Summerfest Business Alliance Member Spotlight
1.) Tell Us Your Story!
Charles Jeremiah (C.J.) Smith founded A. O. Smith in the summer of 1874 on Milwaukee’s north side. He was skilled in metalwork and the company started out as a major metal components supplier to baby carriage and bicycle manufacturers. Throughout its 150-year-old history, A. O. Smith has had an immense product portfolio, including auto frames, bomb casings, beer barrels and silos. In 1936, A. O. Smith patented the process of glass-lining a water heater tank and this concept became the standard of the industry, making hot water an affordable convenience for homeowners. This patented process is not well known outside of our industry. Today, as we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we are known as one of the world’s leading providers of water heating and water treatment solutions, and we employ over 12,000 people in operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, India, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Our values have been the foundation of our company since the beginning and will sustain our company for years to come.
2.) Tell us about your organization’s accomplishments and what you’re most proud of as an employer in Wisconsin.
For the past three years, the Milwaukee Business Journal has recognized A. O. Smith as a Best Places to Work. As a values-driven company, we strive to offer a collaborative environment where employees feel valued and have opportunities for growth and advancement. Our purpose remains consistent: manufacture innovative products, be a good place to work, contribute to the well-being of our communities, preserve our good name and continuously improve in everything we do. We take pride in giving back to the communities where our employees work and live, and through our scholarship program, we support the education of our employees’ children by providing renewable scholarships for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.
3.) How Do You Impact Your Community?
Founded in 1955, the A. O. Smith Foundation is supported by donations from the profits of A. O. Smith Corporation. The Foundation funds nonprofit human services, education, arts and culture, and health organizations located in the communities where A. O. Smith employees live and work. Over $50 million in financial support has been given to charities, community organizations, institutions and programs since the Foundation’s inception. In addition, our employees regularly participate in volunteer events supporting organizations like Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Habitat for Humanity, Milwaukee Rescue Mission and various other community service programs. When disaster strikes, A. O. Smith often donates water heaters and funds relief efforts.
4.) Adapting to change. - What are some ways in which your business has had to adapt and pivot, and how has that led to success?
From humble beginnings making metal components for baby carriage and bicycle manufacturers, A. O. Smith has adapted to change every step of the way. In the earliest days of the automobile revolution, A. O. Smith developed a steel car frame that was sold to Ford Motors and other car manufacturers. Later, the company manufactured beer kegs, brewing tanks and Harvestore® silos. Today, the company continues to grow through acquisitions of commercial and residential water heater and boiler manufacturers and water treatment businesses. With decarbonization goals on every priority list, the company is focused on finding sustainable solutions to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint. As a global water technology company, we are acutely aware of the importance of – and access to – clean and hot water. This awareness drives our operations and is a pivotal part of our water stewardship and sustainability efforts.
5) Why is it important to your organization to Support Summerfest?
Being founded in Milwaukee, A. O. Smith continuously looks for ways to support our community and make a longstanding impact. We joined the Summerfest Business Alliance in 2017 and are one of its oldest members. Every summer, we give Summerfest tickets to our employees so they can enjoy the world’s greatest music festival with their family and friends. Being part of the SBA is a great way to connect with other members of the Milwaukee business community.