The Zoo York Institute is kicking off Z007 with a bang by welcoming nine new hires to the family.

Brian Mackin joins Zoo's Marketing Department as Art Director. In his new role, Mackin will focus on all creative needs surrounding tradeshows, print ads, POP, catalogs, and related marketing collateral. He will also provide creative support to Zoo's product team when necessary. For the past two-and-a-half years, Mackin served as Junior Art Director at Ecko Unlimited. While there he focused on all brands under the Ecko umbrella including Eckored, Ecko Unltd., Ecko Kids, Avirex, and The G-Unit Clothing Company. Mackin earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Kansas.

Another new addition to Zoo's Marketing Department is Greg Waters. As the brand’s new Communications Director, Waters will execute an array of strategic marketing communications tactics aimed at exposing new audiences to Zoo's many facets. He will also utilize Zoo's Manhattan showroom to conduct one-on-one appointments with fashion stylists and editors from major print and broadcast media outlets. For the past three years, Waters ran his own boutique PR firm in NYC with a client list that included 5boro Skateboards, Electric Visual, Forum Snowboards, Special Blend, Foursquare Outerwear, Beck(y) Sk8bags, and Fox Racing. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Vermont.

Brian Woodward joins the Zoo Crew as Design Assistant. In his new position, Woodward will provide valuable creative support to Zoo's bustling Design and Merchandising Departments. Prior to joining Zoo's design team, Woodward interned for five months in Zoo's Marketing Department where his top-notch design skills were put to good use on a wide range of projects. Woodward also has experience as a freelance clothing designer under his own label, and he is a seasoned music photographer with a B.A. in Advertising from Rowan University.

For the past six months, Pete Panciera has been working in Zoo’s Creative Services Department where he designed print ads and other marketing materials. With the New Year comes a new opportunity as Panciera recently moved into Zoo’s Design Department where he will serve as a Graphic Designer focused on skateboard and apparel graphics. Prior to Zoo, he freelanced for an array of noteworthy brands, and a while back he launched his own artist-driven T-shirt line. Panciera graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.F.A. in Communication Design. His work has appeared in Arktip, Beautiful/Decay, Re:Up, and other top design publications

Dianna Lunt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Institute. As Zoo’s new Women’s Designer, she will focus on apparel and accessories design. A New Yorker by way of Boston and Italy, she earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Lunt began her career as an Assistant Designer at Anna Sui where she designed cut-n-sew knits, graphic tees, and accessories. In addition, over the years she has held full-time and freelance positions at a range of sportswear companies including L.A.M.B. and Gap, Inc. where her primary responsibilities were product design and CAD development.

Fresh out of college, Phallen Coyne joins Zoo as its new Women's Graphic Designer. During the summer of 2006, Coyne interned at Marc Ecko Enterprises and she is psyched to be back in the mix as a full-time Z.Y. Official. She graduated from the Art Institute of Washington (D.C.) with a degree in Graphic Design.

Native New Yorker John Villarin joins Zoo’s design team as its new Menswear & Accessories Designer. Born and raised in Harlem, Villarin designed men’s knitwear at Avirex prior to his arrival at Zoo. He honed his design skills at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology, and kicked off his fashion career at the Parigi Group where he designed urban-inspired kidswear for a variety of prominent labels including Phat Farm, Akademiks, and Enyce.

Zoo’s already stacked Design Department got a boost by adding seasoned pro Damien Correll to the squad as its new Graphic Designer. For the past two years, Correll worked at Urban Outfitters as a Senior Designer. He has also worked on numerous freelance projects for noted clients K2 Snowboards, Rome SDS, Free People, Rockstar Games, EXPN, and others. His illustrations and typeface creations have been featured in some of today’s most respected print publications including Complex, The New York Times, and Swindle Quarterly. He graduated from Philadelphia’s University of Arts with a degree in Multimedia.

Rounding out the new additions to the Zoo roster is Scotty Blenkarn. As Zoo’s new Men’s Designer, Blenkarn is responsible for bottoms, outerwear, and seasonal categories. Prior to joining Zoo, Blenkarn worked at Sessions Apparel where he designed men’s streetwear, gloves, headwear, and accessories, as well as women’s outerwear. Before his lengthy tenure at Sessions began, Blenkarn worked at Volcom Clothing. A California native who attended Irvine Valley College, Blenkarn grew up skateboarding and snowboarding and has been immersed in the action sports world in one form or another his entire life.