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Batteries Plus at Full Charge Heading into the Second Half of 2026 with 15 Signed Agreements for 30 New Units

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Specialty Battery and Power Solutions Leader Pairs Multi-Unit Growth with National Recognition and Invests in Leadership, Brand and Community

HARTLAND, Wis., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Batteries Plus, the nation’s leading specialty battery and power solutions service center, is heading into the second half of 2026 with sustained momentum on every front. The brand signed 15 franchise agreements covering 30 units and opened 12 new stores in the first six months of the year, building a strong foundation for the year marked by national recognition, new leadership, expanded strategic partnerships and a growing commitment to community impact.

Commercial-First Model Fuels Multi-Unit Growth
The brand’s growth in 2026 continues to reflect a growing confidence in their diversified, essential-service model, and in its commercial business in particular. Franchisees serving hospitals, school systems, municipalities and community organizations are posting some of the system’s strongest sales results to date.

“Our growth so far this year reflects the strength of a model built for durable, everyday demand,” said Victor Daher, VP of Franchise Development at Batteries Plus. “Owners are increasingly investing in more than one unit, and many are seeing their strongest returns on the commercial side, serving the hospitals, schools and municipalities that depend on reliable power. That commercial-first mindset is fueling both franchisee performance and the pace of our development.”

That momentum was on full display in May at the brand’s annual Sales Achievement Event in Orlando, which recognized top-performing owners from across the system:

150 franchisees representing 75 ownership groups from across the country226 awards presented across categories including commercial growth and operational performanceRookie of the Year honors for Sion Owen, who built a strong commercial presence in the Minneapolis metro after launching through the brand’s Commercial First program

Investing in Leadership, Partnerships and Brand
Batteries Plus spent the first half of 2026 strengthening the engine behind that growth. The brand promoted Jon Sica from Chief Operating Officer to President, reflecting a focus on strategic growth under a proven leadership team. This also comes with the expansion of the franchise development team, adding Rick Schanz as Franchise Development Manager of Resales/Conversions and promoting Scott Buchalter to Senior Director of Relations and Administration.

Batteries Plus also deepened its bench of strategic partners as well, having named event management agency, GoGather, as its Official Strategic Event Management Partner through 2027. The brand also engaged franchise marketing agency, HOTDISH, to sharpen development strategy and reach sophisticated, multi-unit operators. On the consumer side, Batteries Plus launched its national “Battery Pack” advertising campaign, building its Experts in Charge platform by spotlighting the knowledge and personality of the store associates who set the brand apart.

Powering Communities with Purpose
Community impact remained central to the brand’s first half through its Power with Purpose program. In February, Batteries Plus announced its largest single-year holiday contribution to date, donating more than 1.6 million batteries to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program to help ensure donated toys arrive ready to use.

This summer, Batteries Plus extended that commitment through their support of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), as was demonstrated through its Power with Purpose: America 250 campaign in partnership with LUXPRO. In conjunction with the campaign, Batteries Plus and LUXPRO will donate approximately $17,000 to the VFW’s National Veterans Service Program, supporting veterans and their families.

Building AI From the Inside Out
Batteries Plus is also developing and investing in technology designed to strengthen the owner experience. Building on the AI-ready enterprise architecture the brand has developed over the past several years, Batteries Plus is creating proprietary tools in-house rather than turning to an outside vendor, an approach still uncommon across franchising.

“We are investing in this brand the same way our owners are betting on it,” said Joe Malmuth, Chief Development Officer of Batteries Plus. “We spent the past several years building an AI-ready foundation from the inside out rather than buying it off the shelf, and we are now developing proprietary tools on top of it to take friction out of everyday operations for our franchisees and their customers.”

