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Kevin Wheeler to Retire as Executive Chairman; President and CEO Stephen Shafer Named Chairman

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MILWAUKEE, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a global leader in water technology, announced today that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1. The company’s board of directors has elected Stephen Shafer, president and chief executive officer (CEO), as chairman upon Wheeler’s retirement. Wheeler will remain a member of the company’s board of directors.

“Kevin’s impact on A. O. Smith spans three decades,” said Chris Mapes, lead director of the board. “During his tenure, the company expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining strong operational performance.”

Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company and held various senior leadership roles across the business before becoming president and CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2020.

Shafer, who has served as president and CEO since July 2025, becomes the 11th CEO to assume the role of chairman in the company’s history. He joined A. O. Smith in 2024 as president and chief operating officer. As chairman, Shafer will lead the board of directors and continue to oversee the company’s global operations, strategic direction, profitability and shareholder return.

“Steve has demonstrated strong, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of our business and growth opportunities,” said Mapes. “His combined role as chairman and CEO will further strengthen alignment across our strategy, operations and long-term value creation.”

Before joining A. O. Smith, Shafer held roles of increasing responsibility at 3M Company across multiple business units in the U.S. and China. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Company. Shafer serves on the boards of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, as well as the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc.

“As chairman, I will continue leading this outstanding company and team with focus and discipline,” said Shafer. “We remain committed to driving innovation, serving our customers and advancing our purpose to find a better way. I would also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and continued support through this transition and look forward to benefiting from his continued guidance as a member of our board going forward.”

About A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and water management products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.

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MANN ROBINSON EXPANDS ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM WITH ‘URBAN OPERAS’, A NEW VERTICAL STREAMING PLATFORM BUILT FOR STORIES THAT KNOW US

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Urban Operas will launch with 15 original micro dramas produced by Robinson and his production team, while creating a new streaming destination for independent vertical filmmakers

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Filmmaker, director, producer, studio owner, distributor, and streaming entrepreneur Mann Robinson is expanding his growing entertainment ecosystem with the launch of Urban Operas, a new vertical streaming platform created to bring culturally connected, mobile first storytelling directly to audiences.

Built around the tagline, “Stories That Know Us”, Urban Operas will feature serialized dramas created specifically for mobile viewing, with short, fast moving episodes built around compelling characters, emotional storytelling, cliffhangers, relationships, romance, crime, family, betrayal, ambition, money, power, and the experiences of audiences that Robinson believes remain underserved within the rapidly expanding vertical entertainment marketplace.

Urban Operas is not being created in opposition to the major companies already operating in the vertical entertainment space. Instead, he sees this as an opportunity to expand the marketplace by creating a platform with a specific cultural identity and programming philosophy. When speaking of what makes Urban Operas unique, Robinson says, “The major platforms have their audiences and the types of programming that make sense for their businesses. I respect that. I saw an opportunity to build something from our perspective. There should be a destination where our stories aren’t simply another category somewhere inside the platform. They are the foundation of the platform. That’s what Urban Operas is being built to become. Original content will remain at the center of Urban Operas.”

Independent filmmakers can find submission details through the official Urban Operas website at www.urbanoperas.com. Selected outside productions will have the opportunity to be distributed through Urban Operas under a creator focused revenue share model, allowing qualified filmmakers and content owners to participate financially in the performance of their programming on the platform.

Urban Operas will begin appearing on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in November 2026, with its official launch scheduled for Winter 2026.

ABOUT MANN ROBINSON

Mann Robinson has produced and directed more than 30 film and television projects and has built an independent entertainment operation spanning film and television production, content distribution, production equipment, marketing, props and production resources, and direct to consumer streaming.

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SOURCE Mann Robinson

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Building our way to net zero: Canada breaks ground on nation’s largest carbon capture and storage project

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CLIVE, AB, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ — Canada is building the major projects needed to strengthen our energy sector, grow our economy, fight climate change, and reinforce our position as a global clean and conventional energy superpower. As Canada builds its way to net-zero emissions by 2050, investments in clean technologies and emissions-reducing infrastructure are helping drive economic growth while lowering emissions across key sectors.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is key to that mission. A technology that reduces and removes carbon emissions from the atmosphere, CCS has been in use in Canada since the 1950s. Today, it is a cutting-edge sector in which Canada — especially Saskatchewan and Alberta — leads, allowing us to decarbonize industries like oil and gas and heavy manufacturing on the way to net zero by 2050. The Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding specifically recognizes the important role carbon capture and storage will play in supporting economic growth, investment and long-term prosperity in the energy industry.

