Team

Jane Coker
Partner

Jane manages the creative and financial functions of the agency.  She is passionate about leading and inspiring the agency to achieve design solutions that solve problems. With more than two decades  of professional experience in branding and marketing strategy, packaging design, and promotion initiatives, Jane leads the firm in creating designs for hundreds of retail brands that you see on shelf every day.

She directs conceptual development of new brands, brand architecture analysis and design, strategic brand positioning, competitive category analysis, and visual and verbal brand identity development that help bring brands to life in a truly relevant way.

Jane gained branding and marketing expertise on both the agency and client sides. Early in her career as an Industrial Designer, she managed design initiatives for innovative soft drink vending and fountain equipment, boating and fishing accessories, and many ergonomic and human factors studies.  She directed the development of more than 100 designs for Olympic trading pins.

She also led packaging and promotion initiatives from inception through execution and completion for The Coca-Cola Company which included packaging rebranding for Minute Maid Orange Soda and Caffeine Free Coca-Cola Classic. Her designs for Cherry Coke packaging are included in “The Look of the Century” from Cooper-Hewitt, The National Design Museum and The Smithsonian Institute. She managed packaging promotions such as Coca-Cola Pop Music, which included one of the first CD package inserts.

Jane was named one of the top People to Watch by Graphic Design USA.  She and the team at LIFT have received awards from Paperboard Packaging Council, Beverage World Magazine – Beverage Packaging Global Design Awards, Packaging Design Council International, Graphic Design USA – American Graphic Design Awards, Print Magazine’s Design Annual, Graphics, and Printing Industry Association of Georgia.  They have been published in Letterhead and Logo Design, Beverage World Magazine, American Corporate Identity, Graphic Design USA, Print Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Tech Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Graphics, Women In Packaging, USA Today, and Create Magazine.

Jane’s calm demeanor exudes confidence and reflects a genuine concern for a client’s design challenge relative to the brand’s business proposition. With a perfectionist’s eye for details and a vision for success, you’ll find Jane to be a pleasurable and levelheaded partner in growing your brand.

Beth McPherson
Partner

Beth manages the client services and marketing functions of the agency. With a unique marketing perspective built from her marketing leadership and fervent entrepreneurial spirit, Beth brings more than two decades of professional client and agency experience where she has directed strategic planning, creative development, cost effective production and operational implementation for a plethora of national, regional and private label brands.

She leads brainstorming and ideation sessions that foster strategic design solutions. And, as a creative and strategic thinker, is able to incorporate clients’ marketing objectives into effective packaging and branding programs. She has guided strategic analysis, consumer research, brand identity and positioning, and brand architecture initiatives resulting in the conceptual development of new brands and the revitalization of existing brands for start-up, established, and Fortune 500 companies.

Previous to becoming a partner at LIFT in 1998, Beth managed a variety of marketing objectives for The Coca-Cola Company where she led the team for special projects relative to Olympics, Image, and Presence.  Additionally, she managed production and market implementation of national promotional packaging graphics such as Mattel Toy Money.

Beth was named one of the top People to Watch by Graphic Design USA.  She and the team at LIFT have received awards from Paperboard Packaging Council, Beverage World Magazine – Beverage Packaging Global Design Awards, Packaging Design Council International, Graphic Design USA – American Graphic Design Awards, Print Magazine’s Design Annual, Graphis, and Printing Industry Association of Georgia.  They have been published in Letterhead and Logo Design, Beverage World Magazine, American Corporate Identity, Graphic Design USA, Print Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Tech Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Graphis, Women In Packaging, USA Today, and Create Magazine.

Beth’s enthusiasm and intrinsic understanding of consumer needs gives you an edge in consumer branding and helps uncover new ways to grow your business.  A deep commitment to the agency-client relationship is evidenced by her honest communication, refreshing approach to problem-solving, and genuine concern for your business challenges. Results-driven and strategically grounded, you will find Beth an effective partner in connecting your brand to consumers.

Mike McPherson
Director, Strategy and Operations

Relative to strategy and planning, Mike incorporates clients’ marketing objectives into effective branding strategies for identity, new product innovation, packaging and promotion initiatives, partnership development and activation. He analyzes key metric data, leads brainstorming and ideation sessions, and develops integrated marketing solutions that foster strategic designs, partnerships and promotional programs, creating value for brands.

Mike also manages the operational side of the agency relative to human resources, talent acquisition and outside vendors and agencies. Other activities include estimating, billing, quality control, timekeeping management, monitoring budgets and deliverables.

Specialties: Integrated marketing, brand identity, trade marketing, shopper marketing, brand and package design, new product innovation and development, line extensions, consumer promotions, customer-specific marketing, product marketing, digital and social marketing, games and sweepstakes, partnership development and activation, agency evaluation and management.

Mike serves on the board of directors and as Assistant Treasurer for PAPA – the Performing Arts Patrons Association – in support of the Cobb County Center for Excellence in Performing Arts – the nationally recognized performing arts, high school magnet program.