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Eden Prairie, Minnesota (May 5, 2022) – Starkey has named Jake Spano as the new Director of Corporate Social Responsibility to drive strategy for Starkey Cares, the organization’s corporate social responsibility program dedicated to giving back to the community. Starkey Cares serves three main pillars: local communities in need, veterans and active-duty military, and our world.

“Caring is a core value and has always been at the center of everything we do at Starkey. As a company with a long history of supporting communities around the world, we strive each day to make a difference in the lives of people who need it most,” said Michael Scholl, Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations at Starkey. “As we continue to grow Starkey Cares, Jake will provide leadership to better support our strategic goals to bring value to our communities and increase employee engagement. We are thrilled to welcome Jake to the Starkey family.”

Spano is a talented, strategic leader with a demonstrated history of strong organizational thought leadership with an entrepreneurial tilt in public and private sectors. He is skilled in adaptation and change leadership, executive leadership, strategic and crisis communications, mentorship, and event management. Spano will be instrumental in achieving Starkey’s strategic corporate social responsibility objectives, creating and executing a multi-year strategy for growing the impact of Starkey Cares, and engaging with customers and employees.

He is a faculty member teaching executive leadership in graduate studies at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Spano also served six years as deputy secretary of state for the State of Minnesota, and was in senior leadership roles for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Spano holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamline University and a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

For more information about Starkey, click here.

About Starkey 

Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Owned by Bill Austin since 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.