Happy Friday! To start the month of December, we have a new edition of the Employee Spotlight Series. This week, we interviewed Lisa Nagelkerk. Lisa is a WFC Claims Analyst and has been a part of the SpendMend team for over 19 years! When asked what three words she would use to describe SpendMend, she stated, “Driven, Innovative, and forward-thinking.” Lisa grew up in Cedar Springs, Michigan, north of Grand Rapids. She has also lived in San Francisco and Colorado briefly. Lisa attended Jordan College for Business Studies and went to Grace Bible College for a year in 2012 when she was in leadership at her church. A fun fact about Lisa is that she loves to bicycle! She started biking in 2015 when she moved from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore. Since they live near Lake Michigan, she is able to enjoy the more remote environment. Lisa loves getting in some cardio while taking in the scenery and getting close to nature. She often likes to ride to the beaches near her, swim for a bit, and ride back home. However, in 2020, Lisa had a biking accident that kept her from riding. Check out the full interview below to learn more. During her free time, Lisa also loves to cook. She likes to be creative and add healthy ingredients to dishes. When asked what healthy ingredient swaps or additions she likes to add, she stated, “I have a basic muffin recipe I make just by throwing things together. I use oats for flour and maple syrup instead of sugar.” In addition, she either adds a ripe banana or pumpkin! The signature dish she makes right now is a sweet potato loaded with either seasoned ground beef/turkey or black bean burger, diced veggies seasoned with spices, such as cumin – topped with cheese, and lots of fresh avocados. That sounds like a delicious dish! Thanks for the cooking inspiration, Lisa. If you are looking for healthy dinner ideas, you know who to ask!
Lisa is a valued team member as a WFC Claims Analyst. We asked Dirk Lindquist, Shared Services Supervisor, about Lisa, and he said, “This is my 3rd year working with Lisa, and she does a great job in WFC. I have really enjoyed working with her and look forward to our biweekly meetings. Lisa is very good at communicating with Supervisors and works well with vendors. She is a smart, caring, and dedicated person. We are lucky to have her at SpendMend!” Thank you, Lisa, for all of your hard work!
Interview with Lisa:
What is your role at SpendMend?
WFC Claims Analyst
How long have you been with SpendMend?
19 years this past July.
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Ad in the GR Press in 2004 for a part-time position.
What three words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Driven, Innovative, forward-thinking.
Where are you located/from?
I grew up in Cedar Springs, which is about 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids. I lived in San Francisco and Colorado briefly as well. I backpacked in Ireland/Italy, where I visited friends.
Where did you go for higher education? What did you study?
I went to Jordan College for Business Studies and was able to do a work-study program, where I paid part of my tuition by working in the office. It is now part of Ferris University in Big Rapids, MI. Right after high school, I was able to get a job at the college, so I just started taking classes that seemed good for a career. From there, I did a lot of temp work, which I enjoyed because I was able to experience a lot of different companies. I also went to Grace Bible College for a year in 2012 when I was in leadership at my church.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I like making sure we get checks in.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I have done a lot of temp work so I could be free to travel. I worked one day at the office of Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory in Durango, Colorado – They had trays of all kinds of chocolate in the offices – at the end of the day, they gave me a bakery box to fill with chocolate to take home. I also worked at a health food store on Polk Street In San Francisco, which was a lot of fun.
What is one fun fact about you?
I love to bicycle. I was in an accident in 2020 – a reflector got caught in my spokes. I was careening down a hill and went face-first over the handlebars. I was in hospital for two days, fractured most of the bones in my face, and lost a tooth, but still love to bicycle.
When did you start biking for fun, and why?
I started biking when we moved from Grand Rapids out to the lakeshore in 2015. It’s much more remote than the city, and we live near Lake Michigan.
What is your favorite part about biking?
It’s just a very peaceful way to get some cardio and just enjoy the scenery, get close to nature, and see more than you would on foot. There are a couple of beaches near us, so at times, I will ride to the beach, have a swim, and ride back home.
What is the most challenging?
