Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (December 15, 2022) – Starkey Owner and Chairman, Bill Austin, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparalleled contributions to the hearing industry. This global recognition, received in the 2022 International Business Awards, earned him one of the world’s premier business accolades – a Gold Stevie Award.

“Bill Austin’s passion for helping others has driven every Starkey business decision for more than 60 years,” said Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich. “As the hearing industry has evolved, he has remained steadfast in his belief that hearing health care requires a human touch. His unrelenting commitment to strong partnerships with hearing professionals is what continues to make it possible for Starkey’s cutting-edge technology to impact the lives of patients around the world. On behalf of everyone at Starkey, I want to congratulate Bill on this well-deserved recognition and express my gratitude for his servant leadership every single day.”

In 1961, 19-year-old Bill Austin began working in his uncle’s hearing aid repair shop with the hope of one day making an impact on the world. A few years later, he bought Starkey Laboratories for $13,000. Fast forward six decades and the company now has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities, and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Throughout the course of his career, Bill Austin has helped give the gift of hearing to over two million people worldwide. He has provided hearing aids to tens of thousands of individuals, including five Presidents, two Popes, countless legislators, and celebrities.

The global hearing health industry views Bill Austin as a thought leader who has revolutionized the purpose of hearing aids, solidifying Minnesota as a hub of MedTech innovation. His vision of creating a hearing aid that could not only help people hear better, but also live better, is now a reality with Evolv AI – Starkey’s newest full line of hearing aids that not only emphasizes hearing’s impact on overall health and wellness but creates an effortless user experience.

To learn more about Starkey, please click here.

About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 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 is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.