Ronald Stordahl
Ronald Arthur Stordahl | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1943 |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Known for | Digi-Key |
| Call sign | AE5E |
Ronald Arthur Stordahl is the founder of electronic component distributor Digi-Key Electronics, located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.[1] He previously served as chief executive officer but is now member of the board.[2][better source needed]
Early life
[edit]Ronald was born in Roseau, Minnesota to Arthur Vernon (1909–2011) and Ina (Olson) Stordahl (1922–2020) in 1943.[3] His paternal grandfather, Louis, was an immigrant from Flesberg, Buskerud, Norway.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]Stordahl's interest in ham radio provided the springboard for what became Digi-Key Electronics.[4] While in college he assembled and began selling an electronic keyer kit, called the Digi-Keyer, for sending radiotelegraph code for ham radio operators.[5][6]
After obtaining his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota,[5] Stordahl returned to his hometown of Thief River Falls. The keyer kit was discontinued and he began selling electronic components in 1972.[citation needed]
Digi-Key Electronics has become one of the fastest growing electronic component distributors in the world. The privately held company has annual sales of over $3 billion and employs over 4,000 people.[citation needed]
Stordahl holds the amateur radio callsign AE5E.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Bloomberg: Ron Stordahl". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Digi-Key Announces Top Leadership Transition | DigiKey".
- ^ "Arthur Stordahl, 101". Thief River Falls Times & Northern Watch – Official Page. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
- ^ "From Digi-Keyer to DigiKey". August 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Aug 7th 2017 - 9am, Tom Dennis / Forum News Service | (7 August 2017). "Minn.-based Digi-Key's success began by breaking the mold". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "From a box of radio parts, Digi-Key grew into a $2.3 billion anchor of northwest Minnesota". Star Tribune. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
- ^ "ULS License - Vanity License - AE5E - STORDAHL, RONALD A". wireless2.fcc.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
External links
[edit]- "Digi-Key Company History". DigiKey.
 | This article about a chief executive from the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |