Happy Friday! Welcome to the Employee Spotlight Series! This week we are featuring Jacob Hofstee. Jacob is a Support Analyst and joined the SpendMend team almost a year ago. When asked why he looks forward to coming to work, he said, “I look forward to working with the amazing team I’m part of through the ever-changing landscape of the IT Industry.” A fun fact about Jacob is that he is located in Jenison, MI. He went to Northern Michigan University for two years and then finished his degree at Grand Valley State University in Computer Science. Jacob decided to study Computer Science because he has always been curious about computers and how they work! His love for computers started as a hobby to build and mess with them in his spare time during high school. Gradually, it grew into a career! Another fun fact about Jacob is that he enjoys listening to music during work. One of the playlists he likes to listen to includes a lot of R&B Alternative music. His favorite artist right now is Joji, and loves his song “Daylight.” He hasn’t seen him in concert yet, but Jacob hopes to see him live in the future! When Joji comes to perform in Grand Rapids, you know Jacob will be there! Outside of work, Jacob spends his free time with anything to do with cars. His interest in cars started when he was little, he said, “My dad would do doughnuts and such, in his Trailblazer in the winter, which was a lot of fun for me LOL.” His favorite car to drive and fix is his current car, a Mercedes S550. Be sure to check out the full interview below for Jacob’s go-to car fun fact!
Jacob does a wonderful job in his role and is appreciated highly by his team members. Ron Bianchi, Support Analyst II, said, “Jake consistently displays exceptional dedication and skill in our department. He has quickly perfected his aptitude for building and re-imaging computers and his ability to manage logistics under pressure. From there he has grown to handle all aspects of support and become an invaluable asset to our team. Starting with SpendMend as an intern, Jake’s commitment to providing top-notch assistance has not only earned him a well-deserved promotion to full-time support analyst but also the admiration and respect of his colleagues. We are truly fortunate to have him on board.” Thank you for all your hard work, Jacob!
Interview with Jacob:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Support Analyst
How long have you been with SpendMend?
Almost a year
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Family friend
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Supportive, Adaptive, Innovative
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I look forward to working with the amazing team I’m part of through the ever-changing landscape of the IT Industry
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
The only other Job I had was working for Meijer, more specifically the pickup department.
What is one fun fact about you?
I hate seafood
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I listen to a lot of different genres. Whatever is popular basically.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I like to do anything related to cars. Drive, fix, clean, and look at. I am a frequent user of Facebook Marketplace.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Knowing that we are lowering the costs for Healthcare companies, which will in turn lower the cost for the end customer in need of healthcare.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
When there is food brought in from other people, there is a great community feeling that I love
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I’ve never been to one :(. But I do want to someday.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Yes, I do! Ron was the first person to really show me the ropes here. And I am really grateful for everything he has taught me and everything he will teach me in the future.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Starting out on a new team can be daunting. But I would say, if you ever have questions, or are unsure about a subject. Just ask. We have such a great team to help you learn and knock out any problems.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
I am very proud of everything I’ve learned so far. I started at Spendmend not knowing a whole lot about anything. But with the help from the team here, I have learned so much and very excited to learn more every day.
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
I mentioned this in the previous question also. But, I am very excited to see what more I learn from day to day.