COMTO Member Spotlight

Suzanne Arkle

ZANN

President and CEO

Suzanne Arkle is President and CEO of ZANN, a management consulting firm that advises clients on small business growth, economic opportunity, scaling strategies, and participation on mega projects. 

One of ZANN’s earliest projects was with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, where it created the Eagle P3 Project ($2.3 B), a small/diverse business and workforce program which was a part of RTD’s $7B transit expansion program. That work helped shape ZANN’s approach to economic inclusion, with a focus on supporting firms to improve operational readiness, financial stability, and long-term growth.

As a result, in 2011, Suzanne developed and launched CapBuild™, on the nation’s first comprehensive small business program for the alternative delivery model (P3).  This program provides customized assessments, capital and bond placement, and business advisory services.

In 2019, as a capacity building program, Suzanne launched CapBuild™ on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), $2.1 B Red Purple Modernization Project.  Its success at providing access to capital to small and diverse businesses prompted CTA to have ZANN deliver CapBuild™ agency-wide. As a result, Building Small Businesses (BSB), powered by CapBuild™, has been incorporated into the capacity building services provided by CTA.  BSB is a financial sustainability platform that provides access to capital, bonding, and procurement opportunities for small businesses.

ZANN’s initial involvement in the Pacific Northwest came via the Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 520 Montlake Project, where Suzanne served as Inclusion Manager. Since then, ZANN has continued growing its presence throughout the Puget Sound region, supporting agencies including WSDOT and Sound Transit with economic inclusion strategy, mentor-protégé program development, workforce initiatives, and equitable participation planning tied to major transportation investments.

Suzanne first joined COMTO Colorado in 2007 and has since become an active member in multiple COMTO chapters. Suzanne’s commitment to small businesses and her embodiment of COMTO’s mission have led to her win multiple COMTO national and chapter awards including Corporate Citizen of the Year (2015 - National), Historically Underutilized Business of the Year (2022 - National/ 2024 - WA), and G.W. Anderson Member of the Year (2024 - National). 

Suzanne continues to expand ZANN’s work while also pursuing new ventures, including airport concessions at Denver International Airport through SANTO, a restaurant inspired by the cuisine of New Mexico. In all her endeavors, she continues to build toward a legacy of greater economic opportunity, support for sustainable small-business growth, and helping businesses participate more fully in major infrastructure programs.