PRSA Idaho Chapter Named New President on September 14
The appointment of a new chapter leader signals a shift toward expanding professional membership beyond Boise.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People
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On September 14, 2026, the Idaho Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America appointed Tony Lima as its new president. Lima, a veteran with over 25 years of experience, is the first leader of the group to hail from eastern Idaho.
Why it matters
The appointment aims to decentralize the organization's influence, with leadership explicitly targeting membership growth across the state to move beyond its traditional Boise-centric focus. The group currently seeks to expand its reach through a mix of virtual and in-person programming.
The Idaho Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America currently maintains a roster of 50 members. New president Tony Lima brings over 25 years of industry experience to a one-year term.
The players
Tony Lima
An executive with over 25 years of experience currently serving as vice president of public relations and SEO at Melaleuca.
Public Relations Society of America Idaho Chapter
A state-level professional association that provides networking, development, and leadership opportunities for public relations practitioners.
Melaleuca
A manufacturer and distributor of wellness products that manages internal public relations and SEO through a dedicated corporate team.
Malcolm Hong
A past president who led the Idaho Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America between 2023 and 2025.
The details
The organization provides professional development and networking for public relations practitioners. By appointing a leader based in Idaho Falls, the chapter intends to utilize a stronger regional approach to attract talent and members currently underserved by Boise-based events. The group plans to support this expansion by scaling its virtual programming alongside traditional local meetups.
Timeline
Malcolm Hong served as PRSA Idaho president from 2023 to 2025.
Tony Lima was officially appointed president on September 14, 2026.
An event regarding the evolving media landscape is scheduled for October 14, 2026.
Market Landscape
The chapter's strategy follows the broader industry trend of adopting hybrid programming to overcome geographic barriers in professional association growth. This transition mirrors the move toward decentralized engagement seen in many trade groups aiming to expand their regional reach.
Operators in the regional media and communications space should monitor the chapter's new programming schedule for potential networking and development opportunities. Businesses looking for PR talent or services may find a more geographically diverse network as the group expands its outreach.
The takeaway
The appointment signals a pivot toward inclusive, statewide engagement for professional bodies in the region. Operators should track the chapter's October 14 event as a lead indicator for how the group plans to integrate virtual programming to scale membership.
What happens next
The chapter will host a program on the evolving media landscape on October 14, 2026.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and networking trends, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Idaho News.
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