Tag: PR Newswire

SHANGHAI, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, has successfully grid-connected the first AI wind turbine prototype for its inaugural project in Australia, supporting Fortescue’s Nullagine Wind Project in the Pilbara – its first operational wind development and a key step in advancing its Real Zero strategy. The achievement marks a major milestone in Envision’s presence in the Australian renewable energy market and underscores the potential of physical AI system to enable large-scale industrial decarbonization across the country.

The Project features 17 Envision EN182-7.8MW AI wind turbines, specifically designed for Australia’s mining and desert environments, local wind conditions, and stringent grid requirements. The turbine integrates Nabrawind’s self-erecting tower technology with a hub height of 188 meters, setting a global benchmark for onshore wind and unlocking higher energy yield.

At the core of these turbines is Envision’s recently launched Dubhe Energy Foundation Model, the world’s largest Physical AI system. Inspired by Dubhe, the guiding star of the Big Dipper, which has helped humanity navigate by the North Star for thousands of years, Dubhe was unveiled by Envision Founder and CEO Lei Zhang at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Working in tandem with Envision’s Tianji Weather Foundation Model, Dubhe analyzes vast real-world energy data streams to orchestrate renewable generation, storage, grids, and demand in real time. By unlocking abundant renewable resources and driving costs toward near-zero marginal levels, Dubhe enables energy systems to scale efficiently with AI, addressing the unprecedented energy demands of the AI era.

“For centuries, Dubhe has guided travelers through the darkness. Today, it illuminates our path toward an intelligent, affordable, and boundless energy future – one capable of sustaining new civilizations in harmony with our planet,” said Lei Zhang, Founder and CEO of Envision.

Kane Xu, SVP and President of International Product Line of Envision Energy, added: “The grid connection validates the power of Envision’s Physical AI approach – proving that our AI wind turbines meet the world’s most demanding grid while maximizing returns. Nullagine is more than a project; it is a scalable blueprint for industrial decarbonization and sustainable prosperity.”

“Delivering Real Zero requires replacing diesel and gas with reliable, industrial-scale renewable energy. Wind – alongside solar and batteries – provides the dependable, low-cost power we need to electrify our haul trucks, drills, processing plants and rail across the Pilbara. The Nullagine Wind Project will feed directly into Pilbara Energy Connect, strengthening supply by balancing daytime solar with strong night-time and seasonal wind generation.” said Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals and Operations Chief Executive Officer.

– End –

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-energy-connects-first-ai-wind-turbine-prototype-for-fortescue-unlocking-australias-renewable-future-302667564.html

SOURCE Envision Energy

SHANGHAI, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, has successfully grid-connected the first AI wind turbine prototype for its inaugural project in Australia, supporting Fortescue’s Nullagine Wind Project in the Pilbara – its first operational wind development and a key step in advancing its Real Zero strategy. The achievement marks a major milestone in Envision’s presence in the Australian renewable energy market and underscores the potential of physical AI system to enable large-scale industrial decarbonization across the country.

The Project features 17 Envision EN182-7.8MW AI wind turbines, specifically designed for Australia’s mining and desert environments, local wind conditions, and stringent grid requirements. The turbine integrates Nabrawind’s self-erecting tower technology with a hub height of 188 meters, setting a global benchmark for onshore wind and unlocking higher energy yield.

At the core of these turbines is Envision’s recently launched Dubhe Energy Foundation Model, the world’s largest Physical AI system. Inspired by Dubhe, the guiding star of the Big Dipper, which has helped humanity navigate by the North Star for thousands of years, Dubhe was unveiled by Envision Founder and CEO Lei Zhang at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Working in tandem with Envision’s Tianji Weather Foundation Model, Dubhe analyzes vast real-world energy data streams to orchestrate renewable generation, storage, grids, and demand in real time. By unlocking abundant renewable resources and driving costs toward near-zero marginal levels, Dubhe enables energy systems to scale efficiently with AI, addressing the unprecedented energy demands of the AI era.

“For centuries, Dubhe has guided travelers through the darkness. Today, it illuminates our path toward an intelligent, affordable, and boundless energy future – one capable of sustaining new civilizations in harmony with our planet,” said Lei Zhang, Founder and CEO of Envision.

Kane Xu, SVP and President of International Product Line of Envision Energy, added: “The grid connection validates the power of Envision’s Physical AI approach – proving that our AI wind turbines meet the world’s most demanding grid while maximizing returns. Nullagine is more than a project; it is a scalable blueprint for industrial decarbonization and sustainable prosperity.”

“Delivering Real Zero requires replacing diesel and gas with reliable, industrial-scale renewable energy. Wind – alongside solar and batteries – provides the dependable, low-cost power we need to electrify our haul trucks, drills, processing plants and rail across the Pilbara. The Nullagine Wind Project will feed directly into Pilbara Energy Connect, strengthening supply by balancing daytime solar with strong night-time and seasonal wind generation.” said Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals and Operations Chief Executive Officer.

