IT Alum Zach Heng: Consultant by Day, Foodie by Night

Zach Heng-01D.C. dweller Zach Heng is living the dream every day as a Technology Consultant for Deloitte Consulting, LLP. In the two years since he’s joined the firm, he has worked with Federal health and civilian sectors implementing functional testing, application delivery and project management strategies.

But to best understand Zach, it is important to return to where it all began: Florida State University.

The Virginia native graduated from Florida State in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. As a student he served as treasurer and director of the Asian Student Union, where he expanded marketing to grow the student organization. Through his efforts, he became an active member of the Student Government Association and eventually changed the organization’s name to the Asian-American Student Union. Also an active member of Garnet & Gold Key Leadership Honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa, Seminole Torchbearers and the Association of Information Technology Professionals, he was given his final honor after graduation when he was inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame.

After graduation, Heng joined ranks at the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee, working as a Health Services and Facilities Consultant. In this role, he was responsible for network and system administration, web application and database development. Excelling in the position, Heng led development for the state-wide Help Ticketing application which is used today in Health Departments in all 67 counties.

Before working in D.C., Heng worked as a Systems Integration Consultant Analyst with Accenture, LLP a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Based in Tampa, Heng traveled all over the southeast United States working with clients like BBVA Compass Bank, Walmart, Time Warner Cable and Walt Disney World.

“One of the most noteworthy projects I had the privilege of working on was being a member of a team tasked with performing software development, system integration and testing strategies which led to the successful deployment of Disney World’s MagicBands,” shared Heng. “Weekly travels to Orlando and working in Hollywood Studios was exciting and will be one of the most memorable experiences of my career.”

Just a few years out of college and Heng was playing instrumental rolls in Florida’s public health and an innovation used by millions when taking vacations to the happiest place on earth. He was on a roll, but he wasn’t stopping yet.

April 2013 brought another change for Heng, this time in Washington D.C. to join Deloitte Consulting. The firm serves Federal government clients and Heng’s current engagement is with the United States Postal Service (USPS). His day-to-day involves working with various IT project managers to implement process improvement frameworks and methodologies to deliver high quality applications to USPS’s commercial customers.

“I lead development and execution of project management governance strategies, capture critical performance status and provide support,” he shared, “all while assuring alignment between the USPS core strategy and the cross-functional information to drive progress towards application release milestones and deployments.”

The Seminole love didn’t end with graduation. Heng is a football season ticket holder, annual Booster, a lifetime member of the Alumni Association and serves on the GOLDen Ring Council. He’s also the President & Co-Founder of the FSU Asian American Alumni group, which strives to strengthen FSU’s Asian-American alumni community. He works to bridge the gap between students and alumni providing developmental opportunities for undergraduates.

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Earlier this year, Heng was invited to the Florida IT Career (FITC) Alliance fair at the Turnbull Center to speak to prospective and current FSU students about IT Consulting as a potential career path. Drawing on his past experiences, he covered several topics including the basic skills necessary to succeed in the consulting industry and the lifestyle differences between Commercial consulting and Federal Government consulting.

When he isn’t starting a new association, innovating, creating or consulting, you can find Zach on Yelp and Instagram sharing his decadent adventures in food. “I have a history of traveling long distances just to eat,” he shared. “In that regard, I unabashedly perpetuate one of the biggest Asian stereotypes!”

Find out more about Florida State’s Information Technology program here.