Kathy Lonowski

Kathy Lonowski 

Managing Director, Banking Practice Kathy.lonowski@pivotgrp.com

Kathy Lonowski is a Managing Director at Pivot >, where she serves as a senior advisor for the firm’s Banking Practice. She brings more than 40 years of financial industry experience, including senior leadership roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and board-level positions with national and regional financial institutions. Kathy delivers a rare combination of regulatory insight, governance expertise, and strategic execution—helping clients navigate complex challenges, strengthen compliance, and seize emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving financial sector.

Kathy recently retired as Regional Director for the FDIC’s San Francisco Region, where she was directly responsible for the safety and soundness of insured deposits, evaluation of asset and liability management, lending, investment, and corporate governance practices for 350 financial institutions across 11 Western states and the Pacific U.S. Territories.

Her expertise spans digital banking and payment services, real estate, commercial credit and investment markets, compliance and risk management, cybersecurity, anti-money laundering, IT and vendor management, consumer protection, M&A, and de novo applications. Kathy is also recognized as a frequent speaker on banking, regulatory, and risk management topics.

Kathy has served on both public and private Boards including the Boards of Discover Financial Services and Discover Bank, and on the Board of Pacific Coast Bankers Bank, where she serves on the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Asset-Liability Management Committee. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Bankers Management Institute – Banking School at the University of Washington, and the YMCA USA National Board, where she chairs the Audit Commitee.

Kathy is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado, holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Nebraska, and a Certificate in Leadership and Management from the University of California, Berkeley.

Our Story

Pivot > originated from a conversation between friends, Lance Miller and Peter Elkin, both veterans of restructuring and turnaround industries, and former company leaders. Frustrated with the traditional advisory firm model, they sought a better approach centered on client interests and results. Over dinner, they envisioned a best-in-class value proposition, which eventually became Pivot >, attracting like-minded individuals who shared their mission and industry distinctions.

Our core principles include delivering bespoke solutions tailored to each situation, prioritizing long-term client relationships over fees, and fostering the growth and well-being of our employees. Unlike many firms in the industry, we operate under a shared compensation model, ensuring everyone is invested in our clients’ success. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to providing exceptional service and building lasting relationships with our clients.

– Co-Founders Lance Miller & Peter Elkin