Rita Lowman, president of Pilot Bank, received the 2021 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award by the Tampa Bay Chamber.
The Woman of Influence Award recognizes a woman whose leadership has made a positive impact in Hillsborough County.
It pays tribute to an individual who exemplifies outstanding professional values; demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond the normal expectations of a leader and serves as an inspiration to the community, according to a statement.
Lowman received recognition during the Chamber’s 15th Annual Women of Influence Luncheon featuring Judge Glenda Hatchett, attorney, author, business owner and host of the two-time Emmy nominated, nationally syndicated, show Judge Hatchett, now in its 18th season.
She has managed 22 acquisitions, including the NationsBank/Barnett acquisition in 1997 where she was awarded the Crystal Grenade. She served NationsBank/Bank of America as the state administration executive. She was also chief operating officer of C1 Bank, as the company went public in 2014 and sold to Bank of the Ozarks in 2015.
Lowman previously, and currently, serves on a number of boards including being chair of the Outback Bowl Board in 2020-2021, she is past chair of the board of governors for Centre Club Tampa and board of directors of the Florida School of Banking at University of Florida, Southeastern U.S. Cabinet of American Cancer Society, board of directors of the Tampa Bay Chamber and the Florida Aquarium.
She also was named the 2021 chair of Go Red for the American Heart Association and to the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
As chair of Cattle Barons’ Ball and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, she, and her team, raised more than $4 million for the American Cancer Society.
