Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (July 20, 2026) — Starkey proudly celebrates Vice Chair Tani Austin on her 70th birthday, honoring a global humanitarian whose compassion, vision, and unwavering commitment to serving others have transformed lives around the world. For decades, Tani has championed hearing healthcare, empowered communities, and inspired others to lead with purpose, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the lives she has personally touched.

For decades, Tani Austin has helped shape Starkey into more than a global hearing technology leader. Alongside her husband, Founder and Chairman Bill Austin, she has helped build a company defined not only by innovation, but by compassion, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to improving lives.

“Tani has always believed that success is measured by the lives you touch, and that philosophy is woven into the fabric of Starkey,” said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey. “Her leadership, compassion and commitment to serving others have shaped who we are as a company. From the people we help through our philanthropic efforts to the culture we’ve built within Starkey, her impact can be felt around the world. We are incredibly grateful for her vision, her heart and the legacy she continues to create.”

As co-founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Tani Austin has volunteered to help bring the gift of hearing to people in need across the globe. Through the Foundation’s work, Starkey has provided hearing healthcare services and hearing devices to children and adults in more than 100 countries, while supporting local communities through education, training and sustainable hearing healthcare initiatives.

A defining achievement of the Foundation’s work was the 2016 opening of the first Starkey Hearing Institute in Lusaka, Zambia, which Tani Austin helped champion to address the critical shortage of hearing healthcare professionals in Africa. The Institute has trained audiology professionals who provide life-changing hearing care to communities across the continent, helping create a lasting impact for generations. Its success and community-impact led to the opening of two additional Starkey Hearing Institute locations in the Philippines and El Salvador.

Tani Austin has inspired a culture of compassion and service throughout Starkey, championing partnerships, volunteerism and charitable initiatives that strengthen communities and create opportunities for those in need. Her leadership has helped expand the company's impact through collaborations with organizations such as Special Olympics and UNICEF, reflecting her lifelong belief that business can be a powerful force for good.

Beyond hearing healthcare, Tani Austin’s humanitarian efforts have extended to supporting some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As a board member for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Rocket Fund, she has supported efforts to advance HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, helping expand access to life-saving resources for communities around the world.

Throughout her career, Tani Austin has earned widespread recognition for her humanitarian leadership, including being named Female Philanthropist of the Year at the United Nations First Ladies Summit, a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business honoree, and recipient of numerous honors recognizing her commitment to advancing global hearing health and philanthropy.

“Tani’s vision has always centered on people,” Sawalich added. “Whether advocating for children and families, empowering women, supporting individuals with disabilities, or creating opportunities for future hearing healthcare professionals, Tani has inspired countless others to lead with generosity, empathy, and service.”

As Tani Austin celebrates her 70th birthday, Starkey honors a leader whose influence extends far beyond the company she helped build. Her dedication to service, innovation, and humanity continues to inspire employees, partners, and communities around the world.

About Starkey
Starkey is a leading global innovator in hearing technology and AI-powered hearing aids, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Since its founding by Bill Austin in 1967 and led today by Brandon Sawalich, Starkey has driven breakthroughs in unmatched sound clarity and machine learning and intelligent hearing technology. As the only American-owned hearing aid manufacturer, Starkey employs over 5,000 professionals across 29 facilities, delivering advanced hearing solutions to customers in 100+ markets worldwide. Explore our smart hearing devices and connected technologies at www.starkey.com.