National Brand Recognition
The brand’s first half of the year was matched by a wave of national honors spanning franchising, retail and workplace culture, including:

Named Best Retail Franchise – 2025 by the Global Franchise AwardsNamed to the Entrepreneur Franchise 500, one of the industry’s most competitive and comprehensive rankingsNamed to the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Hall of Fame for the 3rd year in a row since the list was introduced in 2023Recognized as one of the SOCi100 Most Visible Local Enterprise Brands of 2026Included on Forbes’ 2026 Best Midsize Employers List

With over 800 locations open and in development across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, Batteries Plus serves as America’s go-to battery and service provider. To explore the full range of services offered to both consumers and businesses, or to find a convenient Batteries Plus location near you, visit: www.batteriesplus.com.

ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS:
Batteries Plus is the nation’s leading battery and power solutions service center, offering a comprehensive selection of products, technical expertise, and customized services through a nationwide network of over 800 locations open and in development. Headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin, and owned by Freeman Spogli, Batteries Plus is dedicated to providing reliable, commercial and residential power solutions – including batteries, lighting, and repair services – to help organizations and customers minimize downtime and maximize efficiency. For more information about Batteries Plus and its franchising opportunities visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.

Media Contact: Paige Stark, Fishman Public Relations, pstark@fishmanpr.com

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SOURCE Batteries Plus

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FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION APPOINTS DAVID S. SCHULZ TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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July 21, 2026

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LANCASTER, Pa., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT) (“Fulton”) today announced the appointment of David S. Schulz as a member of its board of directors (the “Board”) for a term commencing September 14, 2026 and expiring at Fulton’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.

“We’re excited to welcome Dave to Fulton’s board of directors,” said Curt Myers, Fulton Chairman, CEO, and President. “Dave brings extensive financial leadership experience gained through more than a decade of service with publicly traded companies. His expertise in finance, strategic planning, risk, and mergers and acquisitions will provide valuable perspective as we continue to execute our growth strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders, customers and communities.”

With the addition of Schulz, Fulton’s Board will have 11 members, and he will serve on the Audit and Risk committees. Schulz has also been appointed to the board of directors of Fulton’s banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank, N.A.

Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco International, Inc. (“Wesco”) from 2016 to June 2020, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco from June 2020 to February 2026 and as Executive Vice President and Special Advisor to the CEO of Wesco from February 2026 until his retirement on May 31, 2026. 

Prior to joining Wesco, Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. and was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Vice President of Finance of the Armstrong Building Products division.

Before joining Armstrong World Industries in 2011, he held various financial leadership roles with Procter & Gamble and The J.M. Smucker Company. He was also an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

In 2025, Schulz joined the board of Sterling Infrastructure, Inc., and he was appointed as chair of the audit committee in 2026. He also serves on the company’s compensation and talent development committee.

ABOUT FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Fulton, a $34 billion Lancaster, Pa.-based financial holding company, has more than 3,400 employees and operates more than 215 financial centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia through Fulton Bank, N.A. Additional information on Fulton can be found at https://investor.fultonbank.com.

Contact: Steve Trapnell
717-291-2739

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SOURCE Fulton Financial Corporation

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Octavio Marquez Elected to MSA Safety Board of Directors

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July 21, 2026

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PITTSBURGH, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA), a global leader in the development of advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions, today announced that Octavio Marquez, president and chief executive officer of Diebold Nixdorf, has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors. His election was part of the MSA Board’s regular succession plans.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to add Octavio to the MSA Board,” said Robert A. Bruggeworth, MSA chairman. “He brings a broad range of executive leadership experience, including strategy development, capital allocation, business transformation and serving international markets, which will serve MSA well.”

“Octavio’s perspectives will be an asset to me and our entire Executive Leadership Team,” said Steven C. Blanco, MSA president and CEO. “It is a pleasure to welcome Octavio to MSA, and I look forward to working with him.”

Mr. Marquez joined Diebold Nixdorf in 2014 and has held senior leadership roles across the company’s Global Banking organization and its Americas region, including as executive vice president of Global Banking and senior vice president of the Americas. Before joining Diebold Nixdorf, Mr. Marquez held leadership positions at Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and NCR.