Taking Canada’s next big step in our CCS leadership, today, the Government of Canada and Government of Alberta, along with Enhance Energy, marked the beginning of construction of the Origins Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) Hub near Clive, Alberta.

Once operations begin in January 2027, the Origins CCS Hub is expected to be the largest carbon capture and storage project in Canada and one of the largest CCS facilities in the world. The project will initially have the capacity to permanently store up to 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually — the equivalent to taking over 500,000 cars off the road every year — with the ability to expand over time.

The project builds on Alberta’s established carbon management infrastructure and expertise. Connected to the province’s existing CO2 transportation network, the project will initially serve industrial facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and could support a range of sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, cement and power generation. It also builds on Enhance Energy’s experience at the existing Clive carbon capture and storage project, which has permanently stored more than 9 million tonnes of CO2 since 2020 and, according to the company, generated over $600 million in economic activity while supporting more than $1 billion in investment across Alberta’s carbon capture value chain together with, over its construction and operations, the equivalent of 50,000 jobs for a year. The project will support skilled trades and construction jobs during buildout and long-term operational and maintenance jobs that anchor communities and industrial competitiveness for decades.

The project reflects the shared commitment of Canada and Alberta to advance major projects that strengthen Canada’s economic and energy security while reducing emissions. As Canada builds its way to net zero by 2050, projects like the Origins CCS Hub demonstrate how technology and innovation can help decarbonize industry, attract investment, create jobs and support long-term prosperity. By building ambitious infrastructure that makes Canada and our world-class energy industry cleaner and more competitive, we are building Canada Strong.

Quotes

“We promised Canadians we would leverage our abundant energy resources to be an energy superpower — and that we would do it in an environmentally responsible way that we could be proud of. Projects like the Origins CCS Hub are doing exactly that: strengthening Canada’s energy sector, creating jobs and attracting investment, all while growing our way to net zero by 2050. The federal and provincial governments and industry are working together as one Team Canada to build big things in this country again and to make sure every Canadian benefits from a stronger, cleaner, more competitive economy.”

The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Alberta is a global leader in carbon capture and storage technology, thanks to our geology, expertise and investment environment. The Enhance Energy Hub will help ensure Alberta produces the most responsible oil and gas in the world while creating investment and jobs in rural Alberta. This project will play a key role in driving our economy forward.”

The Honourable Brian Jean
Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals

“Origins builds on Enhance’s demonstrated expertise in the safe, permanent storage of carbon emissions. By providing foundational carbon management infrastructure, the Origins CCS hub will help industries reduce emissions while continuing to produce the energy and commodities that Canada and the world rely on. We are proud this project demonstrates how Alberta and Canada can lead in both economic growth and emissions reduction, and that CCS is a right-now technology that can deliver both.”

Candice Paton
Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Enhance Energy

Quick Facts

Canada has significant geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide, positioning the country as a potential global leader in carbon management and storage.Alberta is home to the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL), one of the world’s largest carbon dioxide transportation systems.The Government of Canada has introduced the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Investment Tax Credit (CCUS ITC) to encourage investment in carbon management projects across Canada.

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Canada’s largest carbon capture and storage hub breaks ground | ENHANCE ENERGY

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Canada’s Carbon Management StrategyEnhance Energy – Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) CCS ProjectPathways Plus / Pathways Project OverviewEnhance Energy

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In HelloNation, Local Florist Expert Chris Graham Explains Same-Day Flower Delivery in Westchester County

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The article explains how timing, inventory, and local delivery logistics shape same-day flower delivery expectations.

