The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce recognized J. Pierce Blanchard Jr. with a Lifetime Achievement Award during a Monday banquet meeting.

Mr. Blanchard serves on the board of directors for Georgia Bank & Trust and is the company's executive vice president. He also is a board member of the Residential Care for the Elderly Authority of Columbia County and the Shield Club of Greater Augusta.

In the past, Mr. Blanchard served in leadership roles with groups such as the Augusta Symphony League, Paine College's UNCF Campaign and the Coalition for Quality Government.

The award for Entrepreneur of the Year, which recognizes businesses with fewer than 20 employees, went to Robert Amos of Cartridge World.

Accounting firm The Cleveland Group won Business of the Year, which recognizes companies with 20 or more employees.

Augusta magazine's Adriene Goldman and attorney Sue Reimer were named Ambassador and Diplomat of the Year, respectively. Ambassadors and diplomats work as liaisons between the chamber's staff and its more than 700 members.

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.