– End –

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-energy-connects-first-ai-wind-turbine-prototype-for-fortescue-unlocking-australias-renewable-future-302667564.html

SOURCE Envision Energy

CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ziegler is pleased to announce the successful closing of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community’s $357,225,000 Series 2026A, 2026B and 2026C Bonds (together the “Series 2026 Bonds”).

Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community (Deerfield) is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation chartered in January 1955 that owns and operates a Life Plan Community located on 125-acres in Asheville, North Carolina. Deerfield’s campus is a mix of meadow and wooded acreage that is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and is conveniently located near shopping, the regional airport, interstate highways, hospitals and physicians, local colleges, and a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities. At present, Deerfield operates 378 independent living residences, 62 assisted living accommodations and 62 skilled nursing accommodations. Deerfield is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), a distinction they have held since 2003.

To address the evolving needs of existing and new residents, as well as to meet market demand and a waiting list of over 1,600 prospective residents, Deerfield is planning a project that will (1) renovate, expand and equip the Simonds Health Center to add 12 assisted living accommodations to specialize in memory care and 12 new private skilled nursing accommodations, (2) renovate, expand and equip Haden Hall for common area, fitness, art studio, wellness clinic, physical therapy, multipurpose, staff and administrative improvements and 10 new assisted living accommodations, (3) renovate, expand and equip a new community center to include new dining, library, common, administrative and meeting facilities, (4) construct and equip 69 new independent living apartments in a 5-story building with underground parking, (5) construct and equip 96 new independent living hybrid apartments (the “Canterbury Homes”) and (6) construct and equip a new outdoor activity center and walking trails. For the 165 new independent living units, Deerfield began taking 10% pre-sales deposits in June 2025 and achieved the 70% pre-sales mark within 6-months. Greenbrier Development, LLC of Dallas, Texas is providing Deerfield with certain development consulting services during the planning and development of the project.

Proceeds of the Series 2026 Bonds, along with other available funds, will be used to (1) finance the costs of the project, (2) fund a portion of interest during construction and (3) pay certain expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Series 2026 Bonds. The Series 2026 Bonds were structured in three tranches of debt issued through the North Carolina Medical Care Commission, as outlined further below:

• Series 2026A Long-Term Bonds ($147,125,000): represents the long-term fixed rate portion of the financing rated BBB+ from Fitch Ratings with a final maturity in 2056 using a wrapped debt service structure, resulting in a weighted average maturity of 23.3 years and a blended average yield to maturity of 5.08%.
• Series 2026B Tax Exempt Mandatory Paydown Securities ^℠ ($160,100,000): represents the short-term portion of the financing rated BBB+ from Fitch Ratings that will be repaid with initial entrance fees from the new independent living apartments. The Series 2026B Bonds were structured with four sub-series of bonds based upon expected redemption upon occupancy of the new apartments ranging from 50% to 95%. Overall, the combined sub-series have a weighted average maturity of 2.64 years with coupons ranging from 3.20% to 4.00% (blended average yield to maturity of 3.48%).
• Series 2026C Long-Term Bank Bonds ($50,000,000): represents the long-term variable rate portion of the financing that is being purchased by Truist Commercial Equity, Inc. Deerfield is implementing a variable rate tranche to diversify their capital structure.

“On behalf of the entire Ziegler team, we are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside an exceptional organization and project team on Deerfield’s transformational expansion. Deerfield is among the premier senior living organizations in the country, and the project financed with proceeds from the Series 2026 bonds will enable current and future generations of seniors to benefit from meaningful enhancements across the community. Guided by a dedicated Board of Directors and exceptional Leadership Team, Deerfield has worked diligently to ensure that its vision of being “A Center of Aging Excellence” will not only continue but be further strengthened for years to come,” stated Tommy Brewer, Managing Director in Ziegler’s Senior Living Finance Practice.

Ziegler is the nation’s leading underwriter of financings for not-for-profit senior living providers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its senior living clientele, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning, as well as senior living research, education, and communication.

For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at www.ziegler.com.

About Ziegler:

Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets, and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living, and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance, and Analytics. To learn more, visit www.ziegler.com.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client’s experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ziegler-closes-financing-for-deerfield-episcopal-retirement-community-302666956.html

SOURCE Ziegler

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Doral Renewables, a leading, U.S. utility-scale solar and battery storage developer and independent power producer announced today that its Great Bend Solar project has achieved commercial operation (COD) pursuant to the terms of its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as of Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The project was Placed in Service and achieved Substantial Completion in December 2025.

The 48 MW project, located in Meigs County, is situated on the Great Bend of the Ohio River, near the state border with West Virginia. Great Bend Solar has a long term PPA with a major offtaker, supporting stable project operations over time.

“We’re very excited that we have achieved commercial operation of this facility,” said Amit Nadkarni, SVP of Project and Asset Management at Doral. “As demand for electricity continues to rise, this facility will provide reliable and affordable power necessary to maintain grid stability and keep our communities running.”

A project of this size can support over 9,000 American homes and is expected to contribute more than $400,000 annually in new tax revenue to Meigs County, supporting essential local services and providing significant benefit to the nearby economy. Nadkarni continued, “We are grateful for the support of the local community and our partners who helped bring this vision to life.”