PELHAM, N.Y., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should customers know before requesting same-day flower delivery in Westchester County? Guidance on this topic appears in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Local Florist Expert Chris Graham of Artistic Manner Flower Shop in Pelham, New York, serving customers throughout Westchester County, including Mount Vernon, as well as nearby areas of The Bronx. The article explains how timing, inventory, and practical delivery details influence what is possible. It also shows why direct communication with a local florist helps people understand how same-day flower delivery works and what to expect when placing an order.

The article begins by explaining how timing shapes the entire process. Florists set daily cutoff times so they can complete designs before drivers leave for afternoon routes. Local Florist Expert Chris Graham notes that when orders come in after this window, the staff may already be preparing the day’s final arrangements. This makes it harder to add new pieces without causing delays. Understanding the cutoff helps customers request same-day flower delivery with realistic expectations and reduces stress for both the customer and the florist.

Inventory also plays a major role. Local Westchester County florists stock fresh flowers each morning, but supplies change as orders are filled. Early customers have the widest selection, while later customers may need substitutions if certain varieties sell out. According to the article, a florist can explain which flowers are available and which alternatives still create a cohesive design. This guidance helps the final arrangement look intentional, even when adjustments are needed. People are often surprised at how quickly certain flowers run out on busy days.

Delivery routes add another layer to same-day flower delivery. The article describes how Westchester County florists group orders by neighborhood so drivers can travel efficiently. Once drivers leave the shop, adding new stops becomes difficult. Traffic around schools, commercial areas, and nearby towns can slow progress and narrow delivery windows. Local Florist Expert Chris Graham explains that a florist familiar with local patterns can plan the schedule carefully and give accurate updates about arrival times.

The article also discusses why ordering from national websites may complicate same-day flower delivery. National services send orders to local florists, who still face the same timing and inventory limits. Because the order passes through a third-party system, details may not transfer clearly. Substitutions become more common, and customers may not learn about them until after the delivery. Local Florist Expert Chris Graham explains that speaking to a local Westchester County florist directly gives more accurate information and avoids confusion.

Design complexity affects what can be prepared in a short window. Simple bouquets and compact vase arrangements can usually be made quickly, while larger or more detailed pieces may require extra time. The article notes that requests for specific colors or uncommon flowers may also extend preparation time. A florist familiar with same-day flower delivery often recommends flexible designs because they can be built efficiently without losing quality. This helps customers receive a well-crafted arrangement even when time is limited.

Clear delivery instructions help ensure a smooth experience. Westchester County includes homes, apartments, and businesses, each with different access needs. Some places require building codes, gate instructions, or call-ahead steps. When customers provide this information early, drivers can complete deliveries without delays. Local Florist Expert Chris Graham explains that accurate details help the flowers stay fresh and arrive on time.

The weather also affects same-day flower delivery. Westchester County can experience sudden changes in rain, snow, or heat, each of which influences travel and flower care. Florists adjust routes, departure times, and packing methods to protect the flowers. Drivers may need to leave early to avoid slippery roads or plan shaded drop-off spots during warmer days. These practical adjustments help keep arrangements in good condition, though they may limit how many deliveries can be scheduled.

Communication remains one of the most important parts of the process. The HelloNation article explains that florists who handle same-day requests regularly understand how to give clear, realistic updates. They tell customers when delivery is possible, when substitutions may be needed, and when the window has already passed for guaranteed arrival. Direct conversations help customers understand what can be achieved and prevent confusion.

Many Westchester County customers value the balance between timing and quality that local florists offer. Same-day flower delivery is often available, but it works best when customers place orders early. The article explains that earlier orders allow for more flower options, better design choices, and smoother delivery planning. Even when time is tight, a local florist can guide customers toward choices that meet the schedule while still looking fresh and thoughtful.

By understanding timing, inventory, route planning, weather, and communication, customers can make informed decisions about same-day flower delivery. The HelloNation article shows how working directly with a local Westchester County florist helps people receive reliable service that fits the day’s schedule. With this knowledge, customers can place orders with confidence and enjoy arrangements that arrive fresh and on time.

Same-Day Flower Delivery in Westchester County: What You Need to Know Before Ordering features insights from Chris Graham, Local Florist Expert of Pelham, NY, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

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