Ronald Stordahl

Last updated
Ronald Arthur Stordahl
Born (1943-11-09) November 9, 1943 (age 80)
Alma mater University of Minnesota
Known for Digi-Key
Call signAE5E

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]

Contents

Early life

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.

Career

Stordahl's interest in ham radio provided the springboard for what became Digi-Key Electronics. [4] While in college he assembled and began selling a digital electronic keyer kit for sending radiotelegraph code for ham radio operators. It was called the Digi-Key. [5] [6]

After obtaining his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Stordahl returned to his hometown of Thief River Falls. The keyer kit was discontinued and he began selling electronic components in 1972.

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.

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References

  1. "Bloomberg: Ron Stordahl". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  2. "Digi-Key Announces Top Leadership Transition | DigiKey".
  3. "Arthur Stordahl, 101". Thief River Falls Times & Northern Watch – Official Page. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  4. "From Digi-Keyer to DigiKey". August 3, 2023.
  5. 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)
  6. "From a box of radio parts, Digi-Key grew into a $2.3 billion anchor of northwest Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-17.