A Lesson in Marketing

What I learned about Andy Hoang

Andy Hoang, Chief Marketing Officer/Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications

by Isaiah Arias

Creative, pragmatic and innovative are three words I associate with Andy Hoang, the Chief Marketing Officer/Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications at CSULB.

I had the privilege of meeting Andy Hoang during a presentation in my Journalism 471: Public Relations Management and Campaigns class with Professor Jennifer Newton. Hoang presented CSULB’s current “No Barriers” Marketing Campaign, an initiative that he has spearheaded for several years.

Hoang’s presentation was brilliant;, he has a very clear vision for The Beach. According to Hoang, the current marketing campaign was created to let students know that there are “No Barriers” to anything at The Beach. As a senior who is pursuing a career in marketing, Hoang’s presentation was very intriguing

I wanted to learn more, so I contacted him. Within in a few weeks time I was able to meet with Hoang. This is what I learned:

Before Hoang was the Chief Marketing Officer at CSULB, he was a student just like you and me. Hoang attended and graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Relations.

After college, Hoang worked for KGTV, a local news channel in San Diego. Hoang worked as a News Producer and Writer from 2000-2003. He expressed that this job is what taught him how to efficiently deliver a message.

In 2004 Hoang moved to Palomar Pomerado Health; a public health group in San Diego County, where he continued his career in Communications and Media Relations. Pomerado Health needed to pass a public bond (a bond issued by the government [as a nation or state] or by a subsidiary incorporated governmental authority or by a municipality) in order to build a new hospital. These bonds are paid back through taxes, so support of the community was essential.

Through a brilliant marketing campaign Hoang was able to sway the public, in 2004 a $496-million public bond was passed and the money was utilized to build a new hospital.

After spending seven years with Palomar Pomerado Health, Hoang became the Director of Communications and Media Relation at the Salk Institute in 2011. The Salk Institute is a world-renowned school, “Ranking fifth-globally in the category of high quality publications and excellence rate.”  The institute was in need of major funding.

In attempts to educate the public and raise awareness about Salk, Hoang created “Walk for Salk and the Explore Salk events.” Hoang’s plan worked, the Salk Institute was able to raise $300 -million in funding, yet another amazing feat accomplished by Andy Hoang.

Finally in 2013, Hoang made the move to CSULB where he is the current Chief Marketing Officer. Hoang’s presence can be seen throughout campus, from the large No Barriers banners that wrap the miles of chainlink fence on campus to the redesign of the BEACH logo, Hoang’s efforts do not go without notice.

Hoang has accomplished more than most hope to in their career. His trajectory is inspiring. The students at CSULB are lucky to have him on our team at The BEACH.