Embarking on its 20^th anniversary year, Paradise also Promotes Nicole Brownell to SVP to Manage Expanded Account Team and New Partner Development Offerings

Paradise is stepping into its 20^th anniversary year with bold corporate promotions and division restructuring aimed at setting the agency on a firm course as it looks to redefine to better serve the changing needs of clients. 

The agency’s longest-tenured member, Rudy Webb, has been named Chief Strategy Officer. Webb had previously held the Senior Vice President, Client Services role. In addition to overseeing client strategy, relationship management and partner development, Webb will now work with the agency’s owners on implementing an ambitious growth strategy to deliver new and expanded services to clients on a national level. 

Webb started with Paradise in 2008 and has remained a significant part of the award-winning agency’s success.

Nicole Brownell, former VP, Digital Marketing, has been promoted to SVP, Client Services and Digital Innovation. In her new role, she will continue to oversee four divisions: account service, digital, new business, and partner development. The partner development division launched in January 2022 and is focused on elevating the client experience, conveying more value to clients, and delivering new partnership opportunities. 

Kristen Murphy, previously VP, Client Services and in her 11^th year at Paradise, is taking on a new role as VP, Partner Development, to manage the new client partnership division and developing opportunities to enhance partner relationships through new services and community involvement and economic development offerings.

Founded in early 2002 by the late advertising icon Cedar Hames, Paradise was acquired four years ago by Barbara Karasek, CEO, and Tony Karasek, President, both Co-owners and a dynamic husband and wife duo.

“We truly are fortunate to have the best team leading our clients down the road of success,” said Barbara Karasek. “The past four years have presented us with many challenges – hurricanes, red tide, flooding, fires, and a global pandemic. We continuously evolved while listening to the data to address consumer sentiments in real time, which paid off in huge dividends for every single one of our clients. We recognize that what we do has helped clients save tens of thousands of jobs, family livelihoods and restore communities. That is a wonderful feeling for a marketer.”

Webb added: “Paradise has been my home for so many years, and I am so proud of every single accomplishment we have achieved for our clients and the communities they serve. It’s hard to believe that we were sending faxes when I started here – and today we produce creative and media campaigns entirely for digital platforms. As we turn 20 in this fast-paced digital age, we cannot wait to further innovate and continue to have the best team for us and for our clients.”

Paradise has been on a roll, having emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever before. A full-service marketing agency that concentrates on consumer-focused brands and businesses, Paradise is known for delivering innovative and data-led brand and integrated marketing strategies that drive brand loyalty, business growth and bottom lines. With a quarter of the staff’s roots in both DMO and hospitality roles, the agency has distinguished itself in the travel and tourism space. Despite the challenges over the last four years, the agency now handles nearly two dozen nationwide clients across five states from its headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as remote team members based in Austin, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Naples, FL, Orlando, FL and Sarasota, FL.

In 2021 alone, Paradise expanded its client roster with double-digit growth: Jekyll Island Resort Club and Visit Savannah (Georgia); Shreveport-Bossier CVB (Louisiana); One Spartanburg (South Carolina); Eureka Springs Advertising & Promotion Committee and Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association (Arkansas); and Orlando Health, Columbia County CVB, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and Brown Fertility (Florida).

“We were confident when we acquired Paradise that the agency would continue to be among the top advertising firms in the country, given the established winning culture and successful core leadership team, which is still in place today – and now amplified with equally terrific new talent in all areas of the agency,” said Tony Karasek. “Exceeding client expectations and nurturing an engaged and dedicated team is what we want to continue to uphold to the highest standards of excellence.”

To support its ambitious goals, the agency this month added three new team members: Ashley Cannon, Group Director and Greg Insco, Senior Art Director, both based in Sarasota, Florida; and Ashley Dowgwillo, Account Director and based in Austin, Texas.