at R&D Machine over the last five years, Compass has named Mike its Employee of the Month for September 2025.
Mike is the second employee from R&D Machine to earn the employee of the month honor from the parent company this year. Debur Department Manager Bill Fender received the award in February 2025.
Mike is the 66th employee to be recognized as the Compass Employee of the Month since the program began in March 2020. He is the seventh overall R&D Machine recipient.
Looking back years later, Mike admitted one of the biggest reasons he applied for a role at R&D Machine was to work somewhere closer to home. His previous job was becoming too long of a commute.
But with Mike, R&D Machine didn’t just land an employee seeking a job that fit better with his personal life. The company hired an experienced material handler and inventory control clerk to fill multiple needs.
“When I applied, it was for the debur department,” Mike said. “But then when I started, they put me in shipping. I also did debur and delivered parts.
“It was basically like shop help at first. I floated around to different departments. I’ve had shipping experience and material-handling experience. So it fit well.”
Over the last couple years, Mike has settled into a more consistent shipping and inventory role. On a day-to-day basis, he works in the shipping and inventory departments in the morning and then delivers parts and picks up material in the afternoon.
He still contributes in the debur department when needed. His favorite thing about working at R&D Machine is the management team.
In particular, Mike said he appreciates the team’s management style.
“The thing is I know what to do here. There is no need to micromanage, and Justin, Kat, and our managers are great at understanding that and letting us flourish in our roles,” said Mike.
Just prior to R&D Machine, Mike worked for HCA hospitals. He held responsibilities in the company’s supply chain.
Before that, he worked about a decade and a half in a material handling job for a Pharmaceutical company called Alcon Laboratories.
Mike is originally from Severna Park, Maryland, which is just outside Annapolis. He and his wife moved to Florida together almost 20 years ago.
In his free time, Mike enjoys being with his two children.