# Michael Bontrager

> Michael Bontrager founded Chatham Financial in 1991 after nine years at Chemical Bank. He left the CEO role at the end of 2018 and founded Square Roots Collective in 2019, bringing hospitality businesses, property ventures, and nonprofit initiatives together in Kennett Square. He is now Square Roots Collective’s founder and co-CEO.

- **Role:** Founder & Co-CEO at Square Roots Collective
- **Organizations:** Chatham Financial, Square Roots Collective, Chemical Bank
- **From:** Greenwood, United States
- **Education:** Lancaster Mennonite High School, BA in Economics, Wheaton College, Illinois, MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Founded Chatham Financial and led its development into an international financial advisory and technology business., Won the 2015 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year services award for Greater Philadelphia., Founded Square Roots Collective to connect business ventures with community initiatives.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1991** — Spent nine years at Chemical Bank in New York and Zurich, including as a vice president in the Derivative Products Group.
- **1991** — Founded Chatham Financial.
- **1995** — Dave Hall joined as the first full-time employee.
- **2015** — Received EY’s Greater Philadelphia Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the services category.
- **2016** — Began reimagining The Creamery property as a community gathering place.
- **2018-2019** — Concluded his CEO tenure at the end of 2018 and transitioned to executive chairman in 2019.
- **2019** — Founded Square Roots Collective.
- **2026** — Square Roots Collective lists him as founder and co-CEO alongside co-CEO Stephanie Almanza.

## Achievements

- Founded Chatham Financial and led its development into an international financial advisory and technology business.
- Won the 2015 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year services award for Greater Philadelphia.
- Founded Square Roots Collective to connect business ventures with community initiatives.
- Kennett Township supervisors voted to award him their first Medal of Merit in October 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Square Roots Collective acquired a former 1903 trolley barn on Birch Street; plans for the property were not disclosed in the October 22 report.
- **2026-07** — Praxis republished its 2024 profile of Bontrager’s work in finance and Kennett Square.
- **2026-02** — An interview discussed Square Roots’ property and hospitality ventures and identified Stephanie Almanza as co-CEO.
- **2025-10** — Kennett Township supervisors voted unanimously to award Bontrager the township’s first Medal of Merit.
- **2025-02** — Appeared on Investing In Integrity to discuss trust and entrepreneurship.

## Links

- Website: https://www.ksqroots.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bontrager-8422842

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-bontrager
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23