A team-builder, seasoned newspaper man and digital media maestro has announced his retirement from Highland Lakes Publishing (HLP).
“It has been an honor and privilege to be part of the Highland Lakes Publishing team serving as Publisher,” Shabram said. “The Highlander and the Burnet Bulletin are an improvement media source that supports our Highland Lakes communities.”
Since November 2019, Shabram not only directed a team of editorial, advertising and circulation staff, but managed the design, editing and production process of a myriad of publications.
Shabram was pivotal in stewarding the creation of several magazines including Lake Country Living, Discover Highland Lakes (seasonal editions), Summer Fun & Outdoors, Women of the Workforce (WOW) and Wellness Highland Lakes.
The new publications complimented HLP staple products such as Readers’ Choice, Hunters’ Guide, Fall Sports Guides, Gift Guides and Home Improvement.
During his tenure, he focused on cultivating a team of personnel to lay the foundation for the evolution of an essential industry.
“Our circulation grew as the community which also embraced not only our comprehensive news, sports and features in the newspapers but signature special sections as well,” he said.
He credits the growth, success and community’s embrace of the publications and to the staff.
“The team worked hard to cultivate multimedia platforms, both print and online,” he said.
Prior to settling in the Highland Lakes, Shabram was the publisher of the Hearst-owned Midland Reporter-Telegram and oversaw Hearst’s west Texas media publications as president and group publisher from 2015 to present. Shabram took over the reins for the Highlander and Bulletin staff on Nov. 4, 2019.
His first brush with newspapers goes as far back as the 1960s as a paper boy. A couple of decades later he solidified his sales and media career pathway from all parts of the country before settling in Texas.
Prior to his time in west Texas, Shabram spent several years as a digital media executive from Omaha, Nebraska which included stints as the senior and corporate director of Digital Agency Services in the Berkshire Hathaway Digital Services Division.
He believes the Highland Lakes area is on the cusp of an explosion in development and remains “con- fident the staff would seamlessly keep pace with the needs of the community they serve.”
Shabram honed a keen understanding of the unique characteristics of Marble Falls, Burnet, Cottonwood Shores, Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, Horseshoe Bay, Kingsland, Meadowlakes and Llano area communities.
He said he has no plans to leave the community but expects to continue contributing to community projects such as the Hill Country 100 Club and events as well as work on a few symphonies he has had on the back burner.
He and his wife, Judith, have two married daughters and four granddaughters and a grandson.
He added, “I am forever grateful to be part of this community and the vital news source that supports it.”
