A native of Las Vegas, Bill earned his B.A. in American Studies, with a focus on American literature and history, from UNLV; an M.A. in English and American Studies from Purdue University; and continued in the Ph.D. program in New England and American Studies at Boston University. 

Currently, Bill is a partner in The PMA Agency, specializing in media relations, crisis communications, government affairs, community relations, public engagement, and strategic planning.

Bill taught in the English and History Departments at UNLV and, before creating Purdue Marion & Associates (the predecessor to The PMA Agency), served for 10 years as a senior aide and political designee for Senator Harry Reid, managing his state office in Las Vegas from 1989-1992 and managing his Washington, D.C. office from 1993-1999.

He has served as an advisor to numerous political campaigns, and in recognition for his continued work in public relations and government affairs, In Business Las Vegas recognized Bill Marion as a “Person of Influence”  and he was recognized as Public Relations Practitioner of the Year by the southern Nevada chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

His passion for cultural development in southern Nevada is evident in his personal and professional life. As the past chairman of the Las Vegas Arts Commission, he was responsible for passage of the percent-for-the-arts program. He was one of the founders of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Nevada Hispano Museo de Nevada, and served as Chair of The Neon Museum Board and the Board of Nevada Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

He regularly gives presentations on Las Vegas history for the Las Vegas Chamber’s Leadership Las Vegas program, and devotes time and resources to organizations such as the Outside Nevada Foundation, the Tule Springs and Gold Butte National Monument Coalitions and numerous other civic causes. In southern Nevada, Bill has made an art out of furthering both communication and culture.