David F. Chazen '86

David Chazen is the founding partner of Strategic Equity Investors, a real estate investment firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm focuses on three verticals: Strategic Government Properties specializes in the ownership of U.S. Government mission-critical security facilities, Strategic Healthcare Properties invests in outpatient medical facilities, and Strategic Credit Investors is a specialized real estate lending platform.

In addition to his role at Strategic Equity Investors, David serves as managing director of Chazen Capital Partners, a private investment firm in New York City. Chazen Capital provides equity capital and management assistance to consumer-focused businesses.

David began his career at Goldman, Sachs working with private and institutional clients. He left Wall Street to begin a career as an entrepreneur, focusing on consumer products, and started Good Stuff Corporation as his first entrepreneurial pursuit two years after receiving his MBA. Good Stuff, founded as a toy company, became well known for relaunching classic toy brands including Simon®, Lite Brite®, View-Master®, and many more.

David is actively involved in various non-profit and community organizations. He serves on the board and advancement committee of High Jump, an educational non-profit in Chicago, and is the co-founder of the Aspen Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. Additionally, David serves on the Grants Committee for the Aspen Community Foundation, serves on the boards of Theatre Aspen and Aspen Film, and is a member of the National Council of Jazz Aspen and the Socrates Society of the Aspen Institute.

David received his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from Columbia Business School.  He is married to Lauren Chazen and is the proud father of Jasper and Fiona, both in high school. David has run 27 New York City Marathons and counting. He lives in Chicago.