Mary Helmick, assistant vice president for finance and director of procurement, to retire
Mary Helmick will retire from her role as assistant vice president for finance and director of procurement, effective Sept. 1, capping a 30-year career of state service.
A national search has begun to fill this important role. Rebecca Folmar, director of risk management and insurance programs, will chair the search committee.
Since joining Virginia Tech in 2014, Helmick led critical procurement process improvement initiatives to ensure the efficient sourcing and delivery of goods and services, including enhancing functionality in HokieMart, introducing Amazon Business to the university's e-procurement system and standardizing catering.
During her tenure, Helmick managed procurement for the university’s largest-ever portfolio of capital construction projects. She also guided the university through the unprecedented procurement challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining uninterrupted operations while adapting to global supply chain disruptions.
Helmick oversaw significant growth and impact of the university’s Supplier Opportunity Program, aimed at supporting and strengthening small, women-owned, and minority-owned (SWaM) businesses. In fiscal year 2023, Virginia Tech spent over $167 million with SWaM-certified companies, the highest amount in the last 15 years. In 2019, then-Gov. Ralph Northam honored the procurement team’s efforts with the 2019 SWaM Innovator Award for the creation of a first-of-its-kind searchable SWaM business directory.
In her role, Helmick also led the surplus property disposal function, generating more than $1.1 million in 2023 revenue through the team’s popular online auctions.
“I am grateful for Mary’s steady leadership, excellent collaboration and solutions-oriented approach that has advanced the university’s impact during a transformational time for Virginia Tech and higher education,” said Ken Miller, vice president for finance and university treasurer. “Mary’s leadership has enhanced our procurement team’s capacity for providing efficient and responsive customer service, in an environment where excellent stewardship, ethics and partnership are essential. I congratulate Mary and wish her all the best in retirement.”
Most recently, Helmick assisted with the rollout of the low-risk, low-cost software purchase program and retooled IT procurement to streamline software procurement activities and expedite acquisitions.
She also served two four-year terms as president of the Virginia Association of University and State Procurement Professionals (VASCUPP) and was appointed to numerous statewide committees and working groups. Before her Virginia Tech tenure, Helmick worked 20 years in procurement at James Madison University.
In retirement, Helmick is looking forward to spending more time with her family and two young grandchildren, and paying forward to others the same support she received managing a full-time career and family responsibilities.
"My nine-plus years at Virginia Tech have been a rewarding experience given the type of work we do for the university, but especially the team we were able to build in procurement,” said Helmick. “I am humbled to have been able to work for such a great institution and with people who genuinely care about the university and its students.”
