Kevin Wheeler RoleStephen Shafer RoleExperience The A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) Board of Directors announced that Kevin Wheeler will transition from chairman and chief executive officer to executive chairman of the corporation, effective July 1, 2025. At that time, Stephen Shafer will be appointed to the Board of Directors and will assume the role Read more
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The A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) Board of Directors announced that Kevin Wheeler will transition from chairman and chief executive officer to executive chairman of the corporation, effective July 1, 2025. At that time, Stephen Shafer will be appointed to the Board of Directors and will assume the role of president and chief executive officer.
Kevin Wheeler Role
As executive chairman, Wheeler will continue to lead the company’s Board of Directors and remain actively involved in strategic development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and executive talent development.
Stephen Shafer Role
Shafer becomes the 11th chief executive officer in the company’s 151-year history. He will have responsibility for the company’s global operations, as well as strategy development and implementation, profitability and shareholder return. Shafer joined A. O. Smith as president and chief operating officer in March 2024 to lead the company’s global business units, including operations, supply chain, corporate technology and information technology.
“Steve’s broad business experience, coupled with his strategic business acumen, uniquely positions him to guide A. O. Smith as the company continues its journey as a global water technology leader,” said Wheeler. “For the past year, Steve has collaborated closely with me and other business leaders to understand our business and identify opportunities to drive enhanced performance and continued growth in both sales and profitability.”
“A. O. Smith experienced significant progress and profitable growth under Kevin’s leadership,” said lead director Ron Brown. “During his tenure, the company acquired Giant Factories, a Canadian water heater manufacturer, as well as six water treatment companies, including one in India. As chairman, president and chief executive officer during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin led the company through an unprecedented period, maintaining business continuity while prioritizing the health and safety of employees.”
Experience
Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company. Over the course of his 31-year career with A. O. Smith, he has held numerous senior leadership roles, including vice president – international, overseeing all European and Asian water heating operations; senior vice president and general manager of the U.S. retail water heater business; and senior vice president and president for the North America, India and Europe water heating businesses.
Prior to becoming chairman and chief executive officer, Wheeler was chairman, president and chief executive officer from April 2020 to March 2024, and was president and chief executive officer from September 2018 to April 2020. He was named president and chief operating officer in June 2017 and elected to the A. O. Smith Board of Directors in July 2017.
Before A. O. Smith, Shafer worked at 3M Company from 2010-2024 and held several positions with increasing levels of responsibility in multiple business units in the U.S. and China. His most recent role at 3M was president of the Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division. Prior to 3M, he worked for McKinsey & Company and Ford Motor Company, holding various roles focusing on manufacturing, supply chain and operational improvement.
He is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc., a former board member of Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce and served as a Big Brother Big Sister mentor.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to step into the role of chief executive officer and lead this great company and exceptional team,” said Shafer. “I look forward to continuing to build on the solid foundation at A. O. Smith and deliver outstanding value to our shareholders, employees and customers.”
“The board is extremely pleased with how well Kevin and Steve have worked together to make this a smooth transition,” said Brown. “As a board, we look forward to continuing to support both of them in creating additional value for our shareholders.”
For more on A.O. Smith, https://mechanical-hub.com/a-o-smith-celebrates-product-development-center-grand-opening/
New executive brings significant software industry experience, proven financial leadership to immersive education company Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive education for the skilled trades, announces John Pumpelly as their new chief financial officer, adding decades of technology and software industry expertise and proven financial leadership to an already-strong C-suite. Pumpelly boasts significant experience in Read more
New executive brings significant software industry experience, proven financial leadership to immersive education company
Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive education for the skilled trades, announces John Pumpelly as their new chief financial officer, adding decades of technology and software industry expertise and proven financial leadership to an already-strong C-suite.
John Pumpelly has been named as the new CFO for Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive training for the skilled trades.
Pumpelly boasts significant experience in executive-level positions at both publicly traded and private equity-held companies within the tech space—including Command Alkon, Updater, Stratix, Cbeyond and others. His financial leadership positions have spanned companies with $50 to $500 million in revenues.
“John has demonstrated himself to be resourceful and results-driven, and he brings the operational skill, financial acumen and software industry experience we prize within our leadership team,” said Doug Donovan, CEO of Interplay Learning. “He is also someone who understands how to cast a vision organization-wide—a must for our rapidly-growing company.”
Interplay Learning is an innovator within the immersive learning space, providing workforce development and professional certification opportunities for the skilled trades—leveraging such technologies as AI and VR simulations to provide comprehensive education with built-in flexibility and boundless customization.
“There is a growing need for training within the trades, and Interplay Learning meets that need with robust, results-oriented solutions,” said Pumpelly. “Interplay is on the cutting edge, and it’s exciting to develop and implement strategies to help them maintain their market growth and fulfill their mission of building better careers and better lives.”
For more information about Interplay Learning, visit www.interplaylearning.com.
Formerly with Kichler Lighting, Reginelli will lead Oatey’s product innovation, engineering, and quality strategies, ensuring that products continue to meet the highest standards of excellence and compliance Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced today that Jim Reginelli has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, Quality & Engineering. Reginelli Read more
Formerly with Kichler Lighting, Reginelli will lead Oatey’s product innovation, engineering, and quality strategies, ensuring that products continue to meet the highest standards of excellence and compliance
Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced today that Jim Reginelli has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, Quality & Engineering.
