Hello! Welcome to the Employee Spotlight Series! This week, we interviewed Jacob Schinkai. Jacob is an Audit Supervisor and joined the SpendMend team about three and a half years ago. When asked why he looks forward to coming to work every day, he stated, “Knowing that every day we can make a positive impact on our client’s health systems, which can and will lead to improving their patient’s lives.” Jacob is from Mt Clemens, MI, and attended Grand Valley State University. He received his degree in Economics with a minor in Business! As an Audit Supervisor, Jacob recently helped one of his clients resolve over $500K+ in credits that required a bunch of back-and-forth with the supplier. The main challenge Jacob faced during this case was being able to receive all the actual details and learn the root cause of the issue. In the end, everything was resolved smoothly! Check out the full interview to learn more about the strategy Jacob used to help find a resolution for the client. A fun fact about Jacob is that he really enjoys traveling! Recently, he went on a week-long golf trip to Ireland. He states, “Outside of the amazing golf we played, going around the local pubs and getting to experience their culture was super cool.” Jacob’s favorite place to travel is his parent’s place on Smith Mountain Lake, near Roanoke, Virginia. He loves getting the whole family together to relax and play golf! The next travel spot on Jacob’s bucket list is Scotland, and he hopes to go next year. Another fun fact about Jacob is that he loves to spend his time outdoors! His favorite outdoor activities are golfing, boating, and fishing. His favorite place to fish is at Smith Mountain Lake. He enjoys fishing because it’s relaxing, and he likes just being out on the water.
Jacob is a fantastic Audit Supervisor! We asked Nick Mercier, Audit Supervisor, about Jacob, and he said, “Jacob is an amazing person to work with. He is always willing to help out and do what he can to make sure team members all work together. He is kind and courteous, and clients and coworkers alike love to work with him. In his short time as a SpendMend team member, he has made an incredible impact on the organization.” Thank you for all your hard work, Jacob!
Interview with Jacob:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Audit Supervisor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
3.5 years
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Job hunting on LinkedIn after graduation.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Collaborative, Innovative, and Welcoming.
Where are you located/from?
I currently live in Mt Clemens, Michigan, where I grew up.
Where did you go for higher education? What did you study and why?
I went to Grand Valley State University and got my degree in Economics with a minor in Business. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after graduation, but I figured I could find something I enjoyed in those two degrees.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
Knowing that every day we can make a positive impact on our client’s health systems which can and will lead to improving the lives of their patients.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I was a valet driver in high school.
What is one fun fact about you?
I really enjoy traveling – most recently, I just went on a week-long golf trip to Ireland.
What do you enjoy the most about traveling?
Being with friends and family and being able to enjoy new experiences together.
Do you have a favorite travel destination, and why is it your favorite?
My favorite place would be my parents place located about an hour south of Roanoke, Virgina on Smith Mountain Lake. I love it down there for many reasons. It’s an awesome spot where our whole family can get together and relax – and play a lot of golf!
What was the highlight of your golf trip to Ireland?
Outside of the amazing golf, going around to the local pubs and getting to experience their culture was super cool.
What is your next travel spot on the bucket list?
Hopefully, Scotland next year.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Typically, a lot of sports-related podcasts have some background noise, but come Friday afternoon, the country playlist starts getting turned up a little louder.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love all things outdoors – golfing, boating, and fishing would be the main ones.
Do you have a favorite fishing spot or location you try to visit regularly?
My parent’s place at Smith Mountain Lake is an awesome spot.
What’s your favorite part of the fishing experience?
It’s incredibly relaxing and I enjoy just being out on the water.
Who do you interact with?
Clients and suppliers.
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
Just recently we helped one of our clients resolve over $500K+ in credits after a bunch of back and forth with the supplier. Everyone involvement were greatly appreciative of our work and getting everything resolved smoothly.
What were the main challenges you faced during the back-and-forth with the supplier?
Being able to get all of the actual details and get to the root cause of what actually occurred.
What strategies did you use to ensure the resolution process was as smooth as possible?
Keeping everybody informed on both the client side and supplier side, and what else needed to be done.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
I think the best compliments from suppliers are the genuine thank you’s after helping clean up a lot of old unresolved items with them.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Knowing that everything we do and uncover for our clients ultimately helps improve their hospitals for better patient care.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
I haven’t spent much time there, but the ping-pong table looks tempting every time I walk by.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
So many people I could mention, but definitely a shout out to my old supervisor Nick Mercier for being such a great mentor and helping grow my career with SpendMend. And a shout out to my manager Jessica Osborn for being so supportive and always willing to help with anything and everything! Also, a huge shout-out to all the Black Pod for making work so enjoyable each day!
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Ask as many questions as possible! I still learn new things every day with all the different things we see.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Winning the SpendMend BELT Award for Q1 2024.
What is something you’re looking forward to in the future at SpendMend?
Continuing to grow within SpendMend and helping our clients wherever I can!