Ronald Stordahl

Ronald Stordahl is the founder of electronic component distributor Digi-Key Electronics, located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He previously served as chief executive officer but is now member of the board.[1]

Ronald Stordahl
Born
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Known forDigi-Key

Early life

Ronald was born in Thief River Falls to Arthur Vernon (1909 - 2011) and Ina Stordahl.[2] His paternal grandfather Louis was an immigrant from Flesberg, Buskerud, Norway.

Career

It was Stordahl's interest in ham radio that provided the springboard for what has become Digi-Key Electronics today. 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.[3][4]

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. The Digi-Key "Keyer" is long gone, but 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. Stordahl founded the company in 1972, beginning with a single employee, Marie Finney.

Ronald Stordahl holds the amateur radio callsign AE5E.

References
  1. http://www.digikey.com/en/news/press-releases/2015/jun/digi-key-announces-top-leadership-transition
  2. "Arthur Stordahl, 101". Thief River Falls Times & Northern Watch – Official Page. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  3. Aug 7th 2017 - 9am, Tom Dennis / Forum News Service |. "Minn.-based Digi-Key's success began by breaking the mold". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  4. "From a box of radio parts, Digi-Key grew into a $2.3 billion anchor of northwest Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-17.


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