Michael Ratner, a consultant specializing in the retail construction and design fields, works with clients to analyze and solve retail design and construction challenges. Former Chairman and CEO of Richter+Ratner, a 98-year-old family business and leading New York-based construction firm, Michael’s vast experience and impeccable reputation span more than 40 years of working with renowned architects, designers, retailers and developers in the U.S. and abroad. His technical background and track record building flagship stores, rollouts, and high-profile projects in both the design and construction arenas position Michael as a dynamic partner in today’s challenging environment. He has the knowledge base, contacts, problem-solving abilities, and important cost-saving know-how to navigate the complexities of large and small projects from concept to completion.

Additionally, Michael is committed to teaching groups and individuals by drawing upon his lifetime of experience. He is a lecturer on the faculty of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York and a sought-after lecturer to architecture, fashion industry, and design students. He has taught at the University of Kansas, Parsons School of Design, City College of New York, Syracuse University, and Pratt Institute. He has been a guest lecturer at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Moscow State University in Russia, and the Escola Superior de Disseny in Barcelona, and has been featured at retail construction seminars presented by FIT and Globalshop.

Michael graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Cornell University in 1964 and began his career at Turner Construction, one of the nation’s largest builders. He then joined Richter+Ratner Contracting Corp. (R+R), a construction management and woodworking firm founded by his grandfather in Brooklyn in 1912. Michael worked his way up through administration and project management to Vice President of Finance and Marketing. In 1989, he became President of R+R and directed the company’s expansion of its client base and diversification of projects to include some of the country’s premier corporate offices, retail stores, schools, and luxury residences. His passion for technology led him to design state-of-the-art computer systems enabling the firm to compete and thrive in the demanding 1990s and beyond. He also teamed highly-skilled project managers with old-world craftsmen who detailed and produced the company’s high-quality millwork.

Michael was a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Policy Form. He is a member of the Advisory Board of LIM College, an institution in New York City that prepares students for careers in the fashion industry. Michael also is a founder, past president and past board member of the Retail Contractor’s Association, a national organization comprised of the leading contractors for the retail industry.