Current Position:
Founder and President of Zakeez, Inc. In 2001 Yamile Jackson founded Zakeez, Inc., the ergonomics and human factors engineering company that designs and markets products to assist children and babies, including those born prematurely. She is paying her promise to help babies because her son, Zachary survived when he was born prematurely weighing less than 2 lbs. The first invention project lasted 3 years and was completed in 2004; she was the project manager and principal investigator of a project that researched, designed, developed and patented the award-winner “the Zaky”, a hand mimetic device and pediatric bolster support system that she invented for her own son and with important support of medical personnel in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Her product is the only one in the market designed to promote child/parent bond and development of the child by simulating the touch, scent, warmth, and weight of the hand and forearm of the mother/father. It is proven to provide sensorial stimulation, improve sleep of babies and moms, reduce anxiety and restlessness, aid with pain management, as well as to assist with the baby’s physical and psychological development. It provides comfort, appropriate positioning, and a sense of security and support for healthy, ill, and disable children. Since 2001 the Zaky is used in hundreds neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, and at homes and childcare centers around the world. It has been particularly successful as baby shower presents, and it is an appropriate and welcomed gift for ill or disabled children. In the Fall of 2009, she introduced the Kangaroo Zak, a tool to facilitate Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), also known as Skin-to-Skin Contact. Some hospitals give the Kangaroo Zak as a welcome gift to parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Labor and Delivery Units to reassure the parents the importance of being with the baby. It is used at homes too. She donates items including Zakys and Kangaroo Zaks, diapers, blankets, Veinlites, and money to sick children, all ON BEHALF OF ZACHARY (OBOZ Program)
For 3 years she was an visiting professor of management at the University of Applied Sciences of Vorarlberg, Austria, where she tought 6 weeks a years. Also a visiting professor at numerous universities in the U.S. and Latin America. 1997-1998 project engineer for Kværner Process (Greenville, SC and Houston, TX), and, 2005-2006 Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Board of Directors. It is her distinct honor to be the first Latin American professional in this role of Director-at-Large. PMI is a non-for-profit, professional, and global organization dedicated to promote and advance the Project Management Profession. With the Global Operation Center in the US, PMI(R)counts with over 300,000 members in around 170 countries. Dr. Jackson was part of the research team (and co-authored) the "International Project Risk Assessment (IPRA)" of the Construction Industry Institute (CII). This tool identifies and describes the complex issues that are critical elements related to an international capital project, allowing the project team to focus on risk factors of potential concern. The IPRA is designed to facilitate risk assessment and to help address management of these concerns (2001-2004) Professional Memberships and Activities Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina): Advisory Board Member, Industrial Engineering Dept. since 2008 Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (Houston, Texas): Parent Advisory Board, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, since 2007 Texas Children's Hospital (Houston, Texas): Family team member on the HFMEA (Healthcare Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Project). The project aimed to identify potential mistakes in the transition of care from hospital to home (specifically NICU to Ambulatory), make a proactive risk assessment, and develop a plan for improvement. 2008-2009 Texas Children's Hospital (Houston, Texas) - Participated as a Family Advisor on various hospital focus groups since 2008 Project Management Institute (PMI - Global) active volunteer (1999-2006):
American Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) senior member (member since 1989) Speaking Experience Articles and Interviews of Note Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), since 1999,
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