Kathy Atkins-Gunter

Kathy Atkins-Gunter, a 4th generation Floridian, was born in Leesburg, Florida to an entrepreneurial family with roots going back to 1915 in the furniture, hardware and gift business. Her Grandmother, Lilla Harris Boyd, took over the family retail and investment property business in an era when there were very few business women, after her husband passed away in 1935. Kathy inherited many of her grandmother’s traits and was mentored by her grandmother from a young age.

Upon graduation from Leesburg High School, Kathy attended Florida Southern College when she majored in Journalism. She began her career in Insurance with a locally owned Independent Insurance Agency in Leesburg. Upon relocating to Tallahassee, she joined the Rogers Atkins Deison Insurance Agency where she progressed to COO prior to a career move to Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Atlantic Insurance Group, a holding company for Gulf Atlantic Insurance Company and Gulf Atlantic Premium Finance Company. Kathy has served and or is currently serving on the TMH Foundation Board, The FSU Athletics Board, The First Bank of Tallahassee Board, The FSU University Center Club Board, The Normandy Harbor Insurance Company Board, The FSU Seminole Booster Board, serving as National Chairman in 2005, The Governors Club Board and the Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association Board. She was honored with a Women of Distinction Award In Business by the Girl Scouts of America, the Podiatric Medical Association President’s Award, The FSU Alumni Association Circle of Gold, The Distinguished Service Award by the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Suwannee Area Council Boy Scouts of America.

She and her husband, the Honorable Bill Gunter, have a combined family of seven children, spouses and fifteen grandchildren!