Zounds Hearing, Inc. Founder Sam Thomasson was named CEO of the Year by the Phoenix Business Journal at the recent Arizona Corporate Excellence ceremony in Scottsdale.

Thomasson was honored with the award for his viable contributions to the hearing loss community. 

Phoenix Business Journal Publisher Ray Schey presided over the ceremony at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts to honor Arizona’s top 50 large privately held businesses.

Thomasson was lauded for providing top-quality hearing aid technology to individuals with mild, moderate or moderate/severe hearing loss. He founded his company in 2005 as an outgrowth of personal experience when his own daughter struggled with hearing loss. Thomasson began with pioneering and patenting technologies and then ultimately building a franchise empire.

“It is an honor to be recognized as CEO of the Year,” Thomasson said. “But … it’s my committed team of professionals that have made our company great. Their hard work and dedication to our mission has been the defining difference between a good company and great one.”

Thomasson’s daughter Kate lost her hearing as an infant after an illness. Throughout her childhood, she worked  to overcome inadequate hearing aid technology, suffering pain and audio feedback which hindered communication. Her father credits his business for improving Kate’s quality of life, and his daughter for providing him with professional purpose.

“Sam is a dynamic man, both as a CEO and as a personal friend,” Zounds Hearing CFO  Raj Kapur said. “As the head of a large and complex company, he creates new and innovative technology to improve hearing aid technology for the hearing impaired, and is greatly revered in his community. He is the best choice for this award.”