Hello everyone! We wanted to close out April with another edition of the Employee Spotlight Series! This time, the spotlight is on Amanda Foley! Amanda is a Regional Director and has been with SpendMend for the past 6 years. Amanda’s background was originally in public accounting where she gained a lot of experience in the Tax World. When she first came onboard at SpendMend, she oversaw our Tax delivery and eventually expanded into leadership within the entire Procure to Pay Cost Deliverable. Amanda’s region is the Western half of the United States and covers some of our largest clients. She is all about teamwork and does a great job leading her team to meet their goals! When Amanda isn’t working on QBR’s and such, you can find her doing a variety of different things in the great outdoors. Amanda enjoys hanging out with her two dogs, Pudge and Harper, gardening, and going on hikes! When we asked Amanda about her hiking adventures, she casually informed us that she hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim (24miles) all in one day! We know some of you reading this spotlight are also very into hiking, so feel free to reach out to Amanda to hear about her favorite trails! We reached out to Elizabeth Perez Gonzalez, Tax Manager and T.M.I. star, and asked what it was like working with Amanda so closely. Elizabeth said “One of the things I love about working with Amanda is that she walks the walk. I know that when we’re busy she is right there working with me. She really cares about delivering the best product for our clients and is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Her ability to juggle multiple projects at once is unmatched! I feel really lucky to have had her as my manager for the past 5 years. She supports the tax team not only from a managerial perspective, but as people too.” We think Elizabeth said it perfectly and did a great job describing Amanda! Amanda is a huge part of SpendMend and we can’t thank her enough! Thank you for everything, Amanda!
Interview With Amanda:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Regional Director
How long have you been with SpendMend?
6 years!
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
BSI was a service provided at both Amway and Steelcase, while I was employed at those organizations
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Committed, agile, family
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
The people!
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I helped set single wide mobile home on foundations!
What is one fun fact about you?
I have hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day which is a 24-mile hike with a mile descent and a mile climb back out!
Do you have any favorite hiking spots or trails?
Angel’s Landing at Zion is a favorite but I am game for anything in the Columbia River Gorge which is only about 30 minutes from my house.
How many dogs do you have and what are their names?
Harper my Am Staff rescue and Pudge a Boston Terrier.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Sublime Radio on Spotify and Marc Maron WTF podcast
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
Hiking, gardening, and trying to stay in shape!
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
Helping our clients with sales and use tax questions is always very rewarding. Our clients are juggling many tasks and are often not confident in their SUT compliance process. Helping them with this burden is always appreciated.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
“We trust you.” – Just a few words but it is key!
Would you like to give a shout out to a client or supplier?
We provide a lot of valuable information which allows our clients to correct processes and reduce financial leakage. I love seeing clients implement the changes identified by our findings. CommonSpirit is an example of a great partner who does the work necessary to eliminate gaps and improve processes.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Serving the healthcare market is another way to support our communities.
What is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
The “remote” recovery room activity of taking the dog out for a quick a walk.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I think there are some pictures floating around from the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS back in 2014!
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Shout out to Josh Kiel! I was pretty green when I joined the team. Josh took time out to ensure I understood the processes and answered any questions I had. I appreciate his insight and support. Glad he is on the other side of the country. ?
What advice do you have for perspective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Ask questions! No one majors in recovery audit. Success is homegrown. Be curious. Be diligent!
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Seeing others excel in their roles. While obviously their success has more to do with their efforts than mine, I am proud that our team supports each other.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Hopefully a company Whitecaps game this summer!