The huge hill that I fell down was actually one I had worked on climbing without having to get off the bike, and it took multiple tries, day after day until I could make it all the way up. The day I fell, my spokes got twisted while I was going down the hill. Since then, I’ve been a bit less adventurous – the bike I have been using since the accident is an older one and didn’t have as much time to ride this past summer. I’m hoping to get a new bike in time for Spring. I tried out a couple but have not picked one yet!! I did go back up that hill again after I recovered, just because I felt it was important not to allow that experience to be traumatic – but just part of my journey. I have a couple of scars on my face from it, but other than that, I’m fully recovered!
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I love music. Often listen to IHOP Kansas City and also Spotify playlists with bands like Hillsong and Bethel Music.
What are your favorite songs from Hillsong and Bethel Music?
These groups both have a large community of artists who are always putting out music, so it’s really hard to pick favorites. The album “Wonder” is the one I’ve listened to most recently by Hillsong. Most recent Bethel Music Album: Peace.
Have you seen any of your favorite artists in concert? If so, where?
I saw Hillsong at Van Andel a couple of years ago. Very good!
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I really love to cook and come up with creative ways to add healthy ingredients to dishes and keep them delicious. I often cook for friends.
What piqued your interest in starting to cook?
I was a strict vegetarian for 10 years. I do eat meat now when it is humanely raised. I still really enjoy cooking and eating vegetarian food. I love eating at culturally diverse places like Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian. Eating these different types of cuisines definitely helps with imagination in cooking.
We used to go to Wealthy Street Bakery all the time, as I lived around the corner before we moved from Heritage Hill out to Montague (Montague is about 30 minutes North of Muskegon). So it was really cool to discover our leadership at SpendMend is investing in that very well-loved GR café. If anyone hasn’t seen the article it’s a very cool story. It makes me even more proud to be part of a company with innovative leadership that also invests in our community by reaching out across other spheres of business. So cool! I am super proud to work for someone like Dan Geelhoed. I have seen over these years how hard he has worked to make SpendMend what it is today. He’s a genius. He cares about excellence and about people and operates with integrity.
What are your go-to healthy ingredients you like to add to dishes?
I have a basic muffin recipe I make just by throwing things together, I use oats for flour and maple syrup instead of sugar (we actually tapped for maple syrup the last two years – HARD work! We get a very small amount from that, so I mostly just buy it). I usually put in ripe bananas, but this time of year, I often use pumpkin (usually storebought). We grow our own pumpkin this year, which was fun! My husband is a real green thumb, though – without him, we would not have a garden!
What is your signature item that everyone loves to eat when you make it?
My signature dish right now is a sweet potato loaded with either seasoned ground beef/turkey or black bean burger, diced veggies (peppers/zucchini, mushroom, onion, etc.) seasoned with cumin, etc., topped with cheese and lots of fresh avocados – so good!
What is a recipe that you are excited to make and why?
For Christmas, I like to make homemade chocolate peppermint bark, and I might also make peppermint ice cream this year. One thing I wouldn’t mind being better at is baking- other than muffins, I do not dabble much with that, but I love watching baking and cooking shows. Not sure I have the patience for the kind of professional-looking stuff you see on TV, but it would be fun to try.
Who do you interact with?
Suppliers
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
A vendor once asked me if he could hire me because he said I was more persistent than the IRS in trying to get a refund from his company.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
A vendor once asked me if he could hire me because he said I was more persistent than the IRS in trying to get a refund from his company.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
It has never ceased to amaze me all the ways that we are able to find avenues of recovery for our clients.
If you work at the Grand Rapids headquarters, what is your favorite Recovery Room Activity?
Not in the office often. We moved to the lakeshore in 2015, and I have been remote since then, but I enjoy interacting with colleagues through Teams!
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I contribute to causes whenever I can and especially appreciate when we can give to kid’s charities.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Colleen Kretowicz always has a way of making people laugh, and that’s nice. Laura Nagy is an inspiration as she started as a statement caller and is now a great Audit Manager! It has been fun watching coworkers transition to new positions and work together in different roles. I have really enjoyed getting to know new people through Teams as well.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Never be afraid to ask questions, and there is never a stupid question. There are lots of knowledgeable people who are happy to help.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Making it to almost 20 years!!
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Hopefully, I will make it to 20 years, LOL.