Ronald Stordahl

Ronald Arthur 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 Arthur Stordahl
Born (1943-11-09) November 9, 1943
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Known forDigi-Key
Call signAE5E

Early life

Ronald was born in Thief River Falls to Arthur Vernon (1909–2011) and Ina (Olson) Stordahl (1922–2020) in 1943.[2] 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. 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.

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 holds the amateur radio callsign AE5E.

References
  1. "Digi-Key Announces Top Leadership Transition | DigiKey".
  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 | (7 August 2017). "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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