Laura Piotrowski
About Laura Piotrowski
Laura Piotrowski joined Waterstone Financial’s Board in 2025 and was appointed Audit Committee Chair on October 21, 2025, having become a member of the Audit Committee effective July 8, 2025 . She is CEO and President of Cavendish Vernal (founded 2017), and previously held senior finance and leadership roles including Executive Vice President at The Benefit Companies, CFO of Stein’s Garden & Home, and Managing Director of Finance at Robert W. Baird & Co.; she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and an Executive MBA from Marquette University, and is a CPA and SHRM-SCP . The Company states its Audit Committee is composed of independent directors consistent with Nasdaq and SEC rules, and Piotrowski’s appointment to chair indicates she is expected to meet those independence standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Benefit Companies | Executive Vice President | Not disclosed | Strategic and executional leadership |
| Stein’s Garden & Home | Chief Financial Officer | Not disclosed | Senior finance leadership |
| Robert W. Baird & Co. | Managing Director of Finance | Not disclosed | Senior finance leadership; potential interlock context with current WSBF director Patrick S. Lawton at Baird |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Focus/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavendish Vernal | CEO & President; Founder | 2017–present | Strategic business planning, executive advising, succession planning, finance/HR advising, executive coaching, leadership development |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee Chair (appointed Oct 21, 2025); Audit Committee member since July 8, 2025 .
- Independence: Company’s Audit Committee members are independent under Nasdaq and SEC standards; the committee is composed entirely of independent directors .
- Attendance: No 2025 attendance disclosure for Piotrowski yet; the Company reported no director or committee member was below 75% attendance in 2024 .
- Board structure: Independent non-executive Chair of the Board (Patrick S. Lawton) and regular independent director executive sessions .
- Say-on-Pay: 91% approval in 2024, indicating stable shareholder support for compensation governance .
Fixed Compensation
Director-specific pay for Piotrowski has not yet been disclosed in a proxy; WSBF’s latest director compensation framework (2024) is shown below for context:
| Component | Amount/Structure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual board retainer (cash) | $65,000 (most directors) | |
| Committee fees (cash) | Audit Chair: $23,500; other committee fees typically $10,000 | |
| Equity for directors | Generally none; exception in 2024 was a large stock award to Douglas S. Gordon as a director ($672,000) | |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold 3x annual board cash compensation |
Performance Compensation
No performance-linked director equity awards for Piotrowski have been disclosed; WSBF emphasizes independence and cash-based director retainers/committee fees, with stock ownership alignment via guidelines rather than performance equity for non-employee directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Interlock/Conflict Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Baird & Co. | Piotrowski: former Managing Director of Finance | Shared affiliation with current WSBF Chair Patrick S. Lawton (Managing Director of Fixed Income Capital Markets at Baird), suggesting a network interlock; monitor for related-party transactions or procurement ties, though none are disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- CPA and SHRM-SCP credentials; strong finance and human capital expertise aligned with Audit oversight and compensation governance contexts .
- Executive leadership, succession planning, and strategic advisory experience via Cavendish Vernal .
- Company notes Audit Committee members must be financially literate; Audit Committee leadership transition reflects confidence in Piotrowski’s capabilities .
Equity Ownership
- Beneficial ownership for Piotrowski not yet disclosed in the 2025 proxy; director ownership guidelines require 3x annual board cash compensation, with a five-year compliance window from when an individual becomes subject to the guidelines .
- As of December 31, 2024, all then-serving directors were in compliance; Piotrowski’s compliance timeline begins in 2025 given her appointment .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Appointment as Audit Committee Chair mid-year strengthens financial oversight and signals board confidence; credentials (CPA, SHRM-SCP) and prior CFO/finance leadership roles fit audit, risk, and control responsibilities . Audit Committee independence and robust chartered responsibilities support investor confidence .
- Watch items: Baird interlock via Piotrowski’s prior finance role and Lawton’s current position could present perceived conflicts if material transactions arise; company reports no related-party transactions >$120,000 and emphasizes board-level review policies . Attendance and ownership specifics for Piotrowski are not yet disclosed; monitor the 2026 proxy for compensation, holdings, and committee workload updates .
- Board/process signals: Independent chair structure, regular independent sessions, and documented evaluation processes support board effectiveness; Say-on-Pay support at 91% (2024) indicates broad shareholder alignment with compensation governance .