Bill Darnell (Cox BBA ’98) has a talent for start-up ventures.  While still in college, he founded Zoobee Inc., a manufacturer of watches featuring photographs by world renowned nature and animal photographer, Art Wolfe, that were stocked in virtually every zoo in the United States, Disney's Animal Kingdom and the Endangered Species retail chain. Bill was featured in Entrepreneur magazine in 1999 as a “Rising Star” and again in 2001 for his successful and unique marketing techniques.  Following the company’s triumphant launch, Zoobee began manufacturing and distributing watches designed to teach children how to tell time. Zoobee trademarked “Time Teaching Watches by Zoobee” and sold the watches at more than 30,000 toy stores, gift shops, and school supply stores across America, as well as online through Amazon.com.

Then, in March 2008, time stood still for Bill and his wife, Cheryl (Rohloff), when their five-month son, Billy, fell victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  There were no warning signs and no explanations, only the devastating realization that their healthy, happy baby boy was full of life one day and found lifeless in his crib the next.

Zoobee was put on hold with plans to resume in the near future. The Darnells decided to channel their grief toward helping other families also dealing with SIDS by founding SIDS America (www.sidsamerica.org). 

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