Happy Friday! For this edition of the Employee Spotlight series, we interviewed Matt Dunneback. Matt is a Support Analyst and has been a part of the SpendMend team for over two and a half years! When asked what three words he would use to describe SpendMend, he stated, “Connected. Innovative. Welcoming.” Based in Grand Rapids, MI, near the SpendMend office, Matt began his education at Grand Rapids Community College before transferring to Ferris State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Initially, he pursued electrical and electronics studies, but his interest shifted to computers—a passion that deepened when his family got their first computer just a year after he started college. A fun fact about Matt is that he has built all the computers in his home! His curiosity about computer hardware led him to YouTube, where he learned more about customizing computers. Matt shares, “It looked really fun and interesting to customize how you want your computer to work and look.” The most challenging part of building computers, he notes, is researching and selecting components that are compatible with each other. Want to learn more about Matt’s computer-building experience? Read the full interview below! In his free time, Matt enjoys watching movies. His love for movies sparked as a kid; he always had a film on for entertainment or as background noise. He appreciates storytelling and acting, believing they are the most crucial aspects of a great film. Some of his favorite movies include Saving Private Ryan, Inception, and Back to the Future. Fun fact: Back to the Future was the first movie he ever saw in a theater! When asked what the best movie he had seen this year was, he responded that it was Wolf of Wall Street! Another hobby Matt enjoys is golfing! His dad introduced him to the sport when he was around 12 years old, but he didn’t fully embrace it until later in life. Now, the best part of golfing for Matt is spending time with his dad. As soon as the weather warms up, they hit the course every other Monday throughout the summer. They also take an annual golf trip to Garland with their extended family, which has become a cherished tradition. Matt’s favorite course is Saskatoon because it’s close to home and offers multiple 18-hole layouts to play.
Matt is a fantastic Support Analyst. We asked Zack Aubuchon, IT Manager, about Matt, and he said, “Matt’s a Support Analyst who never slices. Instead, he tees up tech solutions on the daily, driving our team successes to new heights. The IT team is blessed to have him, but he’s a scratch on the course, so watch out!” SpendMend is grateful to have Matt on the team!
Interview with Matt:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Support Analyst
How long have you been with SpendMend?
2.5 Years
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Job posting for my position on Indeed.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Connected. Innovative. Welcoming.
Where are you located/from?
I’m currently located in Southeast Grand Rapids, MI, by the SpendMend office. I’m originally from the northwest part of Grand Rapids, MI, in the Alpine area.
Where did you go for higher education?
I went to community college in Grand Rapids for my first couple of years of college and then onto Ferris State in Grand Rapids to finish my bachelor’s in computer science.
What did you study and why?
I started out in electrical/electronics and hated it, so I switched my major to computers because I always liked them, and my family just got our first computer a year after I started college.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
Collaborating with coworkers to solve difficult issues.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked at Radio Shack as a salesperson for a year. The types of people that come in always made it unusual.
What is one fun fact about you?
I love movies, and I can identify a lot of them in one screenshot (there are quizzes for this on YouTube).
What sparked your love for movies in the first place?
Not sure what sparked my love for movies. Probably growing up as a kid, they were always on as either entertainment or background noise when doing chores.
Do you have a favorite movie that you think everyone should watch at least once?
Some of my favorite movies are Saving Private Ryan, Inception, and Back to the Future (Back to the Future was the first film I saw in a movie theater), but I can watch Ice Age, Shrek, and The Incredibles all the same.
What do you enjoy most about watching movies—storytelling, cinematography, acting, or something else?
Storytelling and acting are the most important in my opinion when it comes to movies.
What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past year?
The best movie I’ve seen this past year was The Wolf of Wall Street, and I don’t see too many new releases.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I like a lot of different music: Slipknot, Metallica, Teddy Swims, and 2Pac, to name a few. I don’t listen to much country music. Maybe I haven’t found the right artist yet.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love to golf. Me, my dad, and a bunch of my extended family started going on a golf trip this past year to Garland and are going to go again this year. I probably golf about 15 – 20 rounds every season. I was on a bowling league a couple of years ago, and I averaged 180—target and clay shooting. I would also love to go to all 50 states. I’ve also built all my computers at home (one of these computers is a Steam gaming rig).
What do you enjoy most about golfing?
The best thing about golf is hanging out with my dad or whoever I’m golfing with. My dad and I golf every other Monday through the summer as soon as it is warm enough. The second best thing about golfing is getting that pure connection with the golf ball and watching it fly through the air where you wanted it to go. It is so addicting.
How did you first get into golf?
My dad got me into golfing when I was around 12 years old, but then I was more interested in soccer and tennis, so I didn’t play golf for another 25 years or so. I got back into golf because my dad wanted to play again, so I started practicing and watching YouTube videos on how to swing.
What’s your favorite course you’ve played on so far?
My favorite course to go to would be Saskatoon, multiple 18s to play, and it isn’t too far from where I live.
What do you like most about your annual golf trip to Garland Golf Resort in Lewiston, MI?
Garland is great if you don’t want to travel at all between courses; everything is right there. But the best thing about Garland is seeing cousins and uncles I would only see one other time in the year.
What inspired you to start building your own computers?
I think curiosity inspired me to build my own computers. I’ve always been really interested in computer hardware and looking at a couple of YouTube videos of people building them. It looked really fun and interesting to customize the way you want your computer to work and look.
Do you have a favorite build that you’ve put together? What makes it special?
My first build was probably my favorite; it was something I’d never done before, and I mostly knew it was going to work.
What challenges have you faced when building your computers, and how did you overcome them?
The challenges are mainly to do your homework and pick parts that are compatible with each other. I do a lot of research on all my builds to have the best chance that they will work once I push the power button.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build their first computer? Any tips or common mistakes to avoid?
Common mistakes would be plugging in the components incorrectly, buying incompatible parts, or buying expensive parts that have RGB on them when you can buy the non-RGB part that operates the same for less money.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Ron Bianchi helped me when I was just getting started at SpendMend. He addressed a lot of my questions when I was starting (and still does). Ron has a great knowledge of the company and its systems. It is hard to shout out one IT member; we all wear so many hats and work hard to keep users up and running.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
The employees are helpful and great to work with. SpendMend is a forward-thinking company that continues to diversify professionally.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Just learning the system and how to fix issues properly. Taking the extra time to write down detailed notes after learning how to fix something that I’ve never fixed before (OneNote is my friend).
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Things are always changing on the IT side. No day is the same with the issues that arise. I look forward to the new challenges ahead.