Peter Quinter

Chair, U.S. Customs and International Trade ATTORNEY, Gunster, Miami

Gunster, which turns 100 this year, is a full -service law firm with over 1,000 employees located in 15 offices statewide. Quinter joined the law firm in 2022 as chair of Gunster’s new U.S. Customs and International Trade Law Group. He has held numerous leadership positions in the legal profession and in his community and is a frequent lecturer/speaker at academic institutions, industry conventions and legal conferences.

EDUCATION: Cornell University (BS), American University (JD)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: I would invest in infrastructure, protect land from overdevelopment, and require elementary students to take a second language and learn about local and state history.

MENTORS: Alan Becker and Gary Poliakoff, my mentors for 18 years as an attorney at Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., from 1994-2012.

READING: I suffered a serious heart attack on Jan. 17, 2024, so have been reading books recommended by friends such as Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, by Dr. Peter Attia. I am now living what I call my ‘second life.’

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: The Golden Rule — treat others as you would have them treat you.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: My heart attack taught me to be more patient, generous and optimistic. To wake up each day in sunny and warm Florida is a blessing.