About Doral Renewables

Doral Renewables is a Philadelphia-based developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy assets throughout the United States. Our solar and storage development portfolio comprises nearly 18 GW, which includes nearly 450 MW currently in operation and 1,500 MW under construction. Doral Renewables operates in 18 states and across five electricity markets. With a strong focus on community engagement, we aim to integrate agrivoltaics practices throughout our pipeline, creating additional opportunities for farming communities. Our team of global partners includes the Doral Group, Migdal Group, Clean Air Generation, APG, and Apollo Funds. Learn more at doral-llc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/doral-renewables-achieves-commercial-operation-at-great-bend-solar-in-ohio-302667171.html

SOURCE Doral Renewables LLC

Sioux Honey Co-op and Smoothie King donate 6,480 bottles of honey to Second Helpings Atlanta food rescue network

ATLANTA, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Sioux Honey Co-op and Smoothie King made a super-sized donation in Atlanta today – enough honey to coat an entire football field – and Second Helpings Atlanta is distributing it through its food rescue network to families across the area.

Sioux Honey, a co-op of 200-plus beekeeper families from across the United States, partnered with Smoothie King to deliver nearly 3 tons of honey to Second Helpings Atlanta, a nonprofit food rescue organization that saves healthy, nutritious surplus food and distributes it to those in need.

The donation was announced during a media event at Second Helpings’ warehouse and distribution center and is part of Sioux Honey’s ongoing “Sharing Sweetness” effort, which has included several large donations of honey to food banks, food rescue groups and other non-profits. To date, more than 75,000 bottles of Sue Bee® Clover Honey have been donated by the co-op and its retail partners.

For Second Helpings, the donation – three pallets with 540 cases holding 6,480 bottles of Sue Bee® Clover Honey – was more timely than ever.

“Food insecurity rates in many Atlanta‑area counties meet or exceed the national level of about 14.3% – especially for children and communities of color,” said Paul Clements, executive director of Second Helpings, which has collected and delivered more than 32.6 million pounds of food since forming in 2004. “Inflation, higher food prices and shifts in public benefits have kept demand at record highs.”

Epic shelf life
Honey is an ideal partner in the fight against food insecurity: it doesn’t need refrigeration; it’s an amazingly versatile food; and its shelf life is legendary. In fact, preserved honey was unearthed in another Georgia – this one in the Borjomi region near the village of Sakire – in the tomb of a noblewoman, discovered 20 years ago in ceramic vessels containing remnants of honey dating back approximately 5,500 years!

At Second Helpings, the honey won’t last anywhere near that long.

“We’ve seen a 156% surge in demand for food aid,” said Clements. “It will go fast, especially because it’s such a healthy, natural food – and just one ingredient: honey.”

Honey’s health benefits – from antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to taming coughs and soothing sore throats – make it a highly coveted item at free food services.

“At Smoothie King, we care deeply about every ingredient that goes into our blends,” said Lori Primavera, VP of R&D and Product Marketing. “With 50 years focusing on making nutrition delicious, we design each recipe from the ground up, working with nutritional experts to balance nutrients and flavor. Honey is one of those simple ingredients that consumers trust and love for both its delicious taste and nutritional benefits.”

Smoothie King, which operates more than 1,200 stores across the country, has a reputation for supporting and investing in the communities where their employees live and work.

“Our stores are neighborhood fixtures and supporting local families through this donation is one more way we live our vision to make the world a better place nourishing healthy habits in our communities,” added Primavera.

Support for local food-growers
In a state where agriculture is an $83.4 billion industry, nearly 40% of what is produced by Georgia’s farmers, much of which is fruits and vegetables, goes uneaten, Clements said. “And it’s not because the food isn’t safe or unwanted – farmers are struggling to sell their crops because of tough market conditions, labor shortages, or cosmetic standards.”

Second Helpings saves as much of it as it can through its “Field to Fork” program that compensates Georgia’s farmers at a fair price to help cover the costs of growing and harvesting their produce in exchange for fresh, store-ready produce that is given to families in need.

“We’ve rescued more than one million pounds of fresh, Georgia-grown produce through the ‘Field to Fork’ program, including corn, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus and more – it’s the equivalent of approximately 833,000 meals,” Clements said.

Supporting local farmers is deeply personal for Sioux Honey beekeepers.

“With our U.S. Farmed™ certification from American Farmland Trust, Sioux Honey beekeepers and their families stand with local, American farmers and sustainable agricultural practices,” said Beth Love, marketing manager at Sioux Honey.

The 105-year-old Sioux Honey co-op harvested nearly one-fourth of the 134 million pounds of honey collected by U.S. commercial beekeepers last year, according to the USDA.

“Being responsible for roughly a quarter of America’s commercial honey harvest is more than a fun fact – it’s a responsibility we take seriously,” added Love. “That same nationwide reach also makes it possible for us to keep giving back to communities by sharing sweetness in meaningful ways, as we were able to do today at Second Helpings Atlanta.”

Sweet stats
To put the amount of honey donated today at Second Helpings Atlanta into perspective,

• It’s enough honey to glaze an entire field at Levi’s Stadium at next month’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif.
• It weighs 4,860 pounds, 2.5 tons (the weight of four grand pianos!)
• With the Bank of America Plaza at 1,023 feet tall, if you stacked all 6,480 bottles of honey it would reach the top – three times!

