Malcolm Hong – Assistant Vice President, Idaho Public Relations Officer – Zions Bank

A lifelong learner, Malcolm Hong started taking college courses at the age of 15. When he was just 19, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University-Idaho and went on to earn a master’s in communication from Boise State University and an MBA from Western Governors University.

“During the height of the pandemic, I enrolled in Western Governors University’s MBA program while continuing to work full time. I wanted to graduate early so I could support Boise Entrepreneur Week later that year,” he said. “Thanks to the support of my employer, I was able to rearrange my schedule to focus on the MBA program and earned my degree in less than six months.”

Prior to joining Zions Bank as an assistant vice president and public relations officer, Hong served as project manager for the Idaho Technology Council and supported ITC in helping get the Cloud Services Clarification Act signed into law. The act modernized the state’s tax code for software companies.

Hong said that his work with ITC helped develop a passion for supporting small businesses, which led him to his current role at Zions Bank.

“I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built internally with my Zions Bank colleagues and externally with journalists throughout the Gem State,” he said. “I am also proud of my success in amplifying Zions Bank’s sponsorship of Boise Entrepreneur Week to underscore the bank’s position as a top SBA lender and player in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Tiam Rastegar, CEO of Trailhead and chair of Boise Entrepreneur Week, credits Hong with revamping Boise Entrepreneur Week’s public relations strategy by propelling the event into the media spotlight.

“His strategic acumen, combined with a keen understanding of the media landscape, has not only elevated BEW’s profile but has also played a pivotal role in attracting essential support for the growth and success of Idaho startups,” Rastegar said.

Deneen May, the Western Idaho region president for Zions Bank, said Hong also gave back through his role as president of the Idaho chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, where he continues to mentor others in the public relations field.

“His leadership of PRSA Idaho has significantly helped the chapter provide value to local public relations practitioners,” May said. “He has mentored dozens of students through his past position as a professional advisor for Boise State University’s PRSSA Chapter. Many of his students have stayed in the community and contributed to our region’s economic growth.”

For Hong, the biggest reward of mentoring is seeing students strengthen their skills so they can thrive in businesses across Idaho.

“I’m proud that many of my students remained in the Treasure Valley and used their talents to make a positive difference for Idahoans,” Hong said.