About Us
Leadership
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William F. Austin | Founder and CEO
In 1967, Starkey Founder and CEO William F. Austin founded a hearing instrument repair service in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Four years later, he acquired a small earmold company called Starkey Laboratories, and merged his companies under the Starkey name.
Austin's experience in hearing aid distribution and repair led him to create the concept of comprehensive hearing solutions. Austin's focus on customer satisfaction and quality of life revolutionized the industry by setting a new standard for innovation and service. Since 1973, his Starkey Hearing Foundation has promoted hearing care awareness through support of research, education and charitable programs.
Learn more about the Starkey Hearing Foundation
Jerry Ruzicka | President
With over 30 years of industry experience to his name, Starkey President Jerry Ruzicka is the driving force behind Starkey's manufacturing systems, quality assurance systems, education programs, product engineering and facility expansion.
Ruzicka began his career as a Starkey technician. Today, his world-class engineering group specializes in the research and development of mixed signal hearing instrument integrated circuits. A teacher, lecturer and innovator, Ruzicka has developed coursework in Quality Systems and Product and Project Planning. He holds an Associate Degree in Computer Technology and a Master's Degree in Business Management.
Rob Duchscher | Senior Vice President of Information Technology
With more than 20 years of experience in software and technology, Rob Duchscher is currently Senior Vice President of Information Technology at Starkey. Rob was instrumental in building Starkey's leading edge software engineering organization to deliver innovative product and customer software worldwide. He currently leads Starkey's global Information Technology organization and delivers business applications and technology solutions in all areas of the business.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the University of North Dakota and has completed course work in the Master's Program in Computer and Information Technology at the University of Minnesota.
Brent Edwards, Ph.D. | Vice President of Research
Joining the company in 2004, Dr. Edwards is responsible for developing and executing the organization's corporate research strategy worldwide. Dr. Edwards founded and developed the Starkey Hearing Research Center where he leads a team of inter-disciplinary scientists and engineers conducting long-term research on hearing impairment and hearing aid technology.
Brent received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Michigan, his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science also from the University of Michigan, and his Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Keith Guggenberger | Senior Vice President of Operations
Keith Guggenberger is currently Senior Vice President of Operations at Starkey. He has held both technical and management positions during his career at Starkey. Mr. Guggenberger leveraged his business and quality background into information technology and held the position of Vice President of Information Technology for three years before expanding to lead Operations.
Today, he helps guide Starkey's Manufacturing, Materials, Quality, and Process initiatives. Mr. Guggenberger has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Industrial Technology.
Jon Kindred, Ph.D. | Vice President of DSP, Systems and Wireless
With over eleven years of industry experience, Jon Kindred is currently Vice President of DSP, Systems and Wireless. Jon provided technical and managerial leadership during Starkey's ascent in becoming best in class in many significant signal processing features.
Jon holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University.
Phil Lyons | Vice President of International Operations
Joining Starkey in 1990, Phil is currently the Vice President of International Operations. Phil is responsible for sales, marketing, product development for international markets, starting new facilities in new markets, and resolving issues regarding IT, production, sales, marketing, logistics, and finance via working with key members of each area.
Phil received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.
Larry Miller | Vice President of Human Resources
Larry Miller began with Starkey in 1987 as an HR Assistant and currently holds the position of Vice President of Human Resources. His responsibilities include recruiting, benefits, payroll, commercial insurance, health and safety, training, and employee relations. Prior to joining Starkey, Larry was the Associate Director of the Better Hearing Institute in 1979-1980 and the Manager of Information Services at the AG Bell Association in 1975-1979.
Larry received his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities/Journalism from the University of Pittsburgh and his Master of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales.
Susan Mussell | General Counsel, Corporate Secretary
Joining Starkey in 2004, Susan established the first in-house legal department at the company. The department now includes two additional attorneys, a paralegal, patent manager and legal administrative assistant. All members of the legal department are dedicated to providing Starkey with first-rate, professional legal representation.
After graduating from law school at the University of Kansas in 1982, Susan was a litigator in private practice for 17 years, initially with the Murnane, Conlin, et. al. law firm in St. Paul and later with Flynn & Gaskins in Minneapolis. In 1999, she joined the H.B. Fuller Company law department as Litigation Counsel. Susan also earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kansas State University in 1979.
Scott Nelson | Chief Financial Officer
Scott Nelson is currently CFO at Starkey. He has held a variety of management positions during his career at Starkey, including Director of Cost Management and Worldwide Controller. Mr. Nelson used his international experience to develop his skills and take over all aspects of the Finance and Accounting functions of Starkey's global operations. Today, Scott helps guide Starkey's expansion into new markets as an officer of the company.
Mr. Nelson has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota and a Master's Degree in Finance from St. Thomas University.
Brandon Sawalich | Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Customer Relations
Brandon Sawalich is Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Relations for Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Since starting with the company in 1994, Brandon has built expertise in most aspects of sales and operations in the hearing industry. Today, he leads Starkey's Sales and Marketing Team in planning and executing key growth initiatives and building and strengthening customer relationships.
Tim Trine, Ph.D. | Chief Technical Officer
Vice President and Chief Technical Officer Tim Trine is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his doctoral studies.
Prior to joining Starkey, Trine served as Director of Audiology at Vanderbilt University's Bill Wilkerson Center, and held an Assistant Professorship in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences in the School of Medicine. Trine earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communicative Disorders from California State University Northridge, and a Master of Science Degree in Audiology from Vanderbilt University.