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Katie Garagiola
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
I’m a mom of 3 little boys. I have lived in Austin, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Ann Arbor. I love to travel; my most favorite places are Barlioche, Argentina and L’Isla sur la Sorgue, France. I am a lifelong collector of oddities: thimbles, shark’s teeth, old buttons, etc. I am drawn to things that are imaginative, fun, edgy, and absolutely unique…like Zebonky!
Hometown: Metro Detroit
Job: Assistant Professor at UNO
Education: NYU and USC
Favorite Zebonky: Charlie Chimpanzeetah
If I could have a superpower: Time Travel
Favorite cartoons: Good Morning Mickey, Bluey
Favorite kids book: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Favorite adult book: The Talisman
My hero: Dr. Seuss -
Chris Fontenot, Jr.
CO-FOUNDER & CCO
I’m a father of a 7-year-old, knuckle-headed, brilliant little boy. Zebonky is an opportunity for me to create something exciting and new that aligns with my interests. New Orleans’ artistry, diversity, and wildlife have always been a part of my world. As a kid, I worked as a Jr. Keeper for the Audubon Nature Institute in Hoofstock and E.A.B. (The Educational Animal Building).
Hometown: New Orleans
Job: Creative Designer
Favorite Zebonky: Ricky Raccatoo
If I could have a superpower: Luck
Favorite childhood cartoon: Dragon Ball
Favorite toy: Gameboy
Favorite book: Ferdinand
My hero: Bob Marley -
Michael Masson
CO-FOUNDER & CRO
I'm a dad of 3 energetic little boys. I cherish the vibrant culture and creative spirit of my hometown, which ignited my love for music, art, food, and history. I bring to Zebonky a blend of creativity, leadership, technical expertise, and passion for storytelling honed through years in media and entertainment. Outside of my career, I'm a lifelong learner, searching for the path less traveled and untold stories of why we're here and how we might leave this small blue dot better for the next generation.
Hometown: New Orleans
Job: Dad, Media & Entertainment Strategist
Favorite Zebonky: Axel Axolotter
If I could have a superpower: Astral Projection
Favorite childhood cartoon: Scooby-Doo
Favorite toy: NES
Favorite book: The Alchemist
My hero: My Grandfather
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Lindsay Sydenham
MARKETING DIRECTOR
I’m a proud mom of two girls and a firm believer in raising strong, kind, and curious humans. At Zebonky, I bring my creative mind to all things Marketing, helping share our mission to nurture imagination and emotional intelligence in kids. Music fuels my creativity — I play bass guitar and piano, go to as many concerts as I can, and never turn down karaoke to my favorite ’90s and Y2K hits.
Hometown: Seattle
Job: Marketing
Education: BYU
Favorite Zebonky: Charlie Chimpanzeetah
If I could have a superpower: Teleportation
Favorite cartoons: Bluey and Fern Gully
Favorite kids book: Room on the Broom
Favorite adult book: The Alchemist
My hero: Michelle Obama -
Kevin Carrier
STRATEGY OFFICER
I am the father of a joyful, energetic little boy. My roots are Midwest and I love it, originally from Michigan and currently in Chicago. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to live around the world, experiences that have broadened my perspective and instilled a deep sense of curiosity and desire to explore. I bring to Zebonky a professional blend of strategic and operational expertise, tempered by a nerdly passion for toys, games, and creating things.
Hometown: Rockford, MI
Job: Strategy & Business Operations
Education: Notre Dame, University of Michigan
Favorite Zebonky: Shaan Sharmadillo
If I could have a superpower: Portal travel
Favorite cartoons: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Favorite kids book: The Redwall Series
Favorite adult book: Tribe, Calvin & Hobbes
My hero: People who take risks and follow their passions -
Ashley Dylenski
FOUNDING PARTNER
As a former English teacher, and mom to a delightful six-year-old boy, I am obsessed with great stories and fascinating characters. I never imagined that I would get the chance to bring a new story to life! I wanted to be a part of the Zebonky team the moment I saw the Zebonky prototype art taped to Katie’s office wall! I am excited and honored to create high-quality toys and captivating characters and stories for my child and yours.
Hometown: Loveland, Ohio
Job: Attorney, Mom
Favorite Zebonky: Sofia Squffalo
If I could have a superpower: Flight
Favorite cartoons: Rugrats and Dinosaur Train
Favorite toy: Legos
Favorite book: Matilda
My hero: Nellie Bly
Our Story
HI! Thanks for exploring our company, our characters and our magical world.
Zebonky began with a simple, slightly wild idea. Inspired by a real-life zebra-donkey hybrid (a zedonk!), we imagined an entire cast of wonderfully silly, delightfully lovable hybrid creatures – each with their own backstory, personalities and magical Z-Powers!
The spark was first lit in 2010, when I dreamed up this idea for a class project while attending USC’s Peter Stark Program. The idea stayed tucked away for years, quietly waiting for the right moment to come alive.
That moment arrived when I re-connected with Chris, a wildly talented visual artist and one of my former film students from the University of New Orleans. Knowing his creative range, I shared the idea with him, curious to see what he might dream up. Chris went to work, and when he returned with original sketches of hybrid creatures, I was blown away. I had found the creative partner I needed to build Zebonky.
Together, we began creating – the characters, the world, the stories, the look and feel. We had ideas for books, TV shows, board games, and more, but we decided to start with something tangible and full of heart: plush toys. If kids could hold these soft, lovable creatures in their arms, they could truly connect with them and the world could grow from there.
Over the next two years, we built a small but mighty Z-Team. All parents. All dreamers. All creative and innovative. All ready to build something truly special.
We have known all along that this dream is far reaching and ambitious. We aren’t just making generic plush toys. We are trying to build a UNIVERSE – a place that helps kids rediscover imagination, kindness and connection. A world that reminds kidults of the magic we grew up with (Care Bears, Smurfs, Fraggles, Pokémon, My Little Ponies, etc.).
While juggling jobs, after-school activities, weekend sports tournaments and the beautiful chaos of parenthood, our Z-Team is driven by one shared hope: to create a safe space for discovery, laughter, nostalgia and connection to nature. As parents, we’ve all seen firsthand how our own children are most calm and balanced when they’re outside exploring the world around them. That simple truth is the heartbeat of Zebonky.
Thanks for being part of our journey! One plush, one story, one wild idea at a time.
Cheers,
Katie & Chris
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Have you met the Zebonkies yet?
