Mary Beth Helstrom, Hokie Passport Services

How long have you worked at Virginia Tech? 

I've been at Virginia Tech for two years.

What is your favorite building or area on the Virginia Tech campus?

Cassell Coliseum. I enjoy watching basketball games there with family and friends.

Who’s the most famous person you have met?  

On my second day working for Rural King, I met Alex Melvin, the owner of Rural King. He had been pulling pallets to the floor to help with the grand opening of a store. He was dressed in jeans and a button-down polo, and stopped to welcome us to the Rural King family. We didn’t know who he was until later that day in a training class. We were watching videos of him telling us the history of the company when we realized it was him. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

When I was bored as a child, my mother always told me, "only boring people are bored". So, I would go find something to do, and made a lot of great memories.

What is your favorite way to spend a weekend or day off? 

I like to wake up naturally without an alarm, check the news and my email, and play a quick game or two. After that, I take my dog to the park—sometimes with a friend. At home, I jump into new projects, whether tackling something I’ve never tried before or finishing a task that needs doing.