Blanchard to Keynote Columbus State’s Legacy Celebration Banquet

Staff Report

Columbus State University will host its annual Legacy Celebration banquet on Wednesday, March 26, honoring students, employees, alumni and community partners for their leadership and contributions.

The event, held at the university’s Cunningham Center on Main Campus, will begin at 6 p.m. and feature James H. Blanchard as the keynote speaker.

Blanchard, former CEO of Synovus Bank, is recognized for his role in the company’s expansion and his contributions to the Columbus community. Under his leadership, Synovus grew into a major regional bank, spun off the credit card processing firm TSYS—now part of Global Payments—and played a key role in the development of Uptown Columbus.

Blanchard’s advocacy for servant leadership defined his career and helped earn Synovus national recognition as one of the best workplaces in the country. His leadership philosophy emphasized collaboration, trust and ethics, shaping the company’s culture and long-term success.

In 2006, he collaborated with Columbus State’s Cunningham Center for Leadership Development to launch the Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum, which has since attracted global leaders from political, military and business sectors to Columbus.

The Legacy Celebration also will include the presentation of awards recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to Columbus State and the broader community.

Tickets for the banquet are available for purchase online at $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. The priority deadline for ticket purchases is Friday, March 14.

For more information, contact Carlie Hinson, assistant director of student life and development, at hinson_carlie@columbusstate.edu.