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GSA's Region 6 PBS Portfolio Management Division Director Matthew Helmering.
January 1st marks the beginning of a new year in most places around the world and encourages people to look ahead while taking a last glance at what is left behind.
For Matthew Helmering, Jan. 1, 2023, marked the beginning of a new adventure as he was tapped to lead GSA’s Region 6 portfolio management division as its new director. He replaced the former director, Barbara Jo Schmitt-Cole, as she moved to another division within PBS.
Helmering began his GSA career in June 2004, as a generalist intern with Region 6 PBS and remembers that experience fondly.
“We had an intern coordinator who ran a very organized program and kept us rotating throughout the organization,’” Helmering said. “We were required to provide written and oral panel presentations to the Board of Directors on our development assignments to ensure we were learning the critical skills and objectives from each assignment. It was a terrific way to learn about PBS.”
After he finished interning, Helmering started out working in the leasing division, before transitioning through a multitude of roles and positions with career highlights in acquisitions, project management, and volunteering his time to work on national projects.
Most recently, he served as the client solutions branch chief for Heartland PBS.
“Leading client solutions allowed me to supervise and lead a team of 10 employees,” Helmering said. “This opportunity taught me so much about leadership, employee engagement, accountability, teaming and relationship management.”
Helmering is ready for the challenges, responsibilities and rewards that come with his new position.
“I’m excited to learn from our talented employees and be a part of supporting and promoting the important work they accomplish every day,” Helmering said. “Seeing the organization from this new perspective is also something I’m really looking forward to. It will allow me to see things from the global organizational level. The future of our division is incredibly bright as I plan to build on the many successes and practices put in place by leaders in front of me.”
When asked what has kept him here with Heartland PBS for over 18 years Helmering said, “I really enjoy working in commercial real estate and serving our customers. Additionally, GSA has provided me with so many opportunities to take on different roles in the organization that I’ve always felt challenged and fulfilled by the work I was doing. I like variety and I’ve found many opportunities here to try new things. Most importantly, the people and culture at GSA are top notch and I can truly say I have friends at work who support and encourage me and that is priceless.”
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Arthur joins the Federal Acquisition Service as a contract specialist.
Email: arthur.proctor@gsa.gov
Joined GSA: September 2022
Where do you live?
Holts Summit, Missouri
Where is your hometown?
Russellville, Missouri
What was your career journey to where you are now?
I served in the Missouri Army National Guard as a unit supply specialist for more than 10 years. After being medically retired from military service, I began working for the Missouri National Guard as a civilian program analyst and contract specialist for four years.
What other federal government or military experience have you had and for how long?
I worked for the Department of Defense for eight years prior to coming over to GSA.
What is your alma mater, degree or special training?
I graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of General Studies with minors in business and criminal justice.
What is your biggest professional or personal accomplishment?
My biggest professional accomplishment would be helping soldiers during my career with the Missouri National Guard. As a veteran myself, being in a position where my job directly impacted their mission success was very satisfying. Whether it was helping with an acquisition for food for drill weekends, buying supplies or services, or just helping leadership in advising them on best practices of acquisition, it all was very rewarding.
How do you recharge your batteries outside of work?
Watch a movie. I also enjoy attending the Kansas City Chiefs football games and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games live as well as watching both teams on television.
Tell us a little about yourself. Children? Pets? Married? Hobbies?
I am married to my amazing wife, Audrey. We have five kids between the two of us (three boys 18,16,15 and two girls 12,14). We also have one cat named Chloe and a small dog named Peanut. My favorite hobby is coin collecting.
What three words best describe your personality?
Understanding, honest, and loyal.
What is one of the items on your bucket list?
Travel to Europe.
What characteristic or value do you most admire in others?
I admire honesty and respect in others.
What is your unique talent, skill or gift?
I’d say probably my ability to get along with most everyone I meet. Even if I don’t really care for a person or their personality, I can almost always find common ground with everyone.
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Message from Acting Regional Administrator, Mary Ruwwe
“History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.” —Michelle Obama, first Black First Lady of the United States
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
This year’s theme, “Inspiring Change,” lends to the words of former enslaved American abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have with you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Each one of us can inspire our sphere of influence to exact change, but we must first remember, it starts with self.
In honor of Black History Month, we join the administration and all Americans in recognizing the innumerable contributions, beautiful legacy, and bright future of Black Americans. Our celebration will not end on February 28, and we will continue to value and support the rich and substantive contributions of Black Americans in all our mission areas for many years to come.
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At GSA, engineers play a crucial role in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of public buildings, courthouses, and land ports of entry. Read more about the contributions of GSA’s engineers on the United States federal building inventory.
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If you are a designated R6 GSA emergency responder with Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) and Wireless Priority Service (WPS) access, be sure to test your card and cell phone app at least quarterly. GETS provides subscribers with priority access and prioritized processing in the local and long-distance segments of landline telephone networks. WPS provides authorized devices with priority calling on all nationwide and several regional cellular networks. If you need GETS/WPS access, contact dwayne.huffman@gsa.gov, R6 Office of Mission Assurance, for application processing.
If you have questions, check out the following resources:.
GETS Resources
WPS Resources
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