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you would like to interview a representative from Sioux Honey, Smoothie King or Second Helpings, please contact Jim Minge, media/PR liaison for Sioux Honey Co-op, at 402-740-8188 or jim@wayfinderpr.com.

DOWNLOAD EVENT ASSETS: Sioux Honey Donation – Atlanta Google Drive Folder.

ABOUT SECOND HELPINGS ATLANTA: Founded in 2004, Second Helpings Atlanta is a nonprofit food-rescue logistics organization dedicated to ending hunger and reducing food waste across Metro Atlanta. The organization rescues surplus food from farms, grocers, restaurants, event venues, caterers, and distributors, free of charge, and delivers it to more than 130 non-profit partner agencies serving those in need across metro Atlanta. Since inception, SHA has rescued and delivered more than 35 million pounds of food, equivalent to 29 million meals, saving partner agencies approximately $60 million in food costs. For more information, visit secondhelpingsatlanta.org.

ABOUT SIOUX HONEY CO-OP: Founded in 1921 by five beekeepers near Sioux City, Iowa, Sioux Honey began with a simple cooperative model of sharing equipment, marketing and processing facilities. Today, the co-op has grown to more than 200 beekeeper families nationwide, some multigenerational and others just beginning their honey journey. Sioux Honey is proud to know each member by name and to produce pure, quality honey trusted for more than a century. Sioux Honey’s Sue Bee® and Aunt Sue’s® were also the first honey brands to earn the U.S. Farmed™ certification, underscoring the co-op’s commitment to domestic farming and sustainable practices. For additional information, visit siouxhoney.com. 

ABOUT SMOOTHIE KING FRANCHISES, INC.: Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the original U.S. smoothie franchise, is a privately held, Dallas-based company with more than 1,200 units nationwide. It was founded in 1973 with the mission to help others achieve better health in a delicious way through smoothies. Today, it continues its mission to inspire a healthy and active lifestyle through its Clean Blends initiative, which focuses on great-tasting smoothies that are made with GMO-free fruits and organic vegetables and no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives. In 2025, Smoothie King introduced the Power Eats Menu, marking the brand’s first nationwide addition of food items. Smoothie King also offers retail products that include sports beverages, energy bars, vitamins, supplements, and more. Repeatedly recognized as a top franchise opportunity, Smoothie King was recently ranked #17 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s highly competitive “Franchise 500” ranking for 2026. For additional information, visit smoothieking.com.

CONTACT:
Jim Minge
Media/PR Liaison
OBO Sioux Honey
jim@wayfinderpr.com
402-740-8188

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stadium-sized-honey-donation-302667147.html

SOURCE Sioux Honey

Sioux Honey Co-op and Smoothie King donate 6,480 bottles of honey to Second Helpings Atlanta food rescue network

ATLANTA, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Sioux Honey Co-op and Smoothie King made a super-sized donation in Atlanta today – enough honey to coat an entire football field – and Second Helpings Atlanta is distributing it through its food rescue network to families across the area.

Sioux Honey, a co-op of 200-plus beekeeper families from across the United States, partnered with Smoothie King to deliver nearly 3 tons of honey to Second Helpings Atlanta, a nonprofit food rescue organization that saves healthy, nutritious surplus food and distributes it to those in need.

The donation was announced during a media event at Second Helpings’ warehouse and distribution center and is part of Sioux Honey’s ongoing “Sharing Sweetness” effort, which has included several large donations of honey to food banks, food rescue groups and other non-profits. To date, more than 75,000 bottles of Sue Bee® Clover Honey have been donated by the co-op and its retail partners.

For Second Helpings, the donation – three pallets with 540 cases holding 6,480 bottles of Sue Bee® Clover Honey – was more timely than ever.

“Food insecurity rates in many Atlanta‑area counties meet or exceed the national level of about 14.3% – especially for children and communities of color,” said Paul Clements, executive director of Second Helpings, which has collected and delivered more than 32.6 million pounds of food since forming in 2004. “Inflation, higher food prices and shifts in public benefits have kept demand at record highs.”

Epic shelf life
Honey is an ideal partner in the fight against food insecurity: it doesn’t need refrigeration; it’s an amazingly versatile food; and its shelf life is legendary. In fact, preserved honey was unearthed in another Georgia – this one in the Borjomi region near the village of Sakire – in the tomb of a noblewoman, discovered 20 years ago in ceramic vessels containing remnants of honey dating back approximately 5,500 years!

At Second Helpings, the honey won’t last anywhere near that long.

“We’ve seen a 156% surge in demand for food aid,” said Clements. “It will go fast, especially because it’s such a healthy, natural food – and just one ingredient: honey.”

Honey’s health benefits – from antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to taming coughs and soothing sore throats – make it a highly coveted item at free food services.

