Hi everyone! Let’s start the weekend with another edition of the Employee Spotlight Series. For this edition, we are featuring Nick Huizinga. Nick is a Customer Support Analyst and has been a part of the SpendMend team for almost two years. When asked what three words he would use to describe SpendMend, he said, “Collaborative, Flexible, and Innovative.” Nick is located in Wyoming, MI, and studied at Bismarck State College in North Dakota, where he received a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity and Information Technology. He started building and fixing computers in his early teens, so he always knew he wanted to have a career in the IT industry. A fun fact about Nick is that he has dual citizenship in the United States and New Zealand. He lived in NZ with his family until they moved to the US in 2008. Nick states, “This is a lot more boring than you might expect – my dad is a Kiwi, my mom an American. So, since I was born, I have had dual citizenship!” During work, Nick enjoys listening to music! Although he doesn’t have a favorite song, he is a huge fan of all of Taylor Swift’s and Post Malone’s songs. Currently, he is on an Indie kick, and his go-to’s are Cage the Elephant, Yot Club, and Still Woozy. He is seeing Cage the Elephant live in Grand Rapids this summer! If you’re an Indie music fan and in GR, ask Nick about the concert details! A hobby that Nick likes to do outside of work is camping. He started camping with his friends about five years ago and loves all the outdoor activities! Some of his favorites have been mountain biking in the Western States, rock climbing Red Rock in Nevada, and backpacking in New Zealand. Nick loves the camping opportunities in Michigan and likes mountain biking in Grand Rapids. It sounds like biking needs to be added to the Company Meeting itinerary!
Nick is a valued member of the SpendMend team and is appreciated by his co-workers. We asked Brandon Nabak, System Administrator, about Nick, and he said, “Nick is a bright presence in every group he is a part of. His knowledge and desire to better himself are things that make people gravitate to him. Even when he gets more hats to wear, he does his best to keep things on track. And he is the best cat stepdad that Pattern could have.” Thank you, Nick, for all your hard work!
Interview with Nick:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Customer Support Analyst
How long have you been with SpendMend?
I have been here for almost two years!
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Through applying for local IT positions.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Collaborative, Flexible, Innovative
Where are you located/from?
I am located in Wyoming, MI.
Where did you go for higher education? What did you study and why?
I studied at Bismarck State College (in North Dakota) for my Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity and Information Technology. I have built and fixed computers since my early teens and have always known I wanted to work in the IT industry!
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
It’s got to be seeing everyone’s lovely pets during online meetings!
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I taught swimming lessons in high school – it didn’t pay much, but it was fun!
What is one fun fact about you?
I’m a dual citizen!
When did you get your dual citizenship?
This is a lot more boring than you might expect – my Dad is a Kiwi, and my Mom is an American. So, since the day I was born, I have had dual citizenship! I lived in NZ with my family until 2008 when we moved to the States.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I listen to Indie, Lo-fi, or Classic music while working!
What does your current work music playlist include?
Right now, I’m on an Indie kick – Cage the Elephant (I’m going to see them here in GR this summer!), Yot Club, and Still Woozy, to name a few. On hype days, I’m listening to Post Malone, Logic, Drake, etc. And on slower days, I’ll throw on some classics – Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Genesis, etc.
Favorite artist? Favorite song(s) at the moment?
I don’t have a favorite song at the moment, but pretty much every song Taylor Swift and Post Malone have put out in the past decade slap, so those are my forever favorite artists!
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love mountain biking, rock climbing, singing, ATVing, camping, and backpacking. Many of my hobbies also involve traveling, which is a great combo!
When did you start camping for fun?
Camping (and almost any outdoor activities) is still somewhat new for me! I grew up an avid video gamer, so it’s only been during the last five years that some great friends have introduced me to the amazing world of the outdoors!
Where are your favorite spots to camp?
Since then, I have mountain biked in the Western States, rock climbed Red Rock (right outside of Las Vegas) and backpacked New Zealand (my home country)! The best places to hang outside and camp are definitely close to home, though – Michigan has awesome options for backpacking (shoutout MRT, Porkies, and Pictured Rocks), as well as mountain biking here in GR. If you ever need someone to ride within the area, hit me up!
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?
Lately, I have been working directly with our clients on support issues regarding the SpendMend Portal and various applications. No specific interactions come to mind, but I do take pride in making our clients feel heard and taken care of, even when dealing with outages or issues beyond our control. Support isn’t just hitting an SLA or fixing an issue – it can also create trust and understanding with the client which can be really helpful in the future.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
I used to work in the GR office (specifically in the IT area). There is nothing like a fun visit with the IT guys – they are all the best and have a great sense of humor.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
This shoutout goes to the IT department’s very own Pattern Nabak. He’s not officially on the payroll, but that’s all good, as he has no need for money! Pattern is Brandon Nabak’s lovely cat, and he inspires us all to work hard and to do everything that we can every day! If you ever need inspiration to enjoy some more treats or to take a nap, Pattern is your guy!
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
It’s been the relationships and connections built between my co-workers. Over the two years, I have been at SpendMend, I have worked with myriads of departments, teams and individuals. It’s been awesome to get to know some of these individuals better, (and even grab weekend brunch with them sometimes!) What good is the work you do if you don’t make some good friends along the way?
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Definitely to see the clients and areas where our applications will expand into!