Four New Members Elected to Shedd Aquarium Board of Trustees

CHICAGO – Shedd Aquarium announces the election of four new members to the aquarium’s prestigious Board of Trustees. The additions bring with them professional expertise, thought leadership, demonstrated philanthropy and important community connections that strengthen the Board’s ability to carry out the aquarium’s mission.

“Shedd Aquarium’s Board is thrilled to begin working with these distinguished leaders, who I know are just as eager to advance the great work of the aquarium,” said David J. Koo, retired senior partner at RoundTable Healthcare Partners and Shedd Aquarium Board Chair. “The contributions of these new members will be invaluable as Shedd continues to evolve its historic home and accelerate its mission as part of our Centennial Commitment strategic plan.”  

About Shedd’s New Trustees:   

• Neil Book has served as Chairman & CEO of Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI) since 2012. Prior to his time at JSSI, Book was a leader in the software and cyber security industry, founding SMobile Systems and serving at President & CEO until 2010, when he sold the firm to Juniper Networks.
• Dominic Curcio co-founded Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory firm, in 1999, where he most recently served as Vice Chairman of the Board.

• Suzanne Yoon is the founding and Managing Partner of Kinzie Capital Partners LLC, a private equity firm established in 2017. Yoon has 25 years of experience advising and investing in middle market companies, having previously served as Managing Director at Versa Capital Management.
• Rev. Dr. Michael C. R. Nabors is the senior pastor at Evanston’s historic Second Baptist Church – one of the oldest African American congregations on the North Shore. Alongside his role as a faith leader, Nabors has a long history of fighting systemic racism and advocating for social justice. Nabors was previously appointed as a Shedd Honorary Trustee in 2022 and now joins the Board as a full voting member.

“With every addition to our energized and accomplished Board, we magnify our ability to make a positive impact for people, for communities and for aquatic life,” said Bridget Coughlin, PhD, president and CEO of Shedd Aquarium. “The tireless work and unmatched generosity demonstrated by our new members – and indeed by our full Board – will be felt for generations to come, as we prepare the aquarium for our centennial in 2030 and for the next 100 years.”   

Shedd is governed by the Shedd Aquarium Society, composed of volunteer corporate, civic and community leaders that make up the Board of Trustees with the primary responsibility for governance oversight and fiduciary accountability, as outlined in the Society’s bylaws.  The board provides strategic direction for institutional priorities through work in both governance and programmatic committees.  

PHOTOS: Headshots of the new trustees can be viewed and downloaded here:  

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