“At Smoothie King, we care deeply about every ingredient that goes into our blends,” said Lori Primavera, VP of R&D and Product Marketing. “With 50 years focusing on making nutrition delicious, we design each recipe from the ground up, working with nutritional experts to balance nutrients and flavor. Honey is one of those simple ingredients that consumers trust and love for both its delicious taste and nutritional benefits.”

Smoothie King, which operates more than 1,200 stores across the country, has a reputation for supporting and investing in the communities where their employees live and work.

“Our stores are neighborhood fixtures and supporting local families through this donation is one more way we live our vision to make the world a better place nourishing healthy habits in our communities,” added Primavera.

Support for local food-growers
In a state where agriculture is an $83.4 billion industry, nearly 40% of what is produced by Georgia’s farmers, much of which is fruits and vegetables, goes uneaten, Clements said. “And it’s not because the food isn’t safe or unwanted – farmers are struggling to sell their crops because of tough market conditions, labor shortages, or cosmetic standards.”

Second Helpings saves as much of it as it can through its “Field to Fork” program that compensates Georgia’s farmers at a fair price to help cover the costs of growing and harvesting their produce in exchange for fresh, store-ready produce that is given to families in need.

“We’ve rescued more than one million pounds of fresh, Georgia-grown produce through the ‘Field to Fork’ program, including corn, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus and more – it’s the equivalent of approximately 833,000 meals,” Clements said.

Supporting local farmers is deeply personal for Sioux Honey beekeepers.

“With our U.S. Farmed™ certification from American Farmland Trust, Sioux Honey beekeepers and their families stand with local, American farmers and sustainable agricultural practices,” said Beth Love, marketing manager at Sioux Honey.

The 105-year-old Sioux Honey co-op harvested nearly one-fourth of the 134 million pounds of honey collected by U.S. commercial beekeepers last year, according to the USDA.

“Being responsible for roughly a quarter of America’s commercial honey harvest is more than a fun fact – it’s a responsibility we take seriously,” added Love. “That same nationwide reach also makes it possible for us to keep giving back to communities by sharing sweetness in meaningful ways, as we were able to do today at Second Helpings Atlanta.”

Sweet stats
To put the amount of honey donated today at Second Helpings Atlanta into perspective,

• It’s enough honey to glaze an entire field at Levi’s Stadium at next month’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif.
• It weighs 4,860 pounds, 2.5 tons (the weight of four grand pianos!)
• With the Bank of America Plaza at 1,023 feet tall, if you stacked all 6,480 bottles of honey it would reach the top – three times!

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you would like to interview a representative from Sioux Honey, Smoothie King or Second Helpings, please contact Jim Minge, media/PR liaison for Sioux Honey Co-op, at 402-740-8188 or jim@wayfinderpr.com.

DOWNLOAD EVENT ASSETS: Sioux Honey Donation – Atlanta Google Drive Folder.

ABOUT SECOND HELPINGS ATLANTA: Founded in 2004, Second Helpings Atlanta is a nonprofit food-rescue logistics organization dedicated to ending hunger and reducing food waste across Metro Atlanta. The organization rescues surplus food from farms, grocers, restaurants, event venues, caterers, and distributors, free of charge, and delivers it to more than 130 non-profit partner agencies serving those in need across metro Atlanta. Since inception, SHA has rescued and delivered more than 35 million pounds of food, equivalent to 29 million meals, saving partner agencies approximately $60 million in food costs. For more information, visit secondhelpingsatlanta.org.

ABOUT SIOUX HONEY CO-OP: Founded in 1921 by five beekeepers near Sioux City, Iowa, Sioux Honey began with a simple cooperative model of sharing equipment, marketing and processing facilities. Today, the co-op has grown to more than 200 beekeeper families nationwide, some multigenerational and others just beginning their honey journey. Sioux Honey is proud to know each member by name and to produce pure, quality honey trusted for more than a century. Sioux Honey’s Sue Bee® and Aunt Sue’s® were also the first honey brands to earn the U.S. Farmed™ certification, underscoring the co-op’s commitment to domestic farming and sustainable practices. For additional information, visit siouxhoney.com. 

ABOUT SMOOTHIE KING FRANCHISES, INC.: Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the original U.S. smoothie franchise, is a privately held, Dallas-based company with more than 1,200 units nationwide. It was founded in 1973 with the mission to help others achieve better health in a delicious way through smoothies. Today, it continues its mission to inspire a healthy and active lifestyle through its Clean Blends initiative, which focuses on great-tasting smoothies that are made with GMO-free fruits and organic vegetables and no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives. In 2025, Smoothie King introduced the Power Eats Menu, marking the brand’s first nationwide addition of food items. Smoothie King also offers retail products that include sports beverages, energy bars, vitamins, supplements, and more. Repeatedly recognized as a top franchise opportunity, Smoothie King was recently ranked #17 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s highly competitive “Franchise 500” ranking for 2026. For additional information, visit smoothieking.com.

