STAR KEY HEARING L.L.C - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executives Team
• Adjunct Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine
• Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering
• Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Achintya K. (Achin) Bhowmik, Ph.D., is the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey. Responsible for the company's technology strategy, global research, product development, engineering, and program management organizations, he leads Starkey's efforts to transform hearing aids into multifunctional health and communication devices with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence technologies. Prior to joining Starkey, Dr. Bhowmik served as Vice President and General Manager of the Perceptual Computing Group at Intel Corporation. There, he was responsible for the R&D, engineering, operations, and businesses in the areas of 3D sensing and interactive computing, computer vision and artificial intelligence, autonomous robots and drones, and immersive virtual and merged reality devices. Dr. Bhowmik is an adjunct professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. He serves on the board of advisors for the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership at the University of California, Berkeley, industry advisory board for the Institute for Engineering in Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, and board of trustees for the National Captioning Institute. Dr. Bhowmik is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), fellow and president of the Society for Information Display (SID), and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He has authored over 200 publications, including two books and 80 granted patents.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Start Hearing

As Vice President of Start Hearing, Amber Knettel brings over a decade of experience in the health and hearing health industries. She focuses on creating transparency in the third-party payer market while achieving the guiding principle of providing excellent patient care. Amber works with the Starkey team to expand access to hearing benefits through new and more innovative options while striving to offer the best hearing healthcare experience.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Member of the Executives Team
• President

Named President of Starkey in 2017 and Chief Executive Officer in 2020, Brandon Sawalich leads a global team of more than 5,000 employees, with facilities in over 29 countries. He drives the strategic direction of Starkey and works closely with the Executive Team and other leaders throughout the organization to support the company's values and goals. As President and CEO, Brandon Sawalich is focused on forward-thinking leadership and is committed to continuous innovation of the science, design, and production of hearing aid technologies, while providing consumers the best quality products at affordable prices. Under Brandon's leadership, Starkey has incorporated integrated sensors, artificial intelligence and health and wellness technology into our hearing health products, and he continues to seek out opportunities to bring cutting-edge products and solutions to market. Brandon Sawalich began his career at Starkey's All Make Repair and Earmold Lab in 1994. Over two decades, Brandon worked his way up, learning diligently across many aspects of the company, and before becoming President and CEO, he helped grow, shape, and lead the sales division. Through his broad professional experience, Brandon has developed a deep understanding of the company's products and the customers' needs. Prior to his tenure as President, Brandon Sawalich served as Senior Vice President of Starkey from 2005 - 2017. During his long career, Brandon came to understand that personalized customer service, customized fitting, professional evaluation, and state-of-the-art technology must all come together seamlessly to properly serve each unique customer. Brandon believes hearing loss is a critical medical issue and is committed to improving people's lives through the gift of hearing. According to the World Health Organization, at least five percent of the global population suffers from hearing loss, which, when untreated, is associated with social isolation, depression, and dementia. Brandon has volunteered with Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide free hearing aids to people in need. In addition, he works with the International Hearing Foundation to spread the gift of hearing overseas. In 2017, Brandon Sawalich was elected to lead the Hearing Industries Association as Chairman of the Board of Directors, an 18-member industry group that works with government leaders to support efforts to increase the accessibility and affordability of hearing aids, especially given the overall importance of hearing health. In 2019, he was named to the George W. Bush Presidential Center's Executive Advisory Council, which helps support the Bush Center's strategic direction to address the issues of today and tomorrow, making an impact in the United States and around the world. And in 2020, Brandon Sawalich joined Medical Alley's Board of Directors, where he is committed to identifying new opportunities for organizational growth and collaboration, as well as bringing the importance of hearing health and technology integration to the forefront to overall health care. Among Brandon's other interests and activities are various philanthropic and community-based ventures. He is dedicated to raising Minnesota's and the Twin Cities' profiles, both nationally and abroad, as a leading hub of business, especially in the medical and technology sectors. Brandon is also a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Minnesota and was elected to the organization's Board of Directors in 2014 and served through 2015. When Brandon Sawalich is not providing world-class hearing devices, he can be found supporting his children's passions, enjoying activities on the lake with them or cheering on the Chicago Cubs.

