GRAND RAPIDS ? Lambert, Edwards & Associates, a West Michigan public and investor relations firm, has acquired John Bailey & Associates, a Metro Detroit PR agency, creating Michigan’s first coast-to-coast public relations agency. Terms of the deal was not announced.

But Lambert, Edwards Managing Partner Jeff Lambert said both entities will retain their brands, since both are well know in their respective areas. The deal makes parent company Lambert, Edwards the sixth largest PR firm in the Midwest, Lambert said, with 110 clients in 20 states.

A third office in Lansing compliments the West Michigan-Southeast Michigan mix. The combined staff of 40 generate revenues exceeding $6 million. Lambert said he is still interested in acquiring more PR firms, but for now will work to integrate the combined operations.

The acquisition of JB&A adds two practice groups ? Automotive and Public Affairs ? to LE&A?s existing three practice groups that include Consumer, Financial Communications and Health Care & Technology. It also augments LE&A?s established practice areas, highlighted by JB&A?s strength in health care and experience working with clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and several regional health systems.

“Our two firms are an ideal complement relative to our teams, client base, specialized expertise and shared passion for delivering bottom-line results for clients,” said Lambert. “We also share Michigan as our headquarters and a Midwest mentality that has translated well when we?re competing nationally against the biggest and best. Likewise, John and his team are well respected in the PR business, and I am honored to be able to build our organizations together, and ultimately, compete and win more for our clients and for our firm as a whole.”

Lambert said talks have been going on for six months.

“We set out to make acquisitions and put a big circle around the Midwest,” he said. “With JB&A we get talent, people and geography and a major metro market to add to our West Michigan presence”

John Bailey will be a partner at LE&A and continue to serve as chairman of the firm he founded in 1996, signing a long-term agreement to continue with the firm and drive its growth. JB&A president Sam Locricchio will serve as managing director and group head for the global Automotive Practice and be

joined by Michelle Culver, who will be Senior Director. Locricchio also will head the Detroit office, while JB&A Senior Vice President Emily Gerkin Palsrok will assume the role of managing director and group head for the Public Affairs Practice based in Lansing.

Since its founding in 1998, LE&A has risen to among the 10 largest Midwest-based PR firms in the U.S. and a top-20 investor relations firm nationally, according to PR industry source O’Dwyer’s.

Founded in 1996, JB&A is a national public relations agency with offices in Troy and Lansing, Mich. The firm supports a diverse mix of international, national and local companies in the automotive, telecommunications, retail, technology, health care and professional service industries.

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