Reginelli is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience leading product development, driving innovation and optimizing operations from R&D to full-scale manufacturing. He brings deep expertise in building and leading high-performance teams, aligning cross-functional initiatives, executing complex product roadmaps and scaling global development efforts from concept through commercialization.
Reginelli joins Oatey from Kichler Lighting, where he spent the past 10 years in various leadership roles, most recently serving as Vice President of Product Development, leading global engineering and new-product development. Previously, Jim spent more than a decade at GE, where he influenced multiple areas within the lighting solutions business. His expertise spanned engineering, product development, program management and strategic execution, playing a pivotal role in advancing LED technology, launching industry-first products, and driving business growth.
In his new role, Reginelli will lead Oatey’s product innovation, engineering and quality strategies, ensuring products continue to meet the highest standards of excellence and compliance. He will champion continuous improvement and cross-functional alignment while implementing product-development initiatives that enhance innovation, optimize efficiency and align with customer needs.
“At Oatey, there’s a clear commitment to excellence at every level,” says Reginelli. “I look forward to joining forces with teams that embrace innovation and consistently raise the bar with exceptional, industry-leading products.”
“Jim is a strategic, results-driven leader with a strong technical foundation and a proven ability to align teams around complex, high-impact initiatives,” says Neal Restivo, Oatey’s Chief Executive Officer. “His vision and leadership will be instrumental in advancing our engineering and quality functions, supporting our business objectives and delivering long-term value to our customers.”
Reginelli resides in Seven Hills, Ohio. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from John Carroll University and a master’s degree in engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
A veteran of the chemical and plastics industries, Carlson will lead Oatey’s U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations, driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and productivity across all company locations Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced today that Ron Carlson has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations. With Read more
A veteran of the chemical and plastics industries, Carlson will lead Oatey’s U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations, driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and productivity across all company locations
Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced today that Ron Carlson has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations.
With 30 years of experience as an operations leader and a proven track record in the chemical and plastics industries, Carlson joins Oatey from Novagard, where he served as Vice President of Operations. In this role, he successfully enhanced the organization’s safety culture, reduced overall injuries, drove a transformation from conventional to lean manufacturing, and established a strategic manufacturing partnership in India to strengthen global operations. His extensive background includes leadership roles at GEON Performance Solutions and PolyOne, as well as serving as a multi-site Plant Manager at Avery Dennison, demonstrating expertise in operations leadership, lean methodologies and global manufacturing management.
In his new role at Oatey, Carlson will lead Oatey U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations to drive operational excellence, strategic growth and productivity across company sites, leveraging lean methodologies to continuously improve operational efficiency, and support Oatey’s commitment to safety.
“I’m proud to join Oatey, where a tradition of excellence and cutting-edge innovation go hand in hand,” says Carlson. “I’m committed to optimizing our operational capabilities and look forward to partnering with our talented teams to refine processes, enhance efficiency, and continue delivering the highest quality products to our customers.”
“Ron is an exceptional leader whose career is marked by his ability to drive efficiency and improve quality,” says Scott Voisinet, Oatey’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “His forward-thinking approach and deep industry expertise will be pivotal in advancing our U.S. operations to new levels of performance and long-term growth.”
Carlson, a resident of Painesville, Ohio, holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in Business Administration, both from Cleveland State University.
The High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric owner is one of only a handful of area business leaders named to the inaugural list of honorees Levi Torres, owner of High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, a family-owned and operated home service company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, has been selected as one Read more
The High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric owner is one of only a handful of area business leaders named to the inaugural list of honorees
Levi Torres, owner of High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, a family-owned and operated home service company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, has been selected as one of the Denver Business Journal’s 2025 Small Business Leaders.
Torres is one of 21 business owners, presidents, CEOs and managers to be included in the business magazine’s roster of honorees. Nominees were chosen through an independent editorial review that focused on their achievements and contributions to the community.
High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric co-owner Levi Torres has been selected as one of the Denver Business Journal’s 2025 Small Business Leaders.
“It’s exciting to be chosen for the Small Business Leaders awards program,” Torres said. “Denver has a rich history of entrepreneurship and small business ownership, and there are hundreds of admirable small business owners here to choose from. To earn a spot on the inaugural list is an achievement I’m proud to receive.”
Under Torres’ leadership, High 5 has received countless awards and recognitions. In 2024, they were named to Denver Business Journal’s Fast 50 for a second consecutive year. The company has also been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list three years in a row. In 2024, they were ranked 1,812 overall.
“Our company has been able to grow and flourish because of our great team and all of our clients in the Denver community,” Torres said. “They are a major part of our family. None of this success would be possible without them.”
Torres and his wife, Cassi, started High 5 Plumbing in 2012. Since that time, the Torreses have continued to expand the business by adding other home service options, such as HVAC and electrical services. Today, the company is known as High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric.
In addition to offering high-quality residential services, the company also prides itself on giving back to the community through the High 5 Cares program. Each month, the company spotlights a different nonprofit and volunteers for and donates to that company throughout the month. High 5 Cares has donated more than $100,000 to area charities and nonprofits.
Torres and the other winners will be celebrated at a cocktail reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Studio Loft event space in Denver.
To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, or to schedule an inspection, visit http://high5homefix.com/.