CONTACT:
Jim Minge
Media/PR Liaison
OBO Sioux Honey
jim@wayfinderpr.com
402-740-8188

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stadium-sized-honey-donation-302667147.html

SOURCE Sioux Honey

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NASCAR today announced that Hardee’s, the iconic American quick-service restaurant brand, is returning to the sport in a major way as the Official Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) of NASCAR. In addition to the multiyear agreement, Hardee’s also will join 23XI Racing as a primary partner with Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team, marking one of the most significant comebacks of a heritage brand in recent NASCAR history. Throughout the season, Wallace will drive the No. 23 Hardee’s car at several races, starting in Martinsville, and Hardee’s branding will be included all season on the No. 23 team’s uniforms and equipment and Wallace’s firesuit.

For decades, Hardee’s has been interwoven with NASCAR’s fabric, having sponsored some of the sport’s most legendary names and moments. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hardee’s-backed entries achieved 12 NASCAR Cup Series victories, driven by Hall of Famers including Bobby Allison (1981), Cale Yarborough (1983–1988), Alan Kulwicki (1985), and Dale Jarrett (1988–1989). Allison captured three wins—including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 — in the famed No. 28 Hardee’s car in 1981. Yarborough went on to secure nine victories with Hardee’s, including back-to-back Daytona 500 titles in 1983 and 1984, cementing the brand’s place in NASCAR history.

Now, Hardee’s returns at a moment of remarkable momentum for the sport, joining a growing list of iconic Americana brands choosing NASCAR as a platform to reach millions of passionate fans.

“Hardee’s is an American classic with deep roots in our sport, and its return represents more than a new partnership — it symbolizes the power and appeal of NASCAR’s heritage,” said Craig Stimmel, NASCAR Chief Commercial Officer. “As more legacy brands look to NASCAR to connect with loyal, multigenerational fanbases, Hardee’s stands out as a partner that understands the passion, tradition, and energy that fuel our community. We’re thrilled to welcome them back in such a significant way.”

As part of the agreement, Hardee’s will activate across key NASCAR events, engage fans through unique experiences via its My Rewards™ loyalty program, and collaborate with 23XI Racing and Wallace across digital, social, and community-driven campaigns.

For Wallace — who is coming off one of his best seasons to date — the partnership carries special meaning.

“NASCAR is built on legacy, and Hardee’s has been part of some of the most iconic moments in our sport’s history,” said Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE. “To bring that history forward with 23XI is really special and we’re looking forward to representing a brand that means so much to NASCAR’s story. Fans know the Hardee’s paint schemes of the past, and I’m excited to help create some new memories for longtime and newer fans.”

Hardee’s will leverage the partnership to deepen engagement with its customers and NASCAR’s millions of fans nationwide, celebrating the sport’s history while fueling its future. The collaboration was facilitated by Hardee’s media agency, PMG, which helped orchestrate the strategic deal. Together, NASCAR, 23XI and Hardee’s will roll out a series of integrated marketing initiatives throughout the season.

Get the latest news and exclusive app offers by downloading the Hardee’s app and joining My Rewards, available here.

About Hardee’s
Hardee’s, owned by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. based in Franklin, Tennessee, is known for premium and innovative menu items such as charbroiled burgers, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™. For 65 years, Hardee’s has been bringing people together with classic flavors and homestyle comfort food. Hardee’s Restaurants LLC has over 1,600 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 31 states. For more information about Hardee’s, please visit www.hardees.com.

About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
CKE, a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, franchises, owns and operates Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® restaurants, two beloved brands, known for premium and innovative menu items such as iconic charbroiled Burgers, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™. With both a U.S. and international footprint, Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC have more than 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and more than 35 foreign countries and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

About 23XI Racing
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion and Hall of Famer Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. Tyler Reddick joined the team in 2023 to drive the No. 45 car. In 2024, Reddick won the Regular Season Championship and raced to a spot in the Championship 4, a first for both the team and Reddick. 23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE. Corey Heim currently serves as the team’s development driver and races occasionally in the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE. The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hardees-returns-to-nascar-as-an-official-partner-joins-23xi-racing-as-primary-partner-of-bubba-wallace-and-the-no-23-team-302666873.html

SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NASCAR today announced that Hardee’s, the iconic American quick-service restaurant brand, is returning to the sport in a major way as the Official Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) of NASCAR. In addition to the multiyear agreement, Hardee’s also will join 23XI Racing as a primary partner with Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team, marking one of the most significant comebacks of a heritage brand in recent NASCAR history. Throughout the season, Wallace will drive the No. 23 Hardee’s car at several races, starting in Martinsville, and Hardee’s branding will be included all season on the No. 23 team’s uniforms and equipment and Wallace’s firesuit.

For decades, Hardee’s has been interwoven with NASCAR’s fabric, having sponsored some of the sport’s most legendary names and moments. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hardee’s-backed entries achieved 12 NASCAR Cup Series victories, driven by Hall of Famers including Bobby Allison (1981), Cale Yarborough (1983–1988), Alan Kulwicki (1985), and Dale Jarrett (1988–1989). Allison captured three wins—including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 — in the famed No. 28 Hardee’s car in 1981. Yarborough went on to secure nine victories with Hardee’s, including back-to-back Daytona 500 titles in 1983 and 1984, cementing the brand’s place in NASCAR history.

Now, Hardee’s returns at a moment of remarkable momentum for the sport, joining a growing list of iconic Americana brands choosing NASCAR as a platform to reach millions of passionate fans.