Diebold Nixdorf automates, digitizes and transforms the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world’s top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, its integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of customers every day. Headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, Diebold Nixdorf employs approximately 20,000 employees globally, supporting more than 100 countries.

Mr. Marquez holds a degree in business and finance from Universidad Iberoamericana and has completed executive education programs at MIT Sloan, The Wharton School and The University of Texas at Austin.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and employs a team of approximately 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

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SOURCE MSA Safety

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BlueFolder Field Service Software Launches New AI-Powered Features to Transform How Teams Work

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24 minutes ago

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July 21, 2026

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New AI capabilities instantly surface customer insights and transform technician notes into actionable summaries to help field service teams work faster, stay aligned, and deliver better service

AUBURN, Ala., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BlueFolder field service software recently announced the launch of two powerful new AI features: AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization. Together, these capabilities are designed to eliminate the time-consuming, manual work of reviewing fragmented customer records and lengthy technician notes—giving field service teams instant clarity to respond faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver exceptional service.

BlueFolder expands it’s field service and work order management suite with two exciting new AI field service features.

Built directly into the BlueFolder platform, both features leverage artificial intelligence to automatically compile and summarize complex, unstructured data into clear, easy-to-read overviews. The result: technicians, dispatchers, and managers always have the context they need, right when they need it.

AI-Powered Customer Summaries

As field service organizations grow, customer information becomes increasingly scattered across emails, service request logs, and communication histories. BlueFolder’s AI Customer Summary feature addresses this challenge head-on by consolidating those interactions into a single, actionable snapshot.

Instead of manually digging through multiple records before a service call or customer interaction, teams can now access a real-time summary highlighting key concerns, past service activity, and recent updates. The feature goes beyond basic summarization and surfaces critical business insights such as equipment past due for maintenance, approaching warranty expirations, and proactive revenue opportunities, empowering teams to recommend follow-ups or upgrades directly from the customer record.

Built-in traceability links each summary back to its original source communications, so users can validate insights with confidence, ensuring both speed and accuracy in every customer interaction.

AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization

In many service organizations, technicians log updates across multiple visits, often resulting in long, fragmented notes that are difficult to review at a glance. BlueFolder’s AI Field Notes Summarization feature solves this by automatically condensing multiple technician entries into a structured summary that highlights key milestones, actions taken, and next steps.

Rather than scrolling through pages of updates, managers and dispatchers can immediately understand job status and determine what needs to happen next, improving alignment between field and office teams, accelerating decision-making, and reducing miscommunication. The feature is especially valuable for complex or multi-day jobs, where clear continuity and smooth technician handoffs are critical to delivering consistent service. It’s another featuring making BlueFolder’s work order management software capabilities stronger every day.

“History is one of the most powerful tools a service team has — the problem is it’s usually buried. BlueFolder’s new AI features fix that. Your team walks into every interaction already knowing the customer, knowing the equipment, and exactly where things stand. That changes the entire experience,” says John Shaw, VP, Technology, Service Operations.

AI as a Core Part of the BlueFolder Platform

The launch of these two features reflects BlueFolder’s broader commitment to embedding AI throughout its field service management software as an integrated layer of intelligence that makes every workflow smarter. Rather than requiring teams to change how they work, BlueFolder’s AI capabilities are designed to surface the right information at the right moment automatically, within the tools that technicians, dispatchers, and managers already use every day.

“AI is transforming what’s possible in field service, and BlueFolder is answering that call. These features are the result of deep platform expertise and a clear vision for where the industry is headed. We’re embedding intelligence throughout the platform because we know it makes our customers more competitive, more efficient, and better positioned to grow,” says Stephen Myslicki, Group President of Field Services.

Availability

Both AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization are available now to BlueFolder customers as optional, easy-to-enable features within the platform. They are part of BlueFolder’s growing suite of AI-driven capabilities designed to help field service organizations operate more efficiently and scale with confidence.

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SOURCE BlueFolder

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