Hello everyone! Let’s celebrate this wonderful Friday with another edition of the Employee Spotlight Series! Today we are shining the light on Hannah Geelhoed. Hannah has been a part of the SpendMend team for five and a half years and plays more roles than what is titled on her business card. She is valued in both the Human Resources department and the Marketing department, and goes above and beyond! Hannah keeps herself fully booked by assisting HR in hiring and resume management, coordinating in-house events with LeAnne Hoekstra, organizing all community service outings and events, and managing the branding for the company. Hannah’s favorite part of coordinating the service events is being able to work together with people from all across the organization to fundraise. The Bee Brave 5K event is one that is close to her heart and looks forward to supporting every year! Hannah’s favorite memory was when SpendMend attended its second year, they had the largest turnout of over 40 employees and they were all represented with pink shirts! While it was great to hear Hannah’s passion and dedication for her work, it was great to learn more about her life outside of SpendMend! A fun fact about Hannah is that she enjoys camping. She has covered most of the west side of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. One of her favorite adventures was to Pictured Rocks where she explored the shoreline and caves of Lake Superior! If you’re ever in the area, ask Hannah about her hiking recommendations. Another fun fact about Hannah is that she loves attending concerts and music festivals. She has seen her favorite band, Avett Brothers, over 20 times! She has a memorable moment at Red Rocks in Colorado where she snuck to the second row to get the full concert experience. If you need to add some new songs to your playlist, be sure to check out the rest of the interview to learn Hannah’s favorites!
Hannah does a fantastic job in every role she takes on at SpendMend. You always know that something is from SpendMend because it is all done by Hannah. Every item that is created by SpendMend has been touched by her; from the sales sheets to the fabric design on the lunchroom chairs! Sara Patin, Controller, said “Hannah has the unique role of sharing her talents between two departments, HR and Marketing, and she brings an incredible amount of enthusiasm and talent to each team! She has a natural welcoming demeanor which puts our new associates at ease when they first join SpendMend, as I’m sure many can attest to. Her passion for community involvement is contagious and brings the company together for several great causes throughout the year. If you haven’t asked her about our current fundraiser for Bee Brave, please do!” Hannah is truly what makes SpendMend special and we are so lucky to have her a part of our team. We really appreciate it and couldn’t do it without you! Thank you, Hannah!
Interview with Hannah:
What is your role at SpendMend?
I split my time between two departments. I work in HR managing the recruiting and onboarding process and then I also work in the Marketing department as their graphic designer. I also help out with in-office activities and plan our community involvement projects on the side.
How long have you been with SpendMend?
Just over 5 and half years.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Collaborative, Driven, and Innovative
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
The people. SpendMend has created a team of good, hard-working people. I thoroughly enjoy logging onto team meetings to catch up with my coworkers and collaborate. Plus, I enjoy being able to serve the healthcare market without having to go to 6+ years of schooling. ?
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked in the collections department of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and had to lead tours of storage facilities, photograph the artifacts to digitally catalog the collections, and physically move and handle all the different artifacts. Only about 5% of artifacts are actually on display, so you can only imagine all the cool stuff tucked away. I once opened a drawer and to my surprise – found a mummy!
What is one fun fact about you?
I’ve seen one of my favorite bands over 20 times in the past 7 years. Check out an Avett Brothers live show if you ever get the chance.
What was the most memorable location/moment seeing the Avett Brothers?
The most memorable moment is probably the second night at Red Rocks in Colorado (they perform 3 nights there every year). My friend and I managed to sneak up to the second row and just had the greatest time and best view. I highly recommend going to a show there sometime.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Lots of different stuff. I constantly have Spotify open and an airpod in. For music: Mainly Indie-pop (The Band Camino, Walk the Moon, Hippo Campus, Valley, The New Coast, LANY, The Wldlfe, etc..), Folk/Americana (The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Caamp, Lord Huron, Drew Holcomb, Penny and Sparrow, Nathaniel Rateliff, etc…), Soul (St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Leon Bridges, The Marcus King Band, Lake Street Dive, etc..). For Podcasts: Armchair Expert, Circling Back, Switched on Pop, And the Writer is…, I’m gladly a part of Bachelor Nation – so a few of the podcasts that recap or have comments regarding the show.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love to go to concerts/music festivals, camping, gardening, beer/wine tasting, I play beach volleyball with friends at Shots on the River.
What is your favorite concert/music festival to go to? Any fun stories to share?
My favorite festival is Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN. My sister and I go every year with a big group of friends. It was canceled this year while we were on the road on our way there due to Hurricane Ida Flooding… bummer, but we’ll be back in June 2022! Most of my memories from festivals happen between the shows while interacting with other festival-goers.
Where do you like camping? Any favorite locations? What kind of activities do you like to do when camping?
I’ve covered most of the west side of Northern Michigan and the popular sites or the UP (Upper Peninsula). I think my favorite was when I went to Pictured Rocks in August 2017. We planned to spend the day hiking specific trails, but the water was warm in Lake Superior, which is rare, so my friend and I changed into our suits behind a tree and decided to swim for a couple of hours along the shoreline and through the caves instead. I’ve also really enjoyed hiking through the Porcupine Mountains and around the Lake of the Clouds. If you’ve never gotten a chance to travel to northern Michigan, please do yourself a favor and book a summer or fall trip.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
Unfortunately, I am not client-facing, but my work is. David Hewitt (Sales Team) once relayed that a client thought our presentation was the cleanest and best-branded presentation he has seen in a while, which was great to hear!
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Helping the hospitals save money so they can spend it on treating patients and improving their care.
What is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
Probably Ping-Pong. Nick VanZegeren and I play almost daily. I am currently in training to be able to defeat Brett Stuebinger next time he is in town.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I am the person that coordinates all of our community outreach, so it takes a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade it. I love each and every one of the organizations we support: Bee Brave, American Red Cross, Kids Food Basket – GR, and Toys For Tots. I am constantly floored by the team’s generosity surrounding each event. The Bee Brave 5K is coming up in a few weeks. Make sure to visit our site to donate or register: https://runsignup.com/spendmend
Can you share a fond memory of one of SpendMend’s community service events? Do you have an event that is closest to your heart?
The second year we attended the Bee Brave 5K we all wore pink shirts and had our largest turnout of over 40 employees. It was really special to be able to go upfront and tell everyone at the race what SpendMend does and why we participate. I loved being able to see so many members of our team there in support of this great cause.
Favorite part about coordinating all SpendMend’s service events?
My favorite part is getting to communicate and work with people from all across our organization to help fundraise and donate goods for each specific cause. It’s fun to see our company come together across multiple departments to give their time and hard-earned resources to a deserving cause.
What is your favorite in-house event? (specific potluck, chili cook-off, bring your kid to work day, etc.)
Hmm, that’s tricky. I love all of them. We have a lot of really good cooks at SpendMend, but I think I would have to choose the Chili Cook-off (I’m coming for you Becky) even though I do love getting to spend the day with all your kiddos at Bring Your Kid to Work Day. The Thanksgiving Lunch is pretty spectacular too!
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Sara Patin – for always being in my corner, teaching me, and pushing me to grow my abilities.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Be prepared and willing to work hard, ask questions, absorb information, and remain driven. You will find that you can go far at SpendMend with these attributes.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Designing the new office aesthetic (workstations and lunchroom) and having everyone like it (that I know of…).
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Creating an atmosphere that employees enjoy coming to and also creating visually appealing materials that best market SpendMend.