OrthoWorx hires top retention officer to make use of state funding
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Warsaw-based OrthoWorx has named a director who will oversee $30 million in state money designed to advance Indiana’s orthopedics industry.
This week Ryan Christner was named executive director of the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI). The OIRI was established to provide funding to support projects related to workforce housing, community amenities and the creation of an orthopedic innovation research center.
The funding was originally approved last year by the Indiana General Assembly as part of the state’s biennial budget. Now Christner, who has worked in a variety of positions in orthopedics, will oversee the OIRI and its various projects.
In a news release announcing Christner’s new role, OrthoWorx CEO Bob Vitoux said the fact Christner has held numerous different positions will serve him well.
“Given Ryan’s progressive career track, which has included a broad set of responsibilities across a number of different disciplines and various roles at some of our local orthopedic businesses, we believe he is an outstanding fit for this newly created role at OrthoWorx,” said Vitoux.
Christner has worked in supply chain management, human resources and sales after graduating from Grace College and Seminary with both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. Per the release, Christner’s duties will include serving as the primary point of contact for the initiative, and working with government entities, business contacts and other community stakeholders to fulfill the vision of OIRI.
The OIRI is situated under OrthoWorx’s umbrella. OrthoWorx is a nonprofit founded in 2009 and already has three workforce housing projects in the works that would add 220 units of residential space in and around Warsaw.
In addition to workforce housing for orthopedics personnel, the OIRI is looking at creating an orthopedic research center to build on the work being done by major players in the orthopedic device industry in Kosciusko County.
OrthoWorx said it will begin deploying the $30 million in state funding after the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. Funding recommendations are expected to be made on a rolling basis.
OrthoWorx says the Kosciusko County area represents about half of the $60 billion global orthopedics market with companies such as DePuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, OrthoPediatrics and many others.