Welcome to the Employee Spotlight Series! This week, we interviewed Dirk Lindquist. Dirk is a Shared Services Supervisor and joined the SpendMend team over twelve years ago! When asked what he looks forward to in his future with SpendMend, he shared, “Seeing where the company goes from here! They have grown so much since I first started in 2012. It’s amazing how many people work here now.” Dirk is from Rockford, Michigan, and attended Saginaw Valley State University. He chose to study finance because he was deeply interested in the stock market! A fun fact about Dirk is that he has visited 25 of the 30 Major League Baseball stadiums! His love for baseball started in childhood when he played and watched games with his dad. When Dirk began his role at SpendMend, his job involved quite a bit of travel, so he made it a goal to visit stadiums in the cities he worked in. His favorite stadiums he visited are Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, both over 100 years old and rich in history. Next on his list: Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. If you’re a fellow baseball fan, Dirk is definitely someone to connect with! During the workday, Dirk enjoys listening to music and podcasts to stay focused and motivated. His go-to playlist? Foo Fighters Greatest Hits, especially the songs “All My Life” and “Everlong.” He’s also a fan of Zach Bryan and recommends “Something in Orange” and “I Remember Everything.” For podcasts, Dirk never misses an episode of Bad Friends or Nateland, saying, “They both make me laugh and put me in a good mood!” If you’re in the market for new podcast recommendations, those might be worth checking out. Another hobby Dirk has gotten into over the past few years is bird watching. His favorite local spots to watch are Pickerel Lake Park and Brower Lake Nature Preserve. So far, his favorite birds he’s spotted are the Scarlet Tanager and the Red-headed Woodpecker. When asked about his dream birding destination, he replied, “Texas during the spring migration is supposed to be cool. Australia would be awesome, but there are many great places overseas.” The top bird that he would love to see in the future is the Great Horned Owl. We can’t wait to hear when Dirk finally adds the Great Horned Owl to his list!
Dirk is a valued part of the Shared Services team! We asked John Baker, Director of Shared Services, about Dirk, and he said, “Dirk joined SpendMend in August of 2012. He currently serves as a Shared Services Supervisor over the largest Shared Services team. You can count on Dirk to work hard and have a smile on his face. He has a great attitude, and we are lucky to have him on our team.” We are grateful to have people like Dirk as part of the SpendMend team!
Interview with Dirk:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Shared Services Supervisor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
12 years.
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
My cousin.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Hard-working, Driven, and Innovative.
Where are you located/from?
I live in Rockford, MI, and grew up in LeRoy, MI.
Where did you go for higher education?
Saginaw Valley State University
What did you study and why?
Finance because I was fascinated by the stock market.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
My teammates. There are so many great people who work for SpendMend.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked for a produce warehouse that specialized in watermelon and potatoes.
What is one fun fact about you?
I’ve been to 25 of the 30 MLB Stadiums.
How did the tradition of visiting the MLB Stadiums start for you?
I grew up playing and watching baseball with my dad. When I was first hired at SpendMend, we traveled quite a bit, so I decided it would be a fun thing to do in the different cities we worked in.
Are you a fan of a specific team, or do you just enjoy the ballpark experience in general?
I was a Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) fan growing up and cheered for the Detroit Tigers. I’m one of those rare fans who cheer for two teams in the same division.
Which stadium was your favorite and why?
Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are special because of their history. Both are over 100 years old.
What’s the most memorable game or moment you experienced at a stadium?
Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. Unfortunately, the Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland 8-7 in extra innings.
What stadium is next to visit?
I think Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks) will be next.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Foo Fighters, Zach Bryan. I listen to a lot of sports and comedy podcasts like Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Bad Friends, and Sunday Papers.
What’s your favorite Foo Fighters or Zach Bryan song? There are so many that I love. All My Life and Everlong are in my top 5 of Foo Fighters songs. Something in the Orange and I Remember Everything are my favorite Zach Bryan songs.
What’s your go-to album or song when you need to focus?
Foo Fighters Greatest Hits
Which podcast do you look forward to the most each week, and why?
Bad Friends and Nateland Podcast. They both make me laugh and put me in a good mood.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I just got into running and bird watching over the last couple of years.
What sparked your interest in bird watching?
There is an app called Merlin Bird ID that recognizes different bird calls and identifies which birds are making noise around you.
Do you have a favorite bird you’ve spotted so far?
Scarlet Tanager and Red-headed Woodpecker
Are there any local spots you frequent for bird watching?
Pickerel Lake Park and Brower Lake Nature Preserve are my favorite places near me.
What time of year do you find the most exciting birds to observe? Spring and Summer are when they are most vocal and easier to find.
What’s one bird you hope to see in the future?
The great horned owl is at the top of my list right now.
Do you have a dream destination you’d love to visit for bird watching?
Texas during the spring migration is supposed to be cool. Australia would be awesome, but there are so many great places overseas.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Being able to recover lost revenue for our clients so they can use it towards better care for their patients.
What is your favorite Recovery Room Activity if you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters?
Ping Pong was fun when I worked at the office.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I did one of the first Bee Brave 5Ks that SpendMend attended. It was really cool how many people showed up and either walked or ran.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Cindy Allen has had a huge impact on me. She is a great leader and person. I love working with her. Mark Beushel works in the scrub department and is a huge asset to SpendMend. He is very smart and does an incredible job. Andi Prins was a huge asset to me during my first handful of years at SpendMend.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Be ready to work hard, but also have a fun time doing so.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Being promoted to Shared Services Supervisor. I am happy that Cindy and John believed in me and have helped me learn so much.
What is something you’re looking forward to in the future at SpendMend?
Seeing where the company goes from here. They have grown so much since I first started in 2012. It’s amazing how many people work here now.