Sound Publishing Inc. has appointed Jeff Hayden publisher of the Homer News and the Kenai Peninsula Clarion. Hayden started his new position on Monday, Feb. 11.

“I am pleased to put the day-to-day operations of the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion in Jeff’s capable hands,” said Terry Ward, regional publisher and vice-president for Sound Publishing. “Jeff has a deep-rooted desire to help local businesses with their marketing and a passion for community journalism. Those two combined will serve the Kenai Peninsula well for years to come.”

Hayden, 62, moved to Alaska from Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. He most recently worked as publisher for GateHouse Media. GateHouse had been the former owner of the Homer News, Peninsula Clarion and Juneau Empire before Sound Publishing purchased the three Alaska papers in May 2018.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity here,” Hayden said. “We’ve got a very dedicated and well educated staff of folks at both locations. “I see great things coming from our two locations for our advertisers and readers.”

Raised in Albany, New York, Hayden graduated from the State University of New York, Albany, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He started in publishing when he worked for his father’s company, Lee Printing of Albany. After working for his dad through high school and college, Hayden left to work for Nestle’s as a second-shift production manager. After eight years he returned to the family business, and then worked as advertising director at the Times News, Erie, Pennsylvania, and then Trinity Holdings in Erie. He later published the Pennysaver in Erie. Hayden worked as a consulant before his position at GateHouse.

Although new to Alaska, Hayden has family in Homer. His wife, Vicky’s, sister and husband live here.

Used to the harsh winters of upstate New York and the Pennsylvania mountains, Hayden said of the Kenai Peninsula, “I think I came up here to get warm.”

Sound Publishing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Press, a Victoria, British Columbia company with publications in Canada, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska and California.

Founded in 1975 by current chairman and owner David Black, Black Press owns more than 150 publications.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.