Ezequiel “Zeke” Flores

Founder and CEO
Flying Concessions

Ezequiel “Zeke” Flores is Founder and CEO of Flying Concessions, an industry leading airport retail, food and beverage concessionaire. In a global business environment where experience and dedication is paramount, Flying Concessions places an emphasis on government, civic, corporate and aviation industry relationships. The Latino-owned entrepreneurial company prides itself on years of successful operations in enhancing the traveler’s experience. Mr. Flores has been called upon to serve on not only boards but also gubernatorial transition teams on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Flores served on the 2019 IL Governor Pritzker Job Creation & Economic Opportunity Transition Team. Mr. Flores also led the 2015 IL Governor Rauner Economic Development Transition Committee as Co-chair.

Flores, a Chicago native, began his career when he joined the accounting firm Arthur Andersen. He later joined Sara Lee, traveling to 14 countries and seeing firsthand how Sara Lee purchased small, local companies and built them into national brands. Flores was a key manager in the successful spin-off of Hanesbrands, Inc. (Sara Lee’s Retail/Apparel Division with $4.7 Billion of net sales). He then founded Flores Retail Corporation, a real estate company focused on public-private partnerships. He was involved in the build-out of multi-million dollar concept restaurants as well as oversaw a mixed-use real estate portfolio of over 1.7 million square feet.

Flores is an operating partner of Centre Partners, a longstanding and leading middle market private equity firm. Flores is a Centre portfolio company board member of Sabrosura, a platform investment focused on the large and growing Latino foods category. Committed to giving back, Flores is an Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Board Member, Museum of Science and Industry Board Member and former Trustee of DePaul University and the Illinois State Board of Investment, a $32 billion pension fund with over 220,000 beneficiaries/participants. Flores has served on the audit, finance and/or investment committees for the aforementioned organizations. Flores has overseen endowments in excess of $750 million.

Flores has been recognized as an Emerging Leader by the National Latino Education Institute, one of 40 Under 40 by Crain’s Chicago Business, one of 40 Under 40 by Negocios Now, and 14 Under 40 by DePaul University. Additionally, Flores received the 2016 Latino Leaders Maestro Award in the category of Entrepreneurship.

Flores graduated from DePaul University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce/Accountancy as well as a Master of Arts in Ministry from Catholic Theological Union. Flores completed the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Corporate Governance Program as well as the Stanford University Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Scaling Program. He is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association and The Economic Club of Chicago. He lives with his wife and their children in Chicago.