David McGowan grew up in Minnesota and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver where his major was Accounting and Finance. He received his MBA with emphasis in Finance and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
David’s 50-year financial and professional career began when he joined Peat, Marwick and Mitchell (currently known as KPMG) where he spent 5+ years. While at Peat Marwick he received his Certificate in Public Accounting (C.P.A.) and earned the Certificate in Management Accounting (C.M.A.). Subsequently he was awarded the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (C.F.E.)
He spent the next 5+ years of his career at Medtronic, Inc. a bio-medical device manufacturer as the Director of Global Financial Planning and Analysis. He subsequently was promoted to the Chief Financial Officer of the US and Puerto Rico Operations.
He was then recruited into the Financial Services industry where he assumed the role of Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Norwest Corporation (currently as Wells Fargo). Subsequently he joined First Bank System (currently US Bank Corporation) and managed the Residential Mortgage Banking operations.
In 1988 he was asked to go back into the professional services arena, and he joined the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC) where he spent the next 20+ years of his career. David was responsible for a Dispute Analysis and Resolution practice. This practice focused on analyzing complex business transactions as well as disputes for corporations and governmental entities. His particular expertise focuses on financial and economic analysis, damage analysis, internal investigations, forensic accounting and fraud. He is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony in Federal, State and Municipal Courts in additional to governmental bodies. He understands municipal accounting and has provided professional services to clients such as: City of Minneapolis, City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Orange County, San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles Coliseum Commission among others.
Following his retirement from PwC he formed Lunada Bay Associates LLC where he still consults with the legal community as well as corporations and governmental entities.
In addition to his professional accomplishments he has been active in community service. He was one of the founding Board Members and currently is the CFO of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation which supports the 450+ parks in Los Angeles from the Griffith Park to small “pocket parks”. He has served on the boards of the Los Angeles Sports Council, Southern California Committee for Olympic Games and has been the CFO of two Olympic Bid proposals submitted on behalf of Los Angeles to the Olympic community. These continued efforts have helped Los Angeles become the 2028 Olympic host city!
David’s leadership skills have also been recognized by his past rolls as chapter President for the Financial Executives Institute, current President of two homeowner’s associations in Vail Colorado and former Board member of Hospital and Multi-Practice health care organizations.
