My name is Karrie Recker. I have always loved audio—listening to music, playing instruments, and dabbling with radio, audio engineering, production, and live sound. At one point, I wanted to become a recording engineer. However, after taking a course in acoustics, I redirected my passion for sound to audiology—the study of human hearing. I went on to complete B.S., M.A., and Au.D. degrees in this field. 
The Dream
During (and after) my graduate school studies, I worked at Starkey, the largest American hearing aid manufacturer. I collaborated with engineers and hearing scientists to design, test, and patent new technologies for people with hearing loss. Developing new technologies from the ground up provided me with unique insight into how hearing aids work, how to highlight their benefits, and how to troubleshoot issues that arise. 
How did I end up in Spicer with a Hearing Clinic?
My family discovered Spicer in 2020, when my husband and I visited an open house on Green Lake. We were impressed with how nice the community was and how convenient the amenities were, especially for a small town! Over the next several months, we became familiar with many of the fun and quirky events in the area—parades, fireworks, ice castles, antique car runs, waterskiing shows, etc. We were sold. In 2021, we sold our house in the Twin Cities, I left my job of 21.5 years, and we moved to Spicer, Minnesota. 
After taking a few years off work to spend time with family, I decided to open a hearing clinic. However, I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to use the knowledge and skills that I had learned as a researcher to create a series of demos and tools that people could use to educate themselves about hearing aid performance, so that they felt empowered to play more active roles in their hearing health. I look forward to sharing what I've been working on with you over the upcoming weeks and months!