This week we decided to bring a little attention to Nicole Thompson! Nicole has been a part of the SpendMend team for a little more than a year now and she has already made a huge impact. You don’t see Nicole around the office every day, but that’s because she works remotely from beautiful, sunny, California! Nicole is a critical part of the team as she helps bring in new business and is often the first point of contact for new clients. When Nicole is not working hard to bring in new business, you can find her enjoying herself outside with her son, Jack. Nicole likes to do just about anything that involves going outside, but going to the beach is her favorite! If Nicole is anywhere near water, then she’s happy! While going to the beach is her favorite outdoor activity, she also enjoys going on hikes, golfing, playing tennis and much more. One of Nicole’s favorite things to do indoors when the weather is bad (which isn’t often in California) is cooking! Nicole and Jack have a good time cooking together, and some of their signature dishes include Mongolian beef ramen, cinnamon cilantro chicken, lomo saltado, chicken picatta, steak, and French dips on sourdough! When it comes to baking, they specialize in chocolate chip cookies (YUM) and sourdough bread. If you need any culinary advice, then get ahold of Nicole! If you ask around about Nicole, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t rant and rave about how great she is. We asked Dave Hewitt, VP of Sales, how working alongside Nicole is and Dave said, “Nicole has an excellent can-do attitude and is worth her weight in gold as it relates to drawing awareness to our overall value proposition”. Dave wasn’t the only one who felt this way about Nicole, as Tom Flynn, VP of Marketing, stated “I’ve never worked with anyone more talented or hardworking than Nicole Thompson. And I’ve never seen a co-worker create such a genuine positive impact on her co-workers quite like Nicole. It seems like, every week, I hear someone raving about how helpful she is and how she consistently goes above and beyond what is asked of her. It really is a pleasure and a privilege to learn from her and to work with her.” Nicole truly is one of a kind and we are so lucky to have her on the team. Thank you for all your hard work, Nicole! We really appreciate it and couldn’t do it without you.
Interview with Nicole:
How long have you been with SpendMend?
Just over a year.
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
I worked with Dan Geelhoed and Rob Heminger from our shared time at another company.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
FUN! Teamwork. Dedication.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I get to talk to so many different people around the country. Not only am I sharing SpendMend solutions with them, but also connecting with them on a more personal level.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked for Beer Drinkers of America. Nope, it’s not a club for people that like beer. It was a company that educated people on how to “Party Smart.” I stuffed envelopes with educational material for bars and colleges.
What is one fun fact about you?
I’m a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. I started classes when my son was 5 and he asked me to join him. It was a LOT of work and a LOT of fun.
How long did it take you to get your black belt?
It took me 4 years, but it was worth it!
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Country Music, The Adam Corolla Show, The Joe Rogan Podcast.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love to cook (and eat), and anything active outside – hiking, golfing, tennis, pickleball, beach walks, etc.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
I was thanked for being persistent. That IS my job, but not everyone appreciates the follow up. The prospect said they wanted an audit, but things kept coming up and the project kept getting postponed. I followed up as requested and when the audit finally started, it was very successful. The first audit found a variety of overpayments with different root causes. They implemented recommended controls and processes and drastically reduced their errors when the second audit was performed.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Getting to talk to people on the front lines. They tell it like it is.
What is your favorite in house event?
Zoom meetings with Tommy. ? (SpendMend Marketing Director, Amanda Geelhoed Papach’s 2 year old son.)
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Everyone I work with at SpendMend inspires me in a different way. Of course, Dan Geelhoed for creating a company with such a positive culture. The Marketing Team is AMAZING – Tom Flynn & the gang (Amanda, Hannah, Joe & Tommy) make work fun every single day. Even though I’ve been in the recovery audit industry for more years than I care to admit, the Sales Team, CVMs and Operations Teams are so knowledgeable, I’m always learning from them.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
I’m proud of the work we’ve done upgrading and optimizing the CRM and implementing Outreach.io. These are two key platforms that enable our lean sales and marketing teams to connect with healthcare decision makers. We help hospitals improve patient care through cost savings solutions, insightful analysis, and improved visibility. The more people we can connect with, the more we can help the industry.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
I’m looking forward to expanding the Business Development Team and sharing the SpendMend message with more health systems, hospitals, and clinics.