Job Titles:

• Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff at Starkey

Chris Van Guilder serves as the Chief of Staff at Starkey, where he has worked since 2013. In this position, he manages company-wide programs, events and strategic initiatives that impact Starkey's position in the market and improve employee experience. Chris Van Guilder works with Starkey's executive team, vice presidents and employees at all levels to provide leadership and counsel on global market growth initiatives, internal organizational alignment and development, change management, and the creation and execution of the company's strategic plan. As a relationship builder and strategic partner within the leadership team, Chris Van Guilder provides operational support and integrates himself within the organization to assess and resolve obstacles to success. By facilitating efficiency, alignment and productivity between Starkey's leaders and its 6,000 global employees in more than 26 countries, he's helped make the company a global leader in the hearing aid industry. Prior to Starkey, Chris Van Guilder developed extensive experience in communications, project and event management, and team development through work in politics. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Saint John's University (MN).

Job Titles:

• Chief Innovation Officer
• Editor - in - Chief of Audiology Today

As Chief Innovation Officer, Dave Fabry, Ph.D., leads end-to-end innovations within our clinical audiology department. His collaboration with our engineering and marketing teams allows Starkey to continue to design and provide superior products. Dave Fabry received his Ph.D. in hearing science from the University of Minnesota. Subsequently, he divided his career between academic/clinical roles at the Mayo Clinic, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the University of Miami Medical Center, and several industry positions. He served as President and Board Member of the American Academy of Audiology and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Auditory Society. Additionally, Dave Fabry has served as Editor-in-Chief of Audiology Today since 2008 and is a past Editor of the American Journal of Audiology and Section Editor of Ear and Hearing. He is licensed as an Audiologist in Minnesota, Florida, and Rwanda. His 30+ years of industry experience and proven ability to implement forward-thinking concepts is instrumental in shaping the future innovations at Starkey.

Job Titles:

• Chief Marketing Officer

Denise Steinbring brings nearly 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the medical device and healthcare industries to Starkey having led marketing teams in small, mid, and large cap businesses and is a champion for the customer and patient experience. Denise Steinbring spent 18 years at Medtronic where she had the opportunity to lead two business turnarounds and to sit on the Marketing Leadership Council which fostered a customer-centric approach to Marketing. She combines her business background and global commercial expertise with a passion to bring out the best in her teams and help others thrive. Through a commitment to marketing excellence, she offers steady, values-centered leadership and strategic thinking to help companies deliver on the brand promise and to consistently position themselves for growth. As Chief Marketing Officer, Denise Steinbring ensures that Marketing creates value for the organization and guides customers to leverage new tools and resources, to launch groundbreaking products around the world, and to effectively communicate the value and benefit of better hearing technology to customers and the patients they serve. She is passionate about the connection that better hearing has to overall quality of life and about the disruptive innovation that Starkey is bringing to the market. Denise Steinbring holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Minor in Management from University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Graziadio School of Management at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.

Job Titles:

• Physician
• Chief Health Officer

Dr. Archelle Georgiou is a nationally recognized physician, author, medical executive and health reporter. She earned her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and served as a senior executive and the Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealth Group from 1995 to 2007. Since 2008, she has used Georgiou Consulting as her business platform to coordinate a diverse portfolio of relationships, clients and projects that ultimately improve health and the healthcare system. As a medical expert, she has covered over 1,200 medical topics during her weekly segments on KSTP-TV, the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Based on her interactions with viewers, Archelle Georgiou developed the CARES Model, a five-step approach that consumers can use to make healthcare decisions, and in February 2017, published her first book, Health Care Choices: 5 Steps to Getting the Medical Care You Want and Need

Job Titles:

• Chief Audiology Officer and Executive Vice President of Product Strategy

Dr. Sara Burdak joined Starkey as an audiologist on the Hearing Research and Technology team in 1999. During her time at Starkey, Sara Burdak has worked to bring impactful programs to our global customer base. She is responsible for developing and aligning Starkey's global audiology strategy as it relates to education and training programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and customer and industry relations. In recognition of her impressive work, Sara Burdak was named to Twin Cities Business Magazine's 2021 Notable Women in Manufacturing list, received a 2021 Globee "Women In Business" World Award, and Women We Admire named her one of the "Top 50 Women Leaders of Minnesota for 2022." Sara Burdak earned her bachelor's degree in audiology and speech sciences from Michigan State University, her master's degree in audiology from Wayne State University, and her Au.D. from the Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Job Titles:

