Philip Schatten, CEO
Phil Schatten is the founder and CEO of the RAI Group, a direct lender that helps small- and medium-sized businesses secure working capital. A former system’s analyst with superior business acumen, Phil combines his deep analytical skills with creative problem-solving techniques to create custom solutions that enable growth and economic progress for clients. An initiator, challenger, and natural-born leader, Phil is a lifelong entrepreneur who knows how to blend vision and execution to achieve business success. Over the years, Phil has lent his leadership skills and business expertise to several philanthropic organizations, including the UJA-Federation of N.Y., the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the JCC Association of North America, the Board of Jewish Education of N.Y., the Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, and The Hebrew Free Loan Society of N.Y. Phil was also an Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
Bette Gandelman, COO
Bette Gandelman is COO of RAI Group, where she applies her extensive analytical business training and passion for idea creation to help clients identify and resolve financial challenges. Formerly VP of Harris Bank/Bank of Montreal’s Retail Specialty Group, Bette brings 30+ years of experience structuring financial and insurance transactions for companies of all sizes. Bette is widely known for her unique ability to combine the logical with the creative to devise financially sound, out-of-the-box funding solutions to meet individualized needs. With a penchant for asking questions and an innate ability to approach problems from varying angles, Bette is a trusted advisor who acts in the best interest of her clients. Bette was a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, an organization that fosters connections and dialogue on important economic and social issues, and is a member of the National Private Lenders Association, a trade organization created to represent and protect the interests of Private Lenders in America as it pertains to legislation and public policy relating to real estate transactions.