Colleen Smith Armstrong has been promoted to the position of Publisher of the Islands’ Sounder newspaper on Orcas Island. The promotion was announced this week by Lori Maxim, Sound Publishing’s Vice President for West Sound Operations.

“Colleen is a real shining star in our company,” Maxim said. “She brings a high level of energy and professionalism to the Sounder. Colleen’s leadership skills and community involvement have positioned her well for this promotion. I am confident in her abilities to give our readers and advertisers superior customer service.”

Armstrong has served as Associate Publisher of the Sounder since July 2011 and Editor since 2008. Prior to that, she managed the Islands’ Weekly on Lopez for five years.

“I’ve enjoyed learning as my job has evolved,” Armstrong said. “The Orcas community has welcomed me into the fold, and I feel very blessed to work in a place that I adore.”

Also announced was the promotion of Roxanne Angel to Publisher of The Journal of the San Juan Islands in Friday Harbor and the Islands’ Weekly on Lopez. She has been the advertising manager for The Journal since Oct. 2011. Armstrong and Angel succeed Marcia VanDyke, who has overseen Sound’s San Juan Islands newspaper operations for the past year. VanDyke will resume her duties as full-time Publisher of the Whidbey News-Times and South Whidbey Record and Veterans’ Life monthly.

“It’s been such a wonderful opportunity to return to the San Juans to facilitate the necessary changes to ensure future growth,” VanDyke said. “I have been fortunate to find two amazing people to take over the role of publisher in Colleen and Roxanne.”