Pete Lauter – Wealth Advisory with Waverly Advisors

Please share why you became a Baptist Foundation board member. Why is Baptist important or special to you?

I chose to serve on the Baptist Foundation board because this community has given so much to my family, and I feel a responsibility to give back in a way that truly matters. Health care sits at the heart of a strong community. When people feel supported, cared for and treated with dignity during their most vulnerable moments, everything else in their lives becomes stronger. Baptist has always stood for compassion, access and service. Those values align deeply with how I was raised and how I try to lead in my own life. I wanted to be part of a mission that goes beyond buildings and medicine. I wanted to be part of something that improves lives, lifts families and strengthens the future of Pensacola. Being a board member is special to me because it is more than a title. It is a chance to advocate for people who need help, support those who care for others every day, and help shape the kind of health system our community deserves. Pensacola is home. The work we do at Baptist touches the lives of friends, neighbors and families we see every day. Knowing I can contribute in a small way to that impact is both a privilege and a calling.

What would you like Baptist team members (employees) to know about you — your experience, background, education and family?

I want the Baptist team to know that at my core, I am someone who cares deeply about people. I grew up in a family where serving others was simply part of everyday life, and that shaped who I am and how I show up in this community. Professionally, I’m a wealth advisor, but my work is really about walking beside people during some of their most meaningful moments. That has taught me patience, empathy and the importance of really listening. Those are the same qualities I see in the team members at Baptist, and it is a big reason why I’m honored to support you. My family and I love this community. Pensacola is home, and lifting up the people who live here is something that gives me purpose. Whether through my work, my volunteer roles, or how I raise my kids, I try to pour back into the place that has given us so much. More than anything, I want you to know that I see you and I appreciate you. You carry a tremendous responsibility, and you meet it with compassion, skill, and heart. I’m human just like the people you care for every day, and I’m grateful to stand alongside you in a small way as we work together to make Pensacola stronger.

Please share a Baptist Way moment or experience that you, a friend, or loved one experienced at Baptist (a positive story that reflects the Baptist culture).

Over the years, several of my family members and close friends have trusted Baptist during some of the most critical moments of their lives. What always stands out to me is how the care they received went far beyond medicine. It felt like the love of a family. From the nurses and doctors to the techs, support staff and everyone behind the scenes, there is a kindness and gentleness that you do not forget. It is the way someone takes an extra minute to make sure a family understands what is happening. It is the calm reassurance during fear. It is the way you treat people with dignity, even when the moment is hard. What I have seen time and time again is that this is not an exception at Baptist. It is the culture. It is in the DNA of the organization. When people I care about needed steady hands and compassionate hearts, Baptist showed up with both. That is the Baptist Way, and it is why this place means so much to me and to our community.