Tampa Bay, FL – 7/1/24 – Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) is proud to announce the establishment of the LSF Council of Tampa Bay, a regional board dedicated to supporting LSF’s mission and work in the Tampa Bay area. We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Lutes, Market President for Ameris Bank, as the inaugural Board Chair.
The LSF Council of Tampa Bay will support the broad range of LSF’s vital human services in the region, including programs protecting children at risk of abuse and neglect, supporting refugee families fleeing life-threatening circumstances, and strengthening underserved populations. By aligning with LSF’s mission of bringing God’s healing, hope, and help to people in need, the Council will play a critical role in the organization’s extraordinary growth and its impact on tens of thousands of at-risk children and families in the region.
Bill Lutes brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to servant leadership to his new role as Board Chair. As Market President for Ameris Bank, Bill has demonstrated exemplary leadership, particularly during challenging times. Reflecting on his journey with Ameris Bank, Bill stated, “In the midst of the pandemic, I took a leap of faith to join Ameris Bank. Looking back, it is one of the best career decisions I have made. Cultural match is key to happiness and success, and ours provides just that for me. It’s a culture predicated on integrity, equal dignity, teamwork, honesty, and high standards. Our style is based upon servant leadership, and every team member’s actions reflect it. As I tell my teammates, ‘I work for you, I just don’t do your work.'”
In addition to his role at Ameris Bank, Bill leads the Lutes Family Foundation, the mission of which is to enrich humanity by supporting organizations serving the needs of the most vulnerable members of our local community. His leadership and commitment to our community make him an ideal choice to spearhead the LSF Council of Tampa Bay.
The Council’s primary objective is to advance LSF’s mission and programs by driving the growth of a collaborative and caring philanthropic community dedicated to making a difference for those in need.
“We are thrilled to have Bill lead the LSF Council of Tampa Bay,” said Sam Sipes, LSF’s CEO. “His dedication to servant leadership and community service aligns perfectly with our values, and we are confident that under his guidance, the Council will make a significant impact on our mission to support vulnerable individuals and families in the region.”
