Baltimore marketing firm Imre has opened an office in Raleigh, N.C., and hired 2 new employees to work there.

Imre also said it has expanded its relationship with John Deere to include the company’s commercial business. Imre will handle public relations for the consumer and commercial product segments of the John Deere Agriculture and Turf Division. That division supplies products and services for residential, golf, government and military customers.

The agency hired McGavock Edwards and Tracy Lathan, who will work in its home and building practice.

Edwards, an industry veteran with more than 10 years of experience in public relations and marketing communications, will serve as account manager. Edwards will advise John Deere, Black & Decker and other clients.

Before joining Imre, Edwards led marketing and communications efforts at Raleigh’s Catevo Group, counseling nonprofit, banking and construction clients.

Lathan will serve as senior account executive at Imre and has worked in the marketing communications industry for more than eight years.

Prior to joining Imre, Lathan was responsible for strategy development, special event support and managing national media relations campaigns at the Catevo Group.