As the leader and founder of Listen Technologies, Russ Gentner serves as a mentor and motivator as he leads his team toward long-term goals and vision. An essential part of his leadership philosophy is that a clear vision gives people the passion and drive to go the extra mile together to create something that is beyond what they can achieve individually. With his lifelong passion for exceptional audio, more than 35 years of experience in business leadership and audio engineering roles, and his own experiences with hearing loss, Russ is uniquely qualified to direct Listen Technologies’ efforts to bring power and clarity to the sounds that enrich people’s lives. His favorite part about being the CEO of Listen Technologies is seeing people succeed.

Russ’s entrepreneurial journey began at KSL- a local broadcast television station- in 1976, where he designed, built, and maintained equipment for on-air broadcasts, the Utah Jazz, and BYU Sports (Although he’s a true University of Utah fan). His experiences here sparked his passion for broadcasting and communications.

Soon after his experiences at KSL, Russ founded Gentner Communications. Over the next 17 years, Russ established his company as a leading provider of broadcast telephone, audio processing, and transmitter control products. The company soon went public on NASDAQ.

In 1998, Russ left Gentner Communications to start Listen Technologies. Russ and his co-founders decided to take the knowledge and experience they gained at Gentner Communications and leverage their strengths at Listen Technologies.
Russ paved the way for his career path by receiving an MBA and BSEE in electrical engineering from the University of Utah.

Russ currently serves on the board of the University of Utah Broadcast Council, and he has served several terms on the Board of Governors for the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA). Russ is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Great Western Thrift. He’s also actively involved with Community Wireless Park City (KPCW)and the University of Utah Student Broadcast Council.

In his free time, Russ enjoys traveling, golfing, camping, skiing, and photography.

As Listen Technologies’ Chief Financial Officer and co-founder, Keldon Paxman is responsible for company strategy and day-to-day business operations. With 30-plus years of experience in leading and managing high-tech companies, Keldon understands the importance of building winning teams—and he’s done just that at Listen Technologies.

Keldon drives the direction of the company, prioritizes projects, and manages investments and resources. But his favorite part of the job is making a difference in people’s lives.

Before co-founding Listen Technologies with Russ Gentner in 1998, Keldon filled a variety of roles at Gentner Communications, including Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Engineering, and Director of Manufacturing. Previously, he worked as a Technical Specialist at National Semiconductor.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and an associate degree in Electronic Technology from Utah Technical College.

When he’s not working, Keldon loves to spend time with his eight grandchildren and volunteers as a Boy Scout leader. He also enjoys golf, team sports, and spending time in the outdoors. He and his wife have been married for more than 37 years and have five children.

As Chief Technology Officer, Tracy Bathurst is responsible for all product development and product management activities, and he manages the lifecycle of each of Listen Technologies’ product lines. He considers his biggest contribution to the company to be bringing out the creative talents of the individuals in the product development group and harnessing them to create amazing products. Tracy says one of the experiences he values most at Listen Technologies is “seeing people react to being able to hear clearly when they haven’t been able to hear before and seeing their excitement of being able to listen and participate.” He fosters an attitude of high commitment to excellence in the both the products and the teams at Listen Technologies.

Tracy has worked closely with Russell Gentner, co-founder and CEO of Listen Technologies, to develop and execute the company’s product development roadmap. He oversees Listen Technologies’ efforts to design, build, and perfect the world’s most functional and innovative assistive listening, classroom audio, and conferencing solutions. Tracy is passionate about developing products that solve customer problems and deliver an excellent user experience.

Over the course of Tracy’s successful 25-year career in the audio/visual and telecommunication industries, he has held a variety of leadership positions. He joined Listen Technologies in 2011 as a Product Group Leader. His efforts have resulted in the development of conference technology that substantially improved the listening experience for millions of conference room users around the world.

Previously, he held several leadership positions at ClearOne Communications, including Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Vice President of Product Line Management.

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Southern Utah University. Tracy and his wife have been married for 26 years and have four children. He is passionate about the outdoors and loves to go camping, hiking, and boating.

As Chief Revenue Officer, Maile Keone is responsible for sales and marketing at Listen Technologies. She has worked in the technology industry for the past 20 years and brings a wealth of experience to her role. Using her expertise, she’s achieved great product and market positioning for the company and been instrumental in increased product sales.

At Listen Technologies, Maile has built world-class sales and marketing teams, thanks to her philosophy of finding amazing people and getting them in the right positions to succeed. She loves understanding what people want to accomplish in life and helping them achieve it. Her favorite part of the job is mentoring individuals who work with her.

Working at Listen Technologies has taught Maile that you can have a fulfilling career while making a difference in the world. She takes pride in contributing to the fun culture that helps instill pride in Listen Technologies.

Maile has a bachelor’s degree in English and has racked up an impressive list of awards over her career, including:

• RevGen Finalist, 2016
• Women Tech Award Finalist, 2013
• The Utah Technology Council’s Marketing Executive of the Year, 2011
• vSpring Capital’s (Signal Peak’s) Top 100 Venture Entrepreneurs, 2009-2012
• Utah’s Small Business Award winner, 2005
• Utah’s Women in Business Champion of the Year, 2005

When she’s not working, Maile loves to spend time with her eight children, dog, and cat. They love to travel and are always game to try anything new. She also loves real estate, property renovation, and community renewal.