Company Profile
Starkey Laboratories
Company Overview
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is the world's leader in manufacturing custom hearing instruments. The company employs 4,000 employees in 20+ countries around the globe. In addition to building some of the world's most highly regarded hearing aids (endorsed by numerous celebrities, including guitar legend Les Paul; country recording artist George Strait; NFL coach Dan Reeves; Hollywood stars Rod Steiger, Jane Russell, and Ernest Borgnine; and professional wrestler Vern Gagne), Starkey produces other technological devices designed to test, protect, and enhance the auditory health of people everywhere.
Through the company's Starkey Hearing Foundation, Starkey Labs and its founder and owner William Austin provide hearing testing and hearing aids to people around the world who cannot afford to buy the products themselves. Begun in 1978, the Hearing Foundation has provided over 20,000 hearing aids to needy patients each year.
Company History
Key Dates:
1967: William Austin opens Professional Hearing Aid Service in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
1971: Austin buys out Starkey Labs to secure ear molding technology and renames his hearing aid business Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
1973: Starkey markets the CE-1 custom hearing aid with in-the-ear technology.
1975: Starkey builds 15-acre campus facility in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, to accommodate the company's growth.
1976: Starkey opens a subsidiary business in Manchester, England.
1977: Starkey launches the CARE program to promote the use of hearing enhancement technology.
1978: The Starkey Fund (later the Starkey Hearing Foundation) was begun to help provide hearing assistance to the needy.
1983: President Ronald Regan is fitted for hearing device; sales soar.
1989: Starkey buys Omni Hearing Systems and Nu Ear Electronics.
1993: The Tympanette (the first entirely in-the-ear aid) is marketed.
1995: Starkey headquarters and several international sites receive ISO 9001 Certification.
1996: Sequel Custom Programmable Instruments and Professional Fitting System are released.
1999: Starkey brings out digital hearing aid models.
2004: The 2004 "So The World May Hear" Awards Gala helps the Starkey Hearing Foundation raise a record $2.7 million to help benefit less fortunate children and adults with hearing disabilities.
2006: Starkey redefines the hearing solutions industry by introducing nFusion Technology with the release of its Destiny series hearing aids coupled with Inspire OS fitting software. Destiny is the first hearing aid to utilize both nano and digital technology.
2008: Zon with Bluewave signal processing is released. The perfect marriage of cutting-edge technology and exquisite design, Zon is the only hearing solution in its class positioned to offer it all: extraordinary beauty, ultimate comfort, and best-in-class performance.
Notable Products / Brands
Nu-Ear, Micro Tech, Audibel
Notable Clients
US Dept of Veteran's Affairs, numerous US presidents, musicians, actors, and artists. Children and adults of all ages.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
1978:The Starkey Fund is developed as a battery recycling program. Dispensers would send used batteries to Starkey for credit donated for helping needy people receive hearing assistance. The program evolves into the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization which provides hearing health services to tens of thousands of less fortunate people all over the world.
1983: President Ronald Reagan gets fitted with Starkey INTRA hearing aids. The President's fitting encourages a wider acceptance of hearing aids among the general public, resulting in increased sales throughout the industry.
1995: ISO 9001 certification
2001-present: Starkey continually produces the most advanced, sophisticated, easy-to-use hearing aids in the world.