A strategic and value driven business leader, with a passion for rapid and sustainable company growth, Rhett is CEO of Bridge Business Credit, a Michigan-based, non-bank ABL platform focused on the eastern and central US, delivering working capital solutions for small and midsized businesses. Rhett rejoined the firm, formerly known as Great Lakes Business Credit, in late 2018 at the invitation of its founding owner to lead its long-term growth and succession plans. In August 2020, Rhett was instrumental in the sale of GLBC to a Michigan-based billionaire investor, facilitating new opportunities to serve a more diverse client base and expand its geographical reach, all of which has fueled significant new growth. Rhett led the rebranding of GLBC to Bridge Business Credit effective January 30, 2023 and concurrently added business development executives in Chicago, Houston and Atlanta.
Prior to rejoining GLBC, Rhett led GMA Fund, a family office platform focused on specialty lending verticals, as COO/Chief Revenue Officer. Prior to GMA, Rhett served as President & CEO of North American Bancard Financial Services, a merchant cash advance platform, formerly known as Capital for Merchants. Earlier, Rhett held C-level positions at Key Bank, First National Bank of Colorado, PMFCU, Arvest Bank, Texas State Bank, Comerica Bank and First of America. Having direct workout experience early in his career as well as solid sales and leadership acumen, he was eagerly recruited by banks to either build teams or significantly improve their selling cultures and top line revenue generation.
He started in commercial banking after earning his degree in Economics at the University of Michigan and soon followed with an MBA in Finance from the University of Detroit. Throughout his 25+ year career, Rhett has taken innovative approaches, never settling for status quo for his clients and teams.
In addition to his position at BBC, Rhett is active in and serves on boards and committees of multiple state chapters of TMA (President of TMA Indiana), ACG, SFNet, and RMA as well as state banking associations of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Rhett also serves as president of Milford Presbyterian Church (MI) and chairman of the Howell Nature Center in Howell, MI.