“Hardee’s is an American classic with deep roots in our sport, and its return represents more than a new partnership — it symbolizes the power and appeal of NASCAR’s heritage,” said Craig Stimmel, NASCAR Chief Commercial Officer. “As more legacy brands look to NASCAR to connect with loyal, multigenerational fanbases, Hardee’s stands out as a partner that understands the passion, tradition, and energy that fuel our community. We’re thrilled to welcome them back in such a significant way.”

As part of the agreement, Hardee’s will activate across key NASCAR events, engage fans through unique experiences via its My Rewards™ loyalty program, and collaborate with 23XI Racing and Wallace across digital, social, and community-driven campaigns.

For Wallace — who is coming off one of his best seasons to date — the partnership carries special meaning.

“NASCAR is built on legacy, and Hardee’s has been part of some of the most iconic moments in our sport’s history,” said Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE. “To bring that history forward with 23XI is really special and we’re looking forward to representing a brand that means so much to NASCAR’s story. Fans know the Hardee’s paint schemes of the past, and I’m excited to help create some new memories for longtime and newer fans.”

Hardee’s will leverage the partnership to deepen engagement with its customers and NASCAR’s millions of fans nationwide, celebrating the sport’s history while fueling its future. The collaboration was facilitated by Hardee’s media agency, PMG, which helped orchestrate the strategic deal. Together, NASCAR, 23XI and Hardee’s will roll out a series of integrated marketing initiatives throughout the season.

Get the latest news and exclusive app offers by downloading the Hardee’s app and joining My Rewards, available here.

About Hardee’s
Hardee’s, owned by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. based in Franklin, Tennessee, is known for premium and innovative menu items such as charbroiled burgers, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™. For 65 years, Hardee’s has been bringing people together with classic flavors and homestyle comfort food. Hardee’s Restaurants LLC has over 1,600 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 31 states. For more information about Hardee’s, please visit www.hardees.com.

About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
CKE, a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, franchises, owns and operates Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® restaurants, two beloved brands, known for premium and innovative menu items such as iconic charbroiled Burgers, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™. With both a U.S. and international footprint, Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC have more than 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and more than 35 foreign countries and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

About 23XI Racing
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion and Hall of Famer Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. Tyler Reddick joined the team in 2023 to drive the No. 45 car. In 2024, Reddick won the Regular Season Championship and raced to a spot in the Championship 4, a first for both the team and Reddick. 23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE. Corey Heim currently serves as the team’s development driver and races occasionally in the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE. The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hardees-returns-to-nascar-as-an-official-partner-joins-23xi-racing-as-primary-partner-of-bubba-wallace-and-the-no-23-team-302666873.html

SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — mPower Technology, Inc., the leader in flexible solar power for space, today announced the appointment of four senior executives to its leadership team. These hires follow a period of significant momentum for the company, including the launch of the world’s first automated, high-volume space solar production line and a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures—positioning mPower to scale manufacturing, expand commercial adoption, and support mission-critical space programs.

New leadership appointments:

Scott Hughes, Chief Financial Officer
Scott Hughes is a seasoned finance and operations executive with deep experience supporting technology companies through growth, commercialization, and operational scale. Prior to joining mPower, Hughes served as CFO and COO of Totum Labs, where he led financial strategy, operations, and organizational growth for a venture-backed technology company.

Earlier in his career, Hughes was Chief Financial Officer at Ostendo Technologies, overseeing financial operations during a critical period of product development and commercialization. At mPower, Hughes will guide financial planning, capital strategy, reporting, and operational finance to support continued production scale-up and long-term growth.

James Heller, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
James Heller is a proven founder-operator and commercial leader with a track record of building categories and scaling revenue. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Wrapify, where he spent a decade building the company into a market-defining media platform. Under his leadership, Wrapify raised $10.3 million in funding, generated more than $45 million in media sales, developed patented media measurement technology, and sold to 25% of the top 100 U.S. brand advertisers, including five of the top ten. Wrapify was successfully acquired by Wrapmate in 2023.

At mPower, Heller will lead commercial strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution to accelerate adoption of DragonSCALES™ across commercial, civil, and national security space markets.

Jeff Cyran, Vice President of Supply Chain
Jeff Cyran brings more than 25 years of global supply chain and operations leadership across high-volume, quality-critical manufacturing environments. Most recently, Jeff served as Vice President of Supply Chain at SunPower Corporation, where he led the company’s end-to-end supply chain organization, overseeing procurement, logistics, demand planning, customer fulfillment, reverse logistics, and supplier contract negotiations. His responsibilities included EBITDA generation, inventory-driven cash-flow optimization, and cost reduction across a globally distributed team in the U.S. and Philippines.

Prior to SunPower, Cyran held senior leadership roles at Amazon, including Head of Quality Assurance for Amazon Private Brands, where he was responsible for product and factory quality across more than 500 vendors and 20,000 consumer products worldwide. At mPower, Cyran will lead supply chain strategy and operational execution as the company scales high-volume DragonSCALES™ manufacturing.

