About Us

Service is our specialty

Our mission is helping you prosper and grow; so you can spend more time on what's important.

Experienced operations leaders in engineering and project management. Ready to serve you. Applying our creative problem-solving skills and technical communication savvy on your behalf.

Our services include; operations improvement, project services, engineering support, technical writing, risk management. We cater to business owners, executives, and department managers seeking cost-effective solutions to increase productivity and reduce overhead costs.

Refined Priorities Inc. stands out by offering personalized service on-demand, and a commitment to transparency and communication. We provide our services as a package or at an hourly rate, ensuring our customers have ultimate flexibility and efficiency in project execution.

We are always open to talk about your business, new projects, or creative opportunities!

Our Founder

Michael McDonough is an accomplished leader known for his unwavering commitment, sound judgment, integrity and positive outlook. With a distinguished background in engineering, operations, and business enhancement, he has cultivated a culture of excellence at Refined Priorities Inc. He employs a hands-on approach with a relentless dedication to understanding customer requirements and delivering successful projects. Michael excels in creative problem-solving, consistently delivering innovative solutions even in resource-constrained scenarios

His profound respect for applied knowledge and continuous learning is underscored by his academic achievements, numerous professional licenses, and professional accomplishments.

Education:

Master of Business Administration

May 2023, Western New England University, Springfield, MA

Fostering team collaboration and decision making to establish and sustain a competitive edge in high-demand environments. Proficient in assessing business models based on data analysis to pinpoint opportunities for enhancement.

Master of Science in Engineering Management

August 2017, Western New England University, Springfield, MA

Merged leadership acumen, financial expertise, and engineering knowledge to drive excellence in people, process, and plant operations. Focused on strategic execution. Adept at identifying and mitigating enterprise risks through enhanced quality assurance and risk management practices.

Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering

June 2009, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA

Earned the skills and discipline of a professional Marine Engineering Officer; instilling a solid foundation and self-discipline for lifelong learning and continuous growth. Proficient in leadership, problem-solving, and effective technical communication.

A strong believer in service for others and giving back to the community he has developed deep roots in Pembroke, where he and his wife raise their 4 children and volunteer to support the local sports, school, as well as smart development organizations with their expertise.

Logo Background Story

Time is of the Essence:

Our Logo speaks to our history and our focus on fundamentals of improving quality and making progress. The drawing uses “tempus fugit” wings motif as a nod to our New England roots, and acknowledgement that time is of the essence. The Marine Sandglass replaces the typical hourglass for our Maritime background and represents tracking progress and system improvements with high resolution data that enables quicker responses. The bar graph indicates accurate progress, tracked towards objectives.

What is a Marine Sandglass one may ask?

Prior to the invention of mechanical time pieces Marine sandglasses were a significant tool used aboard ships the motion of the ship while sailing did not affect the sandglass. Its design was robust and easy to use by any Helmsman. They were used to measure progress at sea or on a given navigational course, in repeated measures of small time increments of 15 minutes to give high resolution and accurate measurement of time. Used in conjunction with the chip log to gauge the vessels speed through the water by the number of tied knots were taken out during the sandglass interval. Hence the speed of boats progress through water is measured in “knots”.

Our work is systematic, focused, and reliable. We ensure observations and improvements are communicated and understood by all.