Michael Bontrager

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Team Lead at Square Roots Collective

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States

Overview

Michael Bontrager is the founder of Chatham Financial, a leading global financial risk management firm. He now leads the Square Roots Collective, a social impact organization focused on community revitalization. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School and is a recognized expert in creating purpose-driven, trust-centered business cultures.

Deeply influenced by his Mennonite upbringing, Michael is passionate about integrating faith and work. He channels his entrepreneurial drive into both for-profit and non-profit ventures that aim to have a positive social impact, particularly within his home community of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, where he has lived for over 30 years.

After leaving Wall Street, he started Chatham Financial in his garage, growing it into a global firm with over 700 employees.

Personality Overview

Informal

Big Picture Person

Relationship Oriented

They are always positive and upbeat, so take their promises with a pinch of salt.  They are really good at seeing what the long-term impacts of their decisions could be. They are friendly, approachable and love to make new connections.

Topics They Care About

Purpose-Driven Business
He founded both Chatham Financial and Square Roots Collective with a philosophy of maximizing trust over profit and creating a positive impact alongside financial returns.
Faith and Work
As the son of a Mennonite minister, his faith is a core motivator for his business and philanthropic ventures, focusing on stewardship and serving the community.
Community Redevelopment
His current work with Square Roots Collective is entirely focused on systemic change and economic sustainability for the community of Kennett Square, PA.

Media Appearances

Mike Bontrager is co‑founder and team lead of Square Roots Collective (Instagram Reel). Featured in Instagram

See Now

Work History

1-2019
Team Lead at Square Roots Collective
1-2019 - 3-2020
Executive Chairman at Chatham Financial
8-1991
Founder at Chatham Financial
8-1991 - 12-2018
CEO at Chatham Financial
7-1982 - 7-1991
Vice President at Chemical Bank (now part of JP Morgan Chase)

Education

1988 - 1990
MBA from The Wharton School
1979 - 1982
Education details unavailable from Wheaton College

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 43 Location : Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States Job Level : Senior Designation : Team Lead at Square Roots Collective
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Insights For Selling To Michael

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Invite them for a lunch or a drink/coffee
  • Use phrases like ‘people will love’, ‘massive impact’ etc.
  • Speak enthusiastically with energy, maintain a clear and confident tone

DONT's

  • Avoid ifs and buts, don’t talk too much about the risks etc.
  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Michael is

  • Relationship and rapport can play an important role, sometimes more than the other factors.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Michael

  • They will probably never say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Michael move?

  • They are not the quickest decision makers, their friendly attitude could be misleading.
  • Can Michael take some risk or not?

  • They can take certain risks that are unlikely to have personal consequences.

You And Michael

Personality Compatibility


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