Georgia Chamber revives Blanchard Award, giving it to Shan Cooper

Jimmy Blanchard has been one of the leading voices in the Georgia business community advocating for the practice of servant leadership among CEOs.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently decided to give greater visibility by reinstituting and renaming the Blanchard Servant Leadership Award.

It revived the award on Aug. 20 at the Chamber’s 2025 Congressional Luncheon, which was held in Columbus.

“We were thrilled when Mr. Blanchard asked us to partner to bring the award back to focus on Servant Leadership, as that’s one of the core principles of the Georgia Chamber,” said Chris Clark, president of the Georgia Chamber. “It has been one of the most prestigious recognitions in the state, so to be able to recognize a new generation of leaders and to tell their stories is critical to continue to promote the Georgia Way — or Atlanta Way.”

The award had been called the Blanchard Award for Stewardship and Ethics in Business, and it had been given out for 14 years until it took a hiatus in 2021. The first award had been given to Blanchard, the retired chairman and CEO of Synovus, in 2009.

The Georgia Chamber selected Shan Cooper as the recipient of the 2025 Blanchard Servant Leadership Award.

Cooper is the founder and CEO of Journey Forward Strategies, LLC, a solutions-focused consulting firm for entities wanting to align their business and people strategies. Cooper previously served as executive director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, as chief transformation officer for WestRock and as vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.

Shan Cooper, after the March 13, 2020 board meeting of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, when she was ACP’s executive director. (Photo by Maria Saporta.)

Clark described Cooper as “a trailblazing leader whose career reflects the very essence of servant leadership.” She puts people first, inspires excellence, transforms organizations while strengthening communities, Clark continued.

“It is our hope that by recognizing Shan’s leadership, future generations of Georgia business leaders will model themselves after her vision and grace,” Clark said.

Cooper said she was humbled to receive the award named after Blanchard.

Shan Cooper (right) with Chick-fil-A’s Reade Tidwell and Jimmy Blanchard at a Georgia Chamber event on Aug. 19 in Columbus. (Photo courtesy of Reade Tidwell of Chick-fil-A.)

“When I think of servant leadership, Jim Blanchard is the first name I think of,” Cooper said in a telephone interview. “People get confused about leadership. You are there to ensure their success and support the organization.”

Cooper got to know Blanchard when they were both serving on the board of the Georgia Historical Society.

“What I love about Jimmy is how important people are,” Cooper said. “It’s okay to love your people. He just brought a whole new perspective — that leadership is human. He made it okay to show our humanity in the workplace.”

In a recent interview, Blanchard expressed gratitude for the revival of the award.

“To revive it is exciting to me for personal reasons because the leadership issue is more important today than it’s ever been in my lifetime,” said Blanchard, who is now a partner in the Covey Equity firm. “It is a wake-up call for anyone who is paying attention to realize the divisiveness in the country. The servant leadership model is not for self but for others.”

The Blanchard Servant Leadership Award will be presented annually at the Chamber’s Congressional Luncheon to a Georgia leader who exemplifies the highest ideals of servant leadership, civic engagement and commitment to the greater good.

Norfolk Southern’s Ed Elkins with Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark at the 2025 Eggs & Issues breakfast. (Photo by Maria Saporta.)

The inaugural Georgia Chamber Corporate Citizen Award was also announced at the luncheon. Columbus-based W.C. Bradley Co. received the award. The family-owned company, founded in 1885, has been an anchor company in Columbus and Georgia. Its portfolio includes renowned brands such as Badlands, Charbroil, Current, Oklahoma Joe’s, Pit Boss, TIKI Brand, and W.C. Bradley Real Estate. The company’s philosophy is the belief that business success is not just about profits but about serving the community.

“We are honored and humbled to receive the inaugural Corporate Citizenship Award presented by the Georgia Chamber,” W.C. Bradley’s James G. Hillenbrand said in a statement. “Our purpose remains steadfast — to honor and build upon our unique culture and rich history, to create something better for future generations, and to continue this extraordinary legacy.”

Clark said corporate citizenship is a “core principle: of the Georgia Chamber.

“In light of the growing attacks on free enterprise, we thought it was time to recognize the incredible work that companies do every day in their communities in hopes of inspiring other companies to continue that important work,” he said.

Both awards will be given annually at the Georgia Chamber’s Congressional Luncheon.

For history’s sake, the original Blanchard award was given in conjunction with a forum at Columbus State University. After 14 years of putting on the forum, Blanchard decided to back away. Both the award and the forum were put on hiatus partly because of COVID.

The former recipients of the Blanchard awards included: