Zakeez
Sam Dubinsky

This is an ergonomics and human factors company that specializes in the research and development of products and services that improve the quality of life of children, especially those born prematurely.

Founded in 2001, Zakeez is named after Zachary, son of Dr. Yamile Jackson, as a result of a promise she made to God when Zachary was hospitalized for 5 months after his birth. Zackary was born 3 months ahead of schedule and weighed less than 2 pounds. Chronic lung disease kept him on a ventilator in the neonatal ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Then when he was 3 weeks old, power failures from Tropical Storm Allison shut down his life support machines. But he held on. He spent months tethered to monitors that watched his every breath, measured every beat and recorded each rhythm of his too young life. “It was extremely hard for me to leave him every night,” recalls Dr. Jackson. “One time I told my husband, I wish I could cut off my hand and leave it with Zackary.” Instead, Jackson – who has a PhD in industrial engineering – did the next best thing. She designed a pillow that mimics the look and feel of a human hand and forearm that soothes and provides support for infants when their mothers can’t be with them. And, this is how the “Zaky” was born.

Jackson, founder and Company President, started the research in 2001 and marketing the Zakey in 2004. Zachary, now 5-years old, is the CIO (Chief Inspirational Officer). Officed in Houston, Texas just a couple of miles away from the Texas Medical Center, Jackson is quick to tout her “staff of wonderful people that share our mission of helping babies.”

The first product that was patented and released is the hand mimetic device and pediatric bolster support system called “The Zaky®.” It assists with the comfort, support, positioning and sense of protection of babies while allows mom to leave her scent and touch helping mom-child feel closer to each other. It took 3 years to research, develop, and test the Zaky in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Texas Medical Center Hospital, where Zachary was born. It is also used for healthy and special children, and babies that are sick in the US, Latin America, Canada, Africa, and Europe. Zakeez started marketing the Zaky in 2004.

The Zaky’s ergonomic design is under patent pending status and it is proven to work in Neonatal Intensive Care Units levels 2 and 3 in children’s hospitals in the Houston area for over two years. 

Contacts Information: Dr. Yamile C. Jackson: Tele – (713) 942-8186; web site – www.zakeez.com

Testimonial for SCORE (February 2, 2007)

In my judgment, SCORE was fundamental especially for the conceptual phase of my company. At the time of my first visit to SCORE in 2004, I had 12 years of experience in the area of project management and I offered engineering services. I had just founded Zakeez, Inc. to market the product that I invented called the Zaky® (inspired and originally made for my son, Zachary). I was transitioning from offering engineering services, to offering a product for families, hospitals and child-care centers.

The volunteers are experts in different areas and gave me their objective opinions, shared with me their valuable experiences, and the information they gave me was tailored to my needs, supporting my vision and strategy, all in a non-threatening environment.

As a specific example, I was going to exhibit at my first Trade Show for retailers in 2004, and Sam Dubinsky (from the Houston branch) helped me with information about what to expect, how to prepare, the roles and responsibilities of the people I should take, how to approach the customers, things to look for, and his exceptionally helpful lessons learned.

I had a really successful trade show, and now, I also exhibit at Medical Conferences because The Zaky is not only great for baby showers, it is used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, childcare facilities, sick/premature and healthy babies and children. We are finding that some adults and senior citizens in nursing homes also enjoy the softness and comfort of the Zaky when they are away from their loved ones.

Volunteers at SCORE also helped me with marketing information (brochures, website content, posters, etc) and all can be viewed at our website www.zakeez.com

My appreciation goes to all the volunteers that give so much to the small entrepreneur; they share their knowledge and experiences, and we are not the only ones that benefit - society at large does too!

Yamile C. Jackson, PhD, PE, PMP
President and Founder
Zakeez, Inc.
P.O. Box 130202
Houston, Texas 77219
yamile@zakeez.com
www.zakeez.com / www.thezaky.com
Tel: (713) 942 8186
Fax: (713) 942 9280

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