Hi everyone! Happy 4th of July Weekend! For this Employee Spotlight, we are highlighting Alan Sibley. Alan is the IT Director and has been a part of the SpendMend team for five years. When asked what he looked forward to in his future at SpendMend, he said, “Continued growth of my teams and the company as a whole.” A fun fact about Alan is that he is from Muskegon, Michigan. He attended Baker College of Muskegon and majored in Computer Science! Before working at SpendMend, Alan worked as a welding robot technician at Herman Miller. He was responsible for programming all of the points along the welding path, how fast to move, and where to weld. Alan stated, “The tricky part was getting the wire feed cable to swing out of the way of the robot arm as it moved. Had to make it dance a bit to get the timing right.” Check out the full interview below to learn more about Alan’s job as a welding robot technician! Outside of work, Alan enjoys bowling. Alan has bowled in leagues since he was eight years old, and he used to bowl between two and three leagues per year. Alan’s advice for those who want to want to bowl a perfect score is to be consistent and get a little lucky! Another hobby Alan enjoys is playing guitar and bass. His inspiration to pick up the guitar was the thrash metal music he listened to growing up, such as Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, etc. The first song he learned to play on the guitar was “One” from Metellica’s “Justice For All” album. Alan just recently started playing the bass and he thinks it’s a lot of fun, “It is a bit more relaxed than playing guitar in my opinion,” he stated. He likes all kinds of music and will play anything!
Alan does a fantastic job in his role and we appreciate him for all he does for SpendMend. Zach Aubuchon, IT Manager, said, “Gladly! Being a leader in the IT industry is not just about intelligence and technical expertise, but also about being charismatic, approachable, and inspiring. Alan exemplifies these qualities, making our Information Systems department a place where coming to work every day feels like a privilege rather than a chore. I am beyond blessed to have him as a boss.” Thank you for going above and beyond, Alan! We are grateful to have you on the team.
Interview with Alan:
What is your role at SpendMend?
IT Director
How long have you been with SpendMend?
5 years
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
I originally worked with Business Strategy and PRGX, so I have been familiar with SpendMend for quite some time.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Innovative, Dedicated, Welcoming
Where are you located/from?
Muskegon, MI. I’ve lived here my whole life.
Where did you go for higher education?
I went to Baker College of Muskegon.
What did you study?
My major was computer science.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I like the people I work with and I feel like I can make a difference.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Welding robot technician
What did you do as a welding robot technician? I worked a Herman Miller in the fab department making cubicle frames. I started as a welding machine operator and was promoted to welding robot technician and eventually supervisor. The cubicle parts were loaded into a fixture and moved in front of the welders. Then, welding robots would move from their rest state to the seams they needed to weld and welded the bead. I was responsible for programming all of the points along the welding path, how fast to move, and where to weld. It was pretty cool. The tricky part was getting the wire feed cable to swing out of the way of the robot arm as it moved. I had to make it dance a bit to get the timing right.
What is one fun fact about you?
I like bowling…a lot and have multiple perfect games
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Podcasts: No Agenda; Music: Metalcore, Punk, Progressive Metal
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
Bowling, I play guitar and bass as hobbies
When did you start bowling as a hobby and why?
I’ve bowled in leagues since I was 8 years old or so.
Do you play on a league or just for fun?
I bowl in between 2 and 3 leagues between fall and spring depending on the year.
Can you share your tips to score a perfect game?
The only tips for bowling a 300 are be consistent and get a little lucky. 😊 In bowling, even a great shot does not guarantee a strike.
How did you get into playing guitar and bass? I listened to a lot of thrash metal when I was teenager, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc… I got Metallica’s …And Justice For All album when I was 12 years old and that was my favorite album for years and years. The beginning to their song “One” was the first thing I learned on guitar. A friend in high school gave me some pointers on how to play and read tablature and that was it. I’ve just played as a hobby at home since then. I started playing bass within the last year. I’ve wanted to for a while, but finally just purchased the bass to mess around with.
What types of songs do you like to play and why?
I like most all kinds of music and will play anything.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
All compliments are good compliments
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Enabling healthcare providers to provide better service to their patients
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
The IT and Automation Teams, they are the ones that enhance and maintain the infrastructure. They keep the ship that is SpendMend sailing.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
I don’t have any standouts. There have been quite a few and I’m proud of all my accomplishments.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Continued growth of my teams and the company as a whole