Get in touch
800.887.7902
info@yoeebaby.com
OUR TEAM
Bill and Jillian are friends, parents, and innovators who believe babies are born ready to play. Jillian had the idea of Yoee Baby, told her buddy Bill, and the journey to bring Yoee Baby to life began. But, they couldn’t do it without help so, in addition to their spouses, they brought together some of the best minds in the early childhood development and juvenile products industries to guide their efforts. Their advisors are stacked with people from Tomy, Sesame Street and Fisher-Price. Then, they searched the world for the best manufacturing partner and they were off to the races.
Their dream is to build a factory and manufacture in their home state of Colorado. Stay tuned for the next Kickstarter campaign! We are growing fast. If you have an intersted in helping to develop the world's greatest platform for early bonding and connections, please reach out. info@yoeebaby.com
BOARD OF ADVISORS:
Caren Shalek, John Brady, Justin Demes, Leslie Donavan, Dr. Laura Jana
Jillian Lakritz
Jillian has helped both Fortune 500 and start-up clients across multiple industries develop successful product, brand and growth strategies. Her interest in innovation and brands is fueled by her natural curiosity, fascination with human behavior, creative instincts and love of new products. She’s an idea person through and through and has a unique knack for connecting the dots that lead to big ideas. Yoee Baby represents a convergence of her professional and personal passions.
Jillian is the founding member and Chair of the Colorado Chapter of Women In Toys and is often a speaker at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado - Boulder, where she received her MBA in Marketing & Entrepreneurship. She’s a lover of the arts and when she’s not working has been known to express her creativity, spontaneity and sense of humor on stage performing improv comedy.
She grew up in Ann Arbor, MI, and now lives in Boulder with her husband and two girls.
Bill Donavan
For 25 years Bill has worked in the field of visual communications and strategy development for entrepreneurs, start-ups and Fortune 500 agency teams. His New-Media Design Studio has provided a foil for a life of paragliding and high-alpine whatnot. After art school he owned a commercial screen printing company in Jackson Hole, and a hot springs getaway in Colorado.
More global travel is on the agenda to promote Yoee Baby, and to pursue ongoing film projects. Bill is an outspoken advocate on public education issues.
Bill's wife and partner of 25 years, is also a designer and commercial illustrator. They have two amazing boys. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Bill now resides deep in the mountains of Colorado.
contact@mail.com
Laura Donavan
After design school, Laura worked in an ad agency in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Later, she and Bill bought a screen printing company, which allowed them to work remotely. With the dream of having a couple kids, she and Bill moved to a farm house in northwest Montana, where they opened a design studio, serving clients around the world with a new technology called "the internet." Laura is an expert snowboarder, having won numerous competitions, and she shared her athletic gifts with her youngest son, Shea, who is a professional skateboarder. Her oldest son, Riley, is a Hollywood filmmaker. Laura is an ace designer, seamstress and product designer, as well as a gallery artist and photoshop wizard. Laura grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
contact@mail.com
Mike Lakritz
Mike Lakritz has over 20 years experience in tech that he brings to the Chief Technology Officer position at Yoee Baby. Starting in the mid 90's in New York City, Mike rode the first internet bubble back to Colorado in 2001 where he has been running his independent web development company and consultancy ever since. With 20+ of data analysis, database management and programming experience, Mike brings modern thinking and innovation to Yoee Baby's tech and digital marketing efforts. When not sitting at the computer, Mike is usually found on the trampoline with his daughters, playing with dogs, going fast on a motorcycle somewhere or sneaking out of the office for a back country powder stash in the mountains.
