Ad agency with nearly $15M in sales finds buyer

LAKEWOOD RANCH —One of the largest advertising, marketing and public relations firms in the Sarasota-Bradenton region, Grapevine Communications, has a new owner.

The founders, husband-wife team Angela Massaro-Fain and John Fain, had been working on an exit strategy for close to five years, says Massaro-Fain. They rejected at least two suitors. Then they found the right fit close by in Allison Imre Perkowski — a former sales rep and event promoter for iHeartMedia and iHeartRadio in Sarasota.

Imre Perkowski, 39, assisted Lakewood Ranch-based Grapevine at the radio station for ad placements, and she and Massaro-Fain have known each other for a decade. Massaro-Fain will remain with the company, on the board and as creative director. John Fain will remain with the firm on a short-term adviser contract. Financial terms of the deal, which took a year to come together, weren't disclosed.