Happy Friday! For this edition of the Employee Spotlight Series, we are featuring Hailey Lanam! Hailey is an Auditor and joined the SpendMend team 10 months ago. When asked what three words she would describe SpendMend, she said, “Welcoming, Flexible, and Motivating.” Hailey grew up in South Lyon, MI, and went to Grand Valley State University to study Finance and Marketing. Hailey decided to lean towards a finance-oriented career because she enjoys math and using her problem-solving skills! A fun fact about Hailey is that she used to play volleyball and lacrosse. She started playing volleyball and lacrosse in grade school, and she enjoyed those sports the most because of how team-oriented they were. Hailey loved being a part of the travel teams and the great community that surrounded the sports. Her favorite part about being on the lacrosse team was when she was Captain and able to support her teammates! Be sure to check out the full interview to learn more about Hailey’s volleyball and lacrosse experience! Outside of work, one of Hailey’s favorite things to do is kayaking! She started at a young age with her grandparents because they lived on a lake, and loved it ever since! Her favorite place to kayak is up north Michigan, at the pictured rocks! It is a 4-mile trip and since the water is so clear, Hailey was able to see a few sunken boats below! A goal of hers is to be able to kayak in all 50 states. If you’re interested in kayaking or have a goal similar to Hailey’s, you’ve found your match! Another hobby that Hailey enjoys doing in her free time is reading. Her favorite genres to read are mystery and romance! When asked what her favorite book of all time is, she stated, “The best book I have read so far is The Secrets You Keep by Kate White. I enjoyed this book the most because it was very unpredictable, and I found it hard to put down.” Kate White is Hailey’s favorite author, and hopes to read more of her work!
Hailey does a fantastic job as an Auditor and is a dedicated member of the team. Carolina Tapia, Audit Supervisor, said “Hailey has been an amazing addition to our team! Always ready to learn more and apply it to her everyday tasks. Her ability to reach out to vendors and get resolutions on some more complicated issues has allowed her to be one of the top producers in the Red Top. I trust that she will do excellent in the future.” We appreciate your hard work and the value that you bring to work every day, Hailey! Thank you!
Interview with Hailey:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Auditor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
10 Months
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Kylee Savage
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Welcoming, Flexible, and Motivating
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
To collaborate with my co-workers and grow as an employee
Where are you located/from?
I am originally from South Lyon, MI.
Where did you go for higher education?
I went to Grand Valley State University where I double majored in Finance and Marketing.
What did you study and why?
I originally chose these majors because I was not sure what I wanted to go into, but I enjoyed the math side of finance and the people-oriented side of marketing. I ended up leaning towards Finance because I enjoyed the math and problem-solving skills that it took.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I used to bartend at a golf course
What is one fun fact about you?
I used to play lacrosse and volleyball
When did you start playing lacrosse and volleyball?
I started playing Lacrosse in 5th grade and Volleyball in 2nd grade.
What piqued your interest to play those sports?
As a kid, I tried out pretty much every sport, and Lacrosse and Volleyball ended up being the ones to stick with because of how team-oriented they were.
Which one did you enjoy better and why?
My favorite sport was Lacrosse because it had a great community surrounding it and it was a rapidly growing sport.
What was your favorite part about playing lacrosse and volleyball?
My favorite thing about playing lacrosse and volleyball was being part of some travel teams. They allowed me to travel to different states and meet other people outside of my school. My other favorite part was being Captain of my Lacrosse team and being able to support my teammates.
What was the most challenging?
The most challenging part of playing these sports was losing. We just had to tell ourselves that every loss was a good learning experience for the next game.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Mostly country and pop music.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love to Kayak and read books
When did you start kayaking?
I started Kayaking when I was young. My grandparents lived on a lake and had kayaks that we could use.
Where is your favorite place to kayak?
My favorite place that I have ever Kayaked was up north at the pictured rocks in Michigan. We did a 4-mile trip, and we were able to see a few sunken boats because of how clear the water was.
What do you most enjoy about kayaking?
The thing that I enjoy most about kayaking is being able to be out on the water and in the sun. A goal of mine is to be able to kayak somewhere in all 50 states.
What genres of books do you enjoy reading for fun?
My favorite type of book to read is Mystery and some Romance.
Favorite book of all time and why?
The best book I have read so far is The Secrets You Keep by Kate White. I enjoyed this book the most because it was very unpredictable, and I found it hard to put down. Kate White is also my favorite author and I hope to read more of her stuff.
Most interesting book you’ve ever read?
The most interesting book I have ever read is The Great Gatsby. I found this the most interesting because it was assigned to me to read in school, so I did not think I would enjoy it very much, but it ended up being a great read.
What book you are reading at the moment, and do you recommend it and why?
I am currently reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. I have only read a few chapters so I can’t say if I would recommend it, but it is very good so far!
Do you interact with
Suppliers
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
When I was talking to a vendor and found $400k worth of dupes that had not been flagged.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
They thanked me for being clear with my request and timely with my responses.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Being able to recover money that can hopefully be put to good use at the hospitals.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
Ping Pong
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I have not been to any yet, but I intend to in the future!
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Dan Hutchins, for being one of the first people I met at SpendMend and for being so welcoming.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Do not be afraid to ask questions. They only help you grow as an employee and co-workers are always willing to help.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Any time I am able to find credits or duplicate payments outside of what is loaded in the project tracker.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
To continue growing as an Auditor and meeting more co-workers.