Bill Marcum’s near-decade reign as publisher of Courier-Herald newspapers is coming to an end.

It was announced Monday by Sound Publishing that Marcum has been named regional sales manager of Nickel Ads for the company’s Portland, Ore., and southwest Washington publications. Sound Publishing is a major player in western Washington newspaper circles and is owner of the Courier-Herald publications serving Enumclaw and Bonney Lake/Sumner.

Marcum began working in his Portland office Tuesday, but will spend two days each week in Enumclaw, easing the transition to new management.

Marcum has 29 years in the newspaper business as an advertising director and publisher. He was director of advertising in Longview, Wash., prior to taking over as publisher of the Enumclaw Courier-Herald in January 2001.  In 2003 he started the Bonney Lake Courier-Herald, which eventually absorbed the Sumner Reporter.  The newspapers joined Sound Publishing in June of 2008. 

Marcum has been highly visible during his Courier-Herald years, serving a term as president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Advertising Executive Association. He has been a Rotarian for 25 years and served in various capacities within other community service organizations.