William F. Austin

President and CEO Starkey Laboratories, Inc. – Eden Prairie, Minnesota

William F. Austin, President and Owner of Starkey Laboratories, Inc., has directed the development of the company from a two person basement operation to a position of international leadership in hearing instruments. Starkey’s compound annual sales growth since 1970 stands above 55% and today the company provides career opportunities at nineteen manufacturing locations strategically positioned around the world. Mr. Austin’s business philosophies have changed the hearing aid industry through free market competition far more significantly than FDA and FTC combined and today Starkey’s consumer responsible policies have been adopted by the industry as standard. In 1975 the Starkey Fund, which provides free hearing aids to needy children and adults, was established and thousands have received help in the third world countries. In 1988, for these efforts, Mr. Austin was given the “Leader for Peace Award” by the Director of the Peace Corps. He is also a supporter of many other social causes, and serves on the Board of Directors of Connect US-USSR which promotes cultural exchange with Russia. Mr. Austin is past President of the Hearing Industries Association and has served on its Board of Directors for the last ten years. “To be a leader, you have to work hard to get out in front, then work harder to utilize your newly developed resources.”