• Chief Information Officer
• Associate of Applied Science

As Chief Information Officer, Eric Hanson is responsible for leading Starkey's global information technology teams and collaborating throughout the organization to identify and execute technology simplification, business enablement and transformative efforts to achieve market and revenue growth. Eric Hanson is an accomplished, results-oriented leader in the information technology (IT) industry with over 15 years of experience across manufacturing, insurance, and financial services sectors, including executive leadership experience at global organizations. He has a track record of building high-performing teams, creating a culture of innovation, and integrating digital products and services to improve and enable growth. Eric Hanson holds an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Computer Engineering from the Milwaukee Business & Technology Institute and a graduate certificate in Business Communications & Organizational Conflict Negotiation from Harvard University.

Job Titles:

• Chief Business Development Officer

Heinz Ruch, a hearing industry veteran, serves as Starkey's Chief Business Development Officer. In his role, Heinz Ruch leads corporate strategies aimed at growing and developing Starkey's global footprint. He also oversees Starkey's US networks, Audibel and NuEar, and its third-party business unit, American Hearing Benefits. With his 20 years of hearing industry experience, including his most recent leadership position as President and CEO of a major hearing aid retailer in the US, Heinz Ruch brings invaluable experience, leadership and knowledge to Starkey. Prior to moving to the United States in 2008, Heinz Ruch worked in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in executive-level positions within some of the industry's leading organizations. He is accomplished in acquisitions, new-market entry, reorganizations and turnarounds, and rapid growth and expansion strategies. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the ZHAW University of Applied Sciences, and his Commercial Banking Diploma from UBS, Zurich, Switzerland. He became a US citizen in 2018 and is fluent in English, German and French.

Job Titles:

• Chief Commercial Officer

Jeff Geigel has over 20 years of experience in the hearing healthcare industry. He has a proven track record of success in leading dynamic, high-growth organizations and developing the teams within them. As Chief Commercial Officer, Jeff Geigel is responsible for leading Starkey's global wholesale and retail teams for growth and customer satisfaction. His focus is to identify and execute on Starkey's strategies for wholesale and retail revenue growth, sales performance, and customer satisfaction while leading U.S. and global sales. Under his leadership, Starkey's commercial business achieves sustainable, profitable growth while delivering a world-class patient experience. Over the course of his career, Jeff Geigel has held chief executive and many other executive-level positions within retail and wholesale hearing healthcare organizations. His extensive experience in, and knowledge of sales and operations team development and strategic planning, enable him to successfully lead Starkey's global sales teams to continue to be market growth leaders. Jeff Geigel has a bachelor's degree in social sciences from the University of Ottawa and holds multiple financial certifications.

Job Titles:

• Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Culture

With more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources spanning across medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, Jessica Perez joined Starkey in 2010. As Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Culture, Jessica Perez is responsible for developing and executing people-centered strategies to support Starkey's success. Ensuring Starkey's values are reinforced with every initiative and communication, she is a culture advocate and brand builder with a focus on attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent to the organization. Prior to this role, she held multiple key positions at Starkey, most recently serving as Vice President, Human Resources where she led the design and delivery of an integrated global talent development strategy across our four regions: North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe/Middle East. With a span of more than 5,000 employees across 29 facilities, she brought focus to organizational best practices and alignment to define and support the global human capital needs. Before joining Starkey, Jessica Perez was a leader in the retained executive search industry, specializing in the Global Life Sciences sector. She holds a B.S. in Business Management from Saint Mary's College of California and an M.A. in Organizational and Change Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Communications

As Vice President of Communications, Karen Spaeth works with her talented communications team to develop and execute Starkey's internal and external global communication strategies and ensures that Starkey's image and messaging align with its purpose, mission and vision. Karen also manages a dynamic and multitalented events team overseeing more than 100 customer events and tradeshows each year, including the hearing industry's largest event, the Hearing Innovation Expo. She works closely with other members of the Starkey Leadership Team and market leaders around the globe to create a world-class customer experience.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of U.S. Commercial Sales

