Rick Lopez
On LinkedIn
Managing Director
Rick Lopez is a Managing Director of Blackford Capital, having joined the firm officially in 2025. He has over 25 years of experience in finance, investment banking and private equity investing. Rick primarily oversees the firm’s fundraising and Investor Relations, in addition to assisting with transaction sourcing, investment analysis, portfolio construction and management, deal financing, and internal operations. Rick is based out of our Chicago office.
History & Education
Prior to joining Blackford Capital, he was a Partner and Co-Founder at Rush Street Capital, a middle market investment bank specializing in capital raising for private equity firms and their portfolio companies. Rick led the capital markets group overseeing deal sourcing and execution, sponsor relationship management, capital provider relationship management, deal structuring and negotiating, and managing the closing process. While at Rush Street, Rick also worked closely with their private investment arm, Rush Street Ventures, to assist with deal sourcing, portfolio management, and served on the boards of its two portfolio companies. During Rick’s time at Rush Street Capital, he was tasked at leading M&A processes through closing while optimizing the capital structure and ensuring that all stakeholders were aligned for a successful transaction.
Prior to Rush Street Capital, Rick spent over 15 years at financial institutions working within consumer and corporate bond units at Chase Bank and commercial lending groups at LaSalle Bank, BMO, and Huntington Bank. Rick was a graduate of LaSalle Bank’s credit training program in Chicago and during his lending career, he was responsible for sourcing and underwriting cash flow and asset based loans to middle market businesses and sponsors.
Rick received his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a master’s degree in business administration from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Professional Activities
Rick is a board member at Rush Street Venture’s religious ecommerce goods platform and its residential home services business. Rick also serves as a board member and treasurer of the Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago-West and is an active ACG Chicago-Private Equity and M&A Committee member.
Outside of Work
Rick enjoys early morning bootcamps with F3 Naperville, soccer with his son (the two attended the 2026 World Cup together), and getting to as many Chicago sporting events as he can, including plenty of time at The Friendly Confines. A self-proclaimed fantasy football guru, he’s also an eight-time league champion. Above all, Rick loves spending time with his family.