Welcome back to another edition of our Employee Spotlight Series! We are thrilled to introduce Jessica Rinehart. Jessica is a Statement Administrator and has been a part of the SpendMend team for over 14 years! When asked what she enjoys most about coming to work each day, Jessica shared, “I have made some great friends over the years at this company who make work more fun and exciting to show up every day.” Jessica is originally from Wyoming, Michigan, and graduated from Grand Valley State University with a major in General Business and a minor in Business Management. She chose to pursue a business degree with the goal of owning her own business one day. A fun fact about Jessica is that she has four cats! Three of them are indoor females named Trixie, Mittens, and Cheddar. Her fourth cat, Peter, is a male who enjoys both indoor and outdoor life. Jessica grew up with cats, but her love for them truly blossomed when her husband gave her a kitten as a Christmas gift during their first year of marriage. Read the full interview below to learn more about Jessica’s cats and their unique personalities! In her free time, Jessica enjoys crocheting—especially blankets and Amigurumi figures. “I like to make pop culture characters like Star Wars, Pokémon, and Harry Potter,” she says. She loves that crocheting allows her to be creative while also being fun and challenging. Another one of Jessica’s hobbies is trying out new restaurants. Her goal is to try every restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids! Her favorite so far is Leo’s Seafood, but she’s especially excited to check out a new local Creole spot that just opened. One must-visit place she recommends is Mokaya, a chocolate and dessert shop on Wealthy Street. “They have the best chocolates and desserts, and it helps that all of their stuff looks almost too pretty to eat,” she adds. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by for a sweet treat—and maybe you’ll even run into Jessica!
Jessica is a fantastic Statement Administrator and is valued highly by her co-workers. We asked Becky Dykema about Jessica, and she said, “I’ve worked with Jessica for years—I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her & also to call her my friend. We’ve had many laughs together. She’s very easy to work with & get along with. She is a team player, willing to help out when needed, knowledgeable, and willing to take on additional tasks. She’s an asset to our group. I also love listening to her stories about her cats!” Thank you for all your hard work, Jessica!
Interview with Jessica:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Statement Administration
How long have you been with SpendMend?
14 years
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
From an employee who worked there. Her boyfriend at the time got her a job here when it was Business Strategy, and was able to recommend me.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Hard-working, Challenging, Flexible
Where are you located/from?
I live in Wyoming, Michigan.
Where did you go for higher education?
I went to Grand Valley State University for school and graduated with a Major in General Business and a Minor in Business Management.
What did you study and why?
I always knew I wanted to do something with a business degree, and for a while, I thought I would open my own business.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I have made some great friends over the years at this company who make work more fun and exciting to show up every day.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked at a veterinary hospital/clinic before this job, which made my love for animals stronger.
What is one fun fact about you?
I have a lot of cats.
How many cats do you have exactly?
I have four cats— three indoor cats and one that is an indoor/outdoor cat.
Do any of your cats have unusual names or personalities?
The indoor/outdoor cat just randomly showed up at our house a year ago with an injury in the winter. His paw was badly swollen , and being the animal lover that I am, I could not just let him suffer. So, we took him in to get checked and took care of him. We gave him the name Peter, and he comes every day now and takes naps in his cardboard box, eats food, and then leaves. He uses our house as his hotel LOL.
The other three cats are indoor cats, all of which are females. Trixie, Mittens and Cheddar. Cheddar is the youngest and is only two years old, and is an orange cat. If you know anything about orange cats, they are crazy, and she definitely acts like she runs the house over the other two old ladies, Mittens and Trixie. She is always into something, and her new thing is trying to jump into the fridge if you have it open too long. We ended up buying her a giant cat wheel to hopefully get her energy out. She uses it every day, and now when she uses it, she also likes to yell at the same time to let everyone know she is using it. Our household is definitely not boring, dealing with all these pets.
Have you always been a cat person?
I grew up with cats, but was never into them as much until I had my own cat. My husband gifted me my first cat for Christmas the first year we were married, and that is where it started.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I listen to a variety of music, usually whatever is on the radio.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I like to craft and crochet, take care of all my cats, and enjoy trying out new restaurants around town. I am also a huge organizer and always like to create plans/goals for my next vacation.
What kinds of things do you enjoy crafting or crocheting most?
I crochet blankets and, more recently, Amigurumi crochet figures. I like to make pop culture characters like Star Wars, Pokémon, and Harry Potter characters.
How did you first get into crocheting?
I have always loved anything with creativity, and one day, I wanted to just learn, so I just picked it up and have never stopped.
Do you have a favorite project you’ve completed recently?
Right now, I am trying to make a bunch of things for a craft show I do with Amy Kanoza in December.
What do you enjoy most about crafting—creativity, relaxation, something else?
I just do it for fun and to keep myself busy. I am always looking for new projects to do or anything that is more challenging for me to try.
What’s the best restaurant you’ve tried recently?
My favorite restaurant in Grand Rapids is Leo’s Seafood in Downtown Grand Rapids, and we go there every year for my birthday.
Do you have a favorite type of cuisine or go-to dish?
My goal eventually is to try every restaurant in the downtown area. I watch a lot of cooking shows/competitions, and now whenever my husband and I want to travel, we base it on the kind of food and restaurants they offer. New Orleans is our favorite place to go because the food down there is great. They just opened a new Creole restaurant in Grand Rapids called Garden District. I am happy to see we are getting more variety of food options.
Are there any hidden gems or local spots you’d recommend?
The one place that I recommend, which is not really a restaurant but more of a chocolate/dessert place, is Mokaya off Wealthy Street. They have the best chocolates and desserts, and it helps that all of their items look almost too pretty to eat.
Who do you interact with?
Clients
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
I work more in the Statement Inbox, so most of my interactions are by email. Most of the responses I get from clients are that I am very professional and helpful in answering their questions.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
The best compliment I have been given was being told how quickly I was able to respond to them and how understanding I was to listen to their issues.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Helping healthcare facilities with their reconciliation.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
I enjoy walking. A group of us would go out for walks during our breaks.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I enjoy the community services events. I think it is a positive thing to help out in the community and give back to others. I have always been an advocate of giving back when you can. I hope that we continue to do more community service events or add on more community things we can all participate in.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Becky Dykema and Amy Kanoza both have helped me become the worker that I am today. By providing an example of hard work and caring for what they do has inspired me to work harder. They are also very understanding and have great work ethics. I work hard, and when I find people who also work hard and want to be team players, it makes me want to match their behavior. They also make work more fun to show up every day and work as a team.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
You need to be able to multitask and go with the flow because things change, and you have to be willing to be part of that change.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Working for the company for so long and being able to put a 100% effort into my work. I hope that my work shows that I am willing to put in effort into reaching our goals as a company and a team.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Continuing to be a team player and working hard towards goals. I take a lot of pride in my quality of work, and I want to keep that momentum going.