As Vice President of U.S. Commercial Sales, Kyle Acker, Au.D. leads Starkey's U.S. Managing Directors and the sales team. He is responsible for developing and aligning Starkey's sales strategies and growth objectives in the United States. Over the course of his career, Acker has invested time and talent in many aspects of the hearing industry, building an intimate understanding of the challenges providers face and how to support them in solving those challenges. He completed his B.S. in Industrial Hygiene and Organizational Leadership and Supervision and his M.S. and Au.D. in Audiology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Mary Jeffries is responsible for Starkey's financial infrastructure offering strategic support to the company at a global level. Prior to being named CFO, she held multiple key executive roles in her time at Starkey, most recently serving as Chief Strategy Officer. Mary Jeffries has 30 years of experience leading business transformation initiatives for billion-dollar, multi-national organizations, start-ups, private equity and venture capital firms including C-level leadership roles for name brands like Polaroid Corporation, Weber Shandwick, St. Paul Venture Capital and ZINK Imaging. Mary Jeffries received her B.A. in business and accounting from the University of Northern Iowa and is a CPA (inactive).

Job Titles:

• Chief Compliance Officer
• Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations

As Chief Compliance Officer, Michael Scholl provides leadership for the assessment, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the enterprise global compliance program. He works closely with teams across the organization to identify, mitigate, and remediate risk - all while promoting Starkey's overall culture of compliance. In addition, Michael Scholl serves as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations. In this role, he leads Starkey's government relations and public policy efforts related to state, federal, and global legislative and regulatory priorities, as well as, Starkey's efforts to build strategic partnerships with non-profits, corporations, and consumer organizations within our local community and beyond. Michael Scholl brings more than 15 years of leadership in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining Starkey, he led a Twin Cities-based consulting firm that specialized in providing strategic advice in the areas of coalition building, regulatory compliance, lobbying, government relations, message development, and paid media. Michael Scholl received his B.A. in political science from Denison University.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Global Retail

As Vice President of Global Retail, Michael Tease is responsible for all U.S. and International Retail, including the Audibel member network, as well for driving the strategic framework. Michael is a trusted leader with a proven track record of building global brands and accelerating sales growth. His extensive knowledge and expertise will help drive Starkey's strategic retail initiatives. He received his B.S. in National Security and Public Affairs from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, his MBA from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA, and his JD from Birmingham School of Law in Birmingham, AL.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Sales and Operations, Africa and Latin America

As Vice President of Sales and Operations Africa and Latin America, Owen Olende uses his vast global experience to support Starkey's strategic goals throughout Africa, Latin America, and other select markets. He promotes advances in marketing and customer support while ensuring Starkey serves customers in these markets better than anyone else. As a Global Hearing Health Advocate, Owen represents Starkey at various global hearing health forums throughout the world. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Chemistry and is an MPH - Global Health candidate.

Job Titles:

• Chief Customer Officer

As Chief Customer Officer, Paul Phillips defines, leads, and executes initiatives to provide a world-class and industry-leading customer experience, which has been a core pillar of Starkey's success for over 50 years. He is responsible for modernizing the overall customer experience for existing and new global customers and partners while leading Starkey's Customer Service department. Integral to leading the company's sales organization to achieve critical, strategic growth goals, Paul Phillips has given his time and talent to Starkey in many capacities in the United States, Europe and New Zealand for over the last 25 years. Having worked in sales, marketing and retail roles, he has a deep understanding of how and why we provide better hearing around the globe and is a leader in fostering a high-performance culture within the organization. Paul Phillips holds a B.A. in international business and economics from Temple University.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Asia Pacific Sales

As Vice President of Asia Pacific Sales, Paul Saito uses his 20 years of experience in the region to focus on growing market share in developed markets and expand Starkey's operations in emerging markets. Working closely with both the Asia Pacific Leadership Team and global sales leadership, Paul is dedicated to steering Starkey's performance to better serve our customers and their patients.

Starkey Hearing Technologies maintains a strong network of manufacturing partners, customers and facilities throughout the world. These independent distributors are committed to providing the world's finest hearing solutions from Starkey Hearing Technologies.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executives Team
• Chief Philanthropy Officer

Tani Austin is the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Starkey. She has a deep-rooted passion for helping those in need, and for her, that starts with giving everyone access to hearing healthcare. Tani has served the hearing healthcare industry for more than 35 years. She maintained her own hearing aid practice for 10 years and served as the Illinois Department of Public Health Practicum Examiner for licensure of hearing aid dispensers. She was also Secretary of the Illinois Hearing Society and on the National Board of Certification in Hearing Sciences. Named Female Philanthropist of the Year and honored at the First Ladies Summit at the UN General Assembly in 2015, Tani has volunteered much of her time over the years to Starkey Hearing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity. The Foundation is the world's largest hearing healthcare charity and has touched the lives of individuals in more than 100 countries around the world. Tani and her husband, Bill Austin, Owner and Chairman of Starkey, have traveled with the Foundation on countless hearing mission trips. Their relentless efforts have helped it become a global force in empowering local communities to develop simple, scalable, and sustainable community-based hearing healthcare systems in more than 70 countries to date.

