Suzanne Yoon
Founder and Managing Partner
Founder and Managing Partner
Suzanne Yoon is the Founder and Managing Partner of Kinzie Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on control investments in lower middle market companies in the manufactured products, business services and consumer industries. She currently serves as Chair of the Investment Committee for Kinzie and as Board Chair of Kinzie’s portfolio companies Colony Display, Chelsea Lighting, GT Golf Holdings and Arctic Industries. In 2017, Suzanne launched Kinzie as part of her long-standing vision to advance the use of technology and innovation to help companies unlock value. Kinzie’s operational focus and advancement of technology leads to improved efficiency and new avenues for growth within Kinzie’s diverse portfolio of companies. In 2020, Kinzie was recognized by the Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) as the North American Female Founded Firm of the Year.
Suzanne has over 25 years of experience investing in and advising middle market companies. Before founding Kinzie, she held senior roles at Versa Capital Management, CIT Group and LaSalle Bank/ABN AMRO. She also held positions in the Special Assets Group and Restructuring Advisory at LaSalle Bank and Ernst and Young’s Corporate Finance group, respectively.
A recognized leader in both the business and civic spheres, Suzanne has extensive experience serving on private company and civic boards including the National Philanthropic Trust, Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium and the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. Suzanne is on the Steering Committee of the Women’s Association of Venture & Equity (WAVE) and is active with the Private Equity Women’s Investor Network (PEWIN). She is a member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association and The Chicago Network.
Suzanne earned her B.A. in Economics from the University of Iowa and is an Executive Scholar of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Mergers & Acquisitions named Yoon one of the Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; The Wall Street Journal recognized her as a Top Female Deal Maker Shaping Private Equity’s Present and Future in 2019 and Chicago United named her one of their Business Leaders of Color in 2021.
Suzanne lives in Chicago with her husband and three children and is an outdoor and sports enthusiast who enjoys golfing and fishing with her family.