Adriel Carreño, Vice President of Business Development
Adriel Carreño brings deep space-industry business development and engineering experience to mPower. He most recently served as Vice President of Business Development at Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary and global leader in high-efficiency space solar cells, where he led strategic growth initiatives and customer engagement for advanced solar products. Prior to that role, Carreño spent more than five years as Director of Solar Products Business Development at Spectrolab, driving market expansion and program growth.

Earlier in his career, Carreño worked as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer at The Boeing Company, giving him a strong technical foundation in spacecraft design and mission requirements. At mPower, Carreño will lead business development efforts aligned with commercial, civil, and national security space priorities.

“2025 marked a pivotal year for mPower from industrializing our manufacturing footprint to securing strategic capital that validates the vision behind DragonSCALES™,” said Kevin Hell, President & CEO of mPower. “These leadership appointments bring the expertise we need to scale operations and commercial impact as we enter the next phase of delivering resilient, high-performance space power solutions.”

About mPower Technology

mPower Technology is reshaping the future of space solar with DragonSCALES™. Designed for mass production using standard silicon PV processes, DragonSCALES delivers high-performance, scalable solar power for spacecraft of all types. Learn more at https://mpowertech.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Media contact:
Natalie Rizk
natalier@theriotmind.agency
505-252-4279

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mpower-bolsters-leadership-as-demand-for-space-based-solar-power-accelerates-302667005.html

SOURCE mPower Technology

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — mPower Technology, Inc., the leader in flexible solar power for space, today announced the appointment of four senior executives to its leadership team. These hires follow a period of significant momentum for the company, including the launch of the world’s first automated, high-volume space solar production line and a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures—positioning mPower to scale manufacturing, expand commercial adoption, and support mission-critical space programs.

New leadership appointments:

Scott Hughes, Chief Financial Officer
Scott Hughes is a seasoned finance and operations executive with deep experience supporting technology companies through growth, commercialization, and operational scale. Prior to joining mPower, Hughes served as CFO and COO of Totum Labs, where he led financial strategy, operations, and organizational growth for a venture-backed technology company.

Earlier in his career, Hughes was Chief Financial Officer at Ostendo Technologies, overseeing financial operations during a critical period of product development and commercialization. At mPower, Hughes will guide financial planning, capital strategy, reporting, and operational finance to support continued production scale-up and long-term growth.

James Heller, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
James Heller is a proven founder-operator and commercial leader with a track record of building categories and scaling revenue. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Wrapify, where he spent a decade building the company into a market-defining media platform. Under his leadership, Wrapify raised $10.3 million in funding, generated more than $45 million in media sales, developed patented media measurement technology, and sold to 25% of the top 100 U.S. brand advertisers, including five of the top ten. Wrapify was successfully acquired by Wrapmate in 2023.

At mPower, Heller will lead commercial strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution to accelerate adoption of DragonSCALES™ across commercial, civil, and national security space markets.

Jeff Cyran, Vice President of Supply Chain
Jeff Cyran brings more than 25 years of global supply chain and operations leadership across high-volume, quality-critical manufacturing environments. Most recently, Jeff served as Vice President of Supply Chain at SunPower Corporation, where he led the company’s end-to-end supply chain organization, overseeing procurement, logistics, demand planning, customer fulfillment, reverse logistics, and supplier contract negotiations. His responsibilities included EBITDA generation, inventory-driven cash-flow optimization, and cost reduction across a globally distributed team in the U.S. and Philippines.

Prior to SunPower, Cyran held senior leadership roles at Amazon, including Head of Quality Assurance for Amazon Private Brands, where he was responsible for product and factory quality across more than 500 vendors and 20,000 consumer products worldwide. At mPower, Cyran will lead supply chain strategy and operational execution as the company scales high-volume DragonSCALES™ manufacturing.

Adriel Carreño, Vice President of Business Development
Adriel Carreño brings deep space-industry business development and engineering experience to mPower. He most recently served as Vice President of Business Development at Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary and global leader in high-efficiency space solar cells, where he led strategic growth initiatives and customer engagement for advanced solar products. Prior to that role, Carreño spent more than five years as Director of Solar Products Business Development at Spectrolab, driving market expansion and program growth.

Earlier in his career, Carreño worked as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer at The Boeing Company, giving him a strong technical foundation in spacecraft design and mission requirements. At mPower, Carreño will lead business development efforts aligned with commercial, civil, and national security space priorities.

“2025 marked a pivotal year for mPower from industrializing our manufacturing footprint to securing strategic capital that validates the vision behind DragonSCALES™,” said Kevin Hell, President & CEO of mPower. “These leadership appointments bring the expertise we need to scale operations and commercial impact as we enter the next phase of delivering resilient, high-performance space power solutions.”

About mPower Technology

mPower Technology is reshaping the future of space solar with DragonSCALES™. Designed for mass production using standard silicon PV processes, DragonSCALES delivers high-performance, scalable solar power for spacecraft of all types. Learn more at https://mpowertech.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Media contact:
Natalie Rizk
natalier@theriotmind.agency
505-252-4279

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mpower-bolsters-leadership-as-demand-for-space-based-solar-power-accelerates-302667005.html

SOURCE mPower Technology