Silent Call Communications, producing electronic visual and tactile alerting devices

George Elwell, President and Founder of Silent Call Communications, one of few companies in the world producing electronic visual and tactile alerting devices for seniors, people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest George Elwell discuss the following:

  • What are your growth strategies?
  • How do you make sure that Silent Call is innovative?
  • How has technology impacted your business?
  • Tell me about some of your company’s best practices.
  • What piece of advice could you share with young entrepreneurs?

Duration: 11:59

George Elwell is president and founder of Silent Call Communications, one of few companies in the world producing electronic visual and tactile alerting devices for seniors, people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind.  The company is based in Waterford, Michigan, manufacturing and distributing products from this location. Elwell, 73, a former engineering tech group leader in advanced product design at General Motors, founded Silent Call Communications in 1987.  He was inspired by his brother-in-law who is deaf and could not hear the sounds we take for granted – the doorbell, telephone, smoke and fire alarms.  Elwell recognized there were few products available to help people who are deaf function in everyday life.  He also wanted to practice his Christian beliefs by helping others and by taking a “walk in his faith.”

Elwell started his company by doing a lot of research of available technologies.  “The good Lord started giving me ideas, and it just all started coming together,” he says.

Elwell is the inventor behind most Silent Call Communications products that include current technological alerting devices, receivers, transmitters and alarms for seniors, people that are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind.  The devices use light and vibration to signal doorbells, smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, sound monitors, door/window access, telephones, alarm clocks and weather alerts.  The company is credited with many firsts including a device for alerting parents that are deaf when their baby is crying and a variety of vibrating and strobe light devices that let people know if there is a fire.

Elwell and his wife Diane manage day-to-day operations and work with a team of engineers and production associates. The company conducts ongoing information gathering among people in the senior, deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf/blind community to aid in new product development.  All products are tested by employees and Elwell’s brother-in-law.

His mission: to help seniors, people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind lead independent, productive lives.  This includes helping companies and organizations provide safe and functional environments for people who cannot hear and/or see.  Silent Call Communications clients include Holiday Inn, Carnival Cruise Lines, the U.S. Postal Service, schools, plants and warehouses, retirement centers, the State of California, the Province of Quebec and the American Red Cross.

It is Elwell’s vision to grow Silent Call Communications into the largest provider of alerting devices for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in the world.   There is every indication that he will achieve this goal.  Demand for Silent Call Communications devices continues to grow.  The company’s extremely high quality standards are unmatched in the industry. It is also the first company of its kind to cover its products with a five-year warrantee.

At the same time, the number of people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind is increasing.  According to recent statistics, more than 28 million Americans have some type of hearing loss.  This figure is expected to increase to 78 million by 2030.

About Silent Call Communications
Silent Call Communications is a Waterford, Michigan based company that provides visual and tactile alerting devices to organizations, companies and individuals alike. Since 1987, the Silent Call Communications Corporation has taken a simple philosophy of personal communications by means of electronic devices and developed an exciting product line. These products have revolutionized the means by which people who are seniors, hard of hearing, deaf or deaf/blind may lead more convenient, safe and active lives. For more information about Silent Call Communications and products, visit www.silentcall.com or call (800) 572-5227 (Voice or TTY).

[box_blue]Note: If you would like to listen to a podcast right away you can hear a sample by clicking on the “play” button on our podcasts page. If you would like to play your podcast later or take it on the road, you will first need to subscribe to and download the podcast using the subscription software on your computer, such as itunes. Then you will have to transfer the podcast file to your portable media device. We recommend the following subscription software for the best user experience:

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top