Job Titles:

• General Counsel

Tom Ting holds over 18 years of extensive legal and business experience gained in various company settings. During his time as General Counsel at Sun Country Airlines, he provided legal counsel and business consultation to management teams. Prior to Sun Country, Tom Ting held essential counsel positions at Moneygram International, Polaroid Corporation and Petters Group Worldwide. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and he holds a B.A. in medical ethics from Davidson College.

Job Titles:

• Leader
• Vice President of European Sales

With over 35 years in the industry, Thorsten Quaas is a proven leader who has built a strong sales and service foundation in Europe and the Middle East. As Vice President of European Sales, Thorsten focuses on ways to leverage Starkey's innovative products and impressive programs to provide the best patient benefit and satisfaction. Thorsten's leadership and strategic guidance are integral to developing and strengthening our regional leadership teams in this critical region.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Member of the Executives Team
• Owner
• Owner and Chairman of Starkey

William F. Austin - or Bill Austin, as most know him - is the Founder, Principal Owner and Chairman of Starkey. In 1961, to help pay for college and with the goal of attending medical school to become a missionary doctor, Bill started in the hearing aid industry making earpieces in his uncle's shop. His role quickly expanded, and he began designing hearing aids as well. One day, Bill worked tirelessly to fashion a hearing aid for a patient with profound difficulties whom others had given up on. The joy in the man's eyes when he could finally hear better set Bill on his life's mission - to help the world hear better. Bill then realized that through this industry, he could impact and help more lives than by working alone as a missionary doctor, and that his life would have a greater impact. So, Bill started his own company. In the 1960s, Bill's company serviced and repaired more hearing aids from any manufacturer than anyone else in the world, and Bill and his expanding team continued to design, manufacture, and sell in-the-ear hearing aids. In 1970, Bill Austin purchased a three-employee company for $13,000 called Starkey Laboratories, which was making ear molds for Bill's business. Bill then folded his larger operation under the Starkey name, and the rest is history. Bill's original repair shop still operates within Starkey. More than 50 years later, Bill's business acumen has grown Starkey into what it is today: the only American-owned and operated global hearing aid manufacturer. Starkey continues to set itself apart in the industry through its quality, service and innovation. Now in his sixth decade in the industry, Bill is at his happiest when personally providing and assisting people with hearing aids. When necessary, Bill works day and night, often seven days a week, to ensure that everyone receives the care and treatment needed to utilize their own hearing aids. Bill Austin's generosity and steadfast belief that the gift of hearing can change the world led him to found Starkey Hearing Foundation, a charity that gives free hearing aids to those in need around the world. Bill and his wife, Tani Austin, travel with the Foundation on dozens of hearing missions every year. Alongside audiologists, hearing professionals and other volunteers, Bill has helped people in need in more than 100 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. Nationally and internationally, Bill has been a part of helping more people achieve better hearing with hearing aids than anyone else in the history of the industry. In addition to the young children in third-world countries he has witnessed hear for the first time, Bill has personally assisted five American Presidents, two Popes, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela with Starkey hearing aids, to name a few. However, no matter a person's reputation or financial means, Bill treats every person with the same respect and kindness; providing the gift of hearing is bigger than him - it's a lifelong commitment to change the world. For his philanthropic work, Bill Austin has received numerous honors, including: the Horatio Alger Award, Mexico's Aztec Eagle Award, the Jefferson Award, the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award, the National Caring Award, the Humanitarian Award from Variety International, and the AG Bell Lifetime Achievement Award. At the United Nations in 2017, Bill Austin was named the first Goodwill Global Ambassador for Ear and Hearing Health. Most recently, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th annual Tri-State Hearing Convention, and was named the 2022 Career Achievement honoree in Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal's Minnesota Manufacturing Awards.