OrthoWorx announces new Chairman of the Board

OrthoWorx announces Terry Schlotterback as the newly elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Schlotterback joined the OrthoWorx Board early in the second quarter of 2022.

OrthoWorx’s activities are funded in part by a recent grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to continue efforts that enhance the Warsaw-based orthopedic industry cluster’s status as the Orthopedic Capital of the World®. In May, OrthoWorx and Orthopedics Capital Foundation (OCF) announced Lilly Endowment, Inc., which helped fund the launch of OCF and OrthoWorx in 2009, provided additional grant funding to OCF for the charitable and educational activities of OrthoWorx. The grant could total as much as $2.25 million during a three-year period if certain matching conditions are met.

Commenting on Mr. Schlotterback’s new role, Bob Vitoux, OrthoWorx’s recently named President and CEO, said, “We are extremely fortunate to have as our new Chairman of the Board someone with Terry’s deep orthopedic knowledge. He has a successful track record of providing vision and leadership to several orthopedic companies, ranging from mature businesses to start-ups, as a senior executive, advisor/consultant, and board member.” Terry succeeds David Findlay, President, and CEO of Lake City Bank, and founding board member of OrthoWorx and OCF. Vitoux stated, “David has served as our Chairman of the Board during a highly challenging time over the past several years. His commitment to our community and the Orthopedic Capital of the World® through his long tenure and very active role on this board as a non-orthopedic employee is exemplary. We are grateful for his service and leadership.”

OCF and OrthoWorx have historically focused on advancing the health and vibrancy of the communities’ home to the Orthopedic Capital of the World®. While this remains a key objective, Joe Thallemer, Warsaw’s Mayor and OrthoWorx Board member, offered, “The tight labor market is a challenge for all our local businesses. OrthoWorx is now responding by focusing on talent attraction, retention, and development in support of all local orthopedic companies, with particular emphasis, given its recent pivot, on support of the next generation orthopedic companies. In his new role as Chairman, Terry brings strong technical knowledge and deep industry experience, as a Purdue University engineering graduate and seasoned orthopedic executive.” David Findlay added, “Terry is well-known locally and across the orthopedic industry for his business skills and broad understanding of the industry having helped create success stories for emerging companies like Mitek Surgical Products, OrthoPediatrics, Nextremity Solutions, Ignite Orthopedics, and others during his career. Terry’ experience, through his leadership and board roles with these companies, is a great fit with OrthoWorx’s new strategic direction of focusing on growth companies in the orthopedic industry within our community and the region.”

Mr. Schlotterback was part of a team of local orthopedic executives, leaders from K-12 and secondary education, state and local officials, and representatives from BioCrossroads brought together by former Grace College President Dr. Ron Manahan that conceived the organization over a dozen years ago. Mr. Schlotterback shared, “I was thrilled to join the OrthoWorx Board earlier this year and I’m grateful for the Board’s decision to elect me as its new Chairman. David’s tenure and commitment to the OrthoWorx and OCF Boards since their inception, coupled with his leadership at Lake City Bank and involvement across northeast Indiana and the entire state, remain highly valuable attributes of our evolving board and I’m honored to step into the role he’s held and pleased he’s agreed to remain on the board. I’m also delighted to know we were able to recently secure Bob Vitoux, long-time industry, and community leader with vast relational connections, to be our President and CEO as we seek to progress into the next chapter of our journey by helping advance our next generation workforce, along with the community and the orthopedic representation therein. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to engaging others in OrthoWorx’s future.”