POULSBO — Terry R. Ward, group publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette, and Forks Forum, has been promoted to regional publisher by Sound Publishing and will now oversee all of its Kitsap County publications in addition to the publications on the northern Olympic Peninsula.

Additionally, Donna Etchey is promoted to the position of general manager of Sound Publishing’s Kitsap County publications. She was previously regional advertising manager.

The announcement came April 13 from Sound Publishing president Gloria Fletcher.

“I’m thrilled that Terry is joining our already accomplished team of professionals in Kitsap County,” she said. “He brings a wealth of ideas and a true understanding of the deep connection necessary between our business and the communities we serve.

“That said though, I’m equally excited that Donna will continue her tenure with Sound Publishing. Donna is a fountain of enthusiasm and talent with a tremendous belief in her home county. These two will make a good team.”

Ward succeeds Lori Maxim, who resigned in March to join Morris Multimedia in Georgia.

Ward, who described himself as a “big advocate of social media,” said this is an “exciting time for the newspaper industry.”

“Our strong community-oriented newspapers are growing by leaps and bounds at a time when many newspaper companies are shrinking,” he said. “I take on this new role with a great appreciation for the support and enthusiasm Sound Publishing offers to the communities it serves and I will continue to honor that tradition.”

Etchey, a former publisher of the North Kitsap Herald and Bainbridge Island Review, said she’s excited about her new role. “Continuing the tradition of Sound Publishing of producing hyper-local news will continue to be our focus,” she said. “Our industry is changing every day and we need to be able to change along with it. We offer our businesses and readers an array of products and publications — from our weekly print publications to 24/7 online to various specialty publications throughout the year.”

Ward, 43, joined Sound Publishing as group publisher in September 2015. He previously was the CEO of KPC Media Group, overseeing 22 publications in Northeast Indiana.

A native of Oklahoma, Ward started his career as a reporter in high school at his hometown newspaper in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Prior to his position with KPC Media Group, Ward was the director of sales and digital for GateHouse Media’s Community Newspaper Division where he worked in a leadership capacity with publishers, advertising directors, sales managers and their teams representing 142 publications and related digital portfolios at 72 operating locations in 11 states. Ward and his wife Quinn have three small children in addition to his five grown children and one grandson.

Publications under Ward’s leadership now include the Bainbridge Island Review, 98110, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter, Forks Forum, Kingston Community News, Kitsap Military Times, North Kitsap Herald, Peninsula Daily News, Peninsula Homes-Land Magazine, Port Orchard Independent, and Sequim Gazette.

Etchey has been with Sound Publishing since 1996, serving in sales and publisher roles. In 2014, she was named advertising director of all of Sound’s weekly, monthly and specialty publications in Kitsap, including Discover Kitsap and the arts and entertainment section Kitsap Weekly.

Etchey serves on the boards of the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. She is a past president of the Poulsbo and Kingston chambers of commerce, is past board member of the Downtown Bainbridge Island Association, and is a member of the Poulsbo/North Kitsap Rotary Club. Etchey lives in the Poulsbo/Silverdale area and has three grown children and one grandson.