Happy Friday! For this week’s edition of the Employee Spotlight Series, we interviewed Lauren Wesselmann. Lauren is an Auditor and joined the SpendMend team about ten months ago. When asked why she looks forward to coming to work every day, she stated, “The people. Everyone has been so kind and willing to help since I started working here. I know everyone has my back and wants me to succeed.” A fun fact about Lauren is that she is from Rochester, MI. She attended Grand Valley State University and studied Marketing with an emphasis in Economics. She decided to study Business because she knew that once she graduated, she would have a lot of different career opportunities to explore! Another fun fact about Lauren is that she likes to decorate cakes and worked as a baker and cake decorator in college. She grew up baking with her dad and loved always having a baked good in the house at all times. It then evolved into her picking up baking and decorating cakes for her friend’s birthdays, and it became a tradition! Her favorite part is that she can be creative with the cake designs and gift them to her loved ones. She doesn’t have a favorite cake design because she loves experimenting with different techniques and styles. We might need a cake by Lauren for the upcoming company meeting in July! Who agrees? A hobby that Lauren likes to do in her free time is hiking. When asked how her love for hiking started, she stated, “I honestly was not a big “hiker” until after college. My friends and I took a trip to Breckenridge, CO, as our graduation trip, and that’s where it started for me.” Since her trip after college, she has hiked twice in Colorado, California, Arizona, and southern Ontario, Canada. Her favorite hikes were in Canada along Lake Superior. If you are a fellow hiker and have any recommendations, be sure to let Lauren know! Another hobby Lauren enjoys is golfing. The best part about golfing for her is spending time outdoors. The most challenging aspect of golf for her is hitting the shots consistently. Her favorite spot that Lauren has golfed was Manitou Passage Golf Club in Glen Arbor, MI. Her advice to anyone wanting to start golfing is to get a lesson and check out some YouTube videos.
Lauren does a great job in her role as an Auditor. We asked Andi Prins, Audit Supervisor, about Lauren, and she said, “Lauren seamlessly fit into our group and was able to adapt quickly to the audit process. One thing that has made Lauren so successful is her willingness and ability to utilize the phone to gain resolution with vendors.” We are grateful to have you on the team, Lauren! Thank you!
Interview with Lauren:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Auditor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
Ten Months
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Through Kylee Savage, the Marketing Manager at SpendMend. She was my sorority sister at Grand Valley.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Inviting, hard-working, helpful.
Where are you located/from?
I’m from Rochester, MI.
Where did you go for higher education?
I went to Grand Valley State University.
What did you study and why?
I studied Marketing with an emphasis in Economics. I chose this because I knew a business degree would give me a wide range of opportunities once I graduated.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
The people. Everyone has been so kind and willing to help since I started working here. I know everyone has my back and wants me to succeed.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked as a baker and cake decorator while in college.
What is one fun fact about you?
I decorate cakes.
What piqued your interest in decorating cakes?
I grew up baking with my dad. We would always have some sort of baked goods around the house. So, naturally, I picked up baking and then decided baking and decorating cakes would be fun. I would make cakes for my friends on their birthdays, and it became a tradition.
When did you start and why?
I got a job at a cake bakery in college.
What do you love most about decorating cakes?
I got a job at a cake bakery in college. I love that I can be creative with cakes and gift them to my friends. I like to experiment with different designs and styles.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Depends on my mood. I go back and forth between Hip-Hop/R&B, Folk/Country, and Classic Rock.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
Golf, working out, hiking.
When did you start hiking?
I honestly was not a big “hiker” until after college. My friends and I took a trip to Breckenridge, CO, as our graduation trip, and that’s where it started for me.
What are some of your favorite hikes?
I’ve been to Colorado twice now, California, Arizona, and southern Ontario, Canada. My favorite hikes have been in Canada, along Lake Superior.
How did you get into playing golf?
I honestly don’t remember how I started getting into golf. I just started one day, and kind of got obsessed. I am still far from being good at it, but I like to think I get better each time.
What are your favorite parts about playing?
The best part about it for me is spending a lot of time outdoors.
What are the most challenging?
The most challenging is hitting the shots consistently.
Where is your favorite spot to golf?
My favorite spot where I golfed was Manitou Passage Golf Club in Glen Arbor, MI.
If you could give any advice to someone wanting to learn to golf or a beginner, what would it be?
I would tell someone wanting to get into golf to get a lesson. That helped me a ton. There are also a ton of helpful YouTube videos out there.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
My boss, Andi Prins! She has been such a great teacher and always willing to help.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Do not be afraid to ask questions!
What is something you’re looking forward to in the future at SpendMend?
I want to continue to grow with the company and keep learning.