2024 was a year of tremendous momentum for OrthoWorx, and the organization is gearing up for another year of progress in 2025, according to a news release from OrthoWorx.
The organization recently added two new members to the team to continue the momentum of their efforts. Brooke Friedberg joined as the new talent director and Lukas Rife joined as the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI) project manager.
One of OrthoWorx’s key initiatives is building the orthopedic talent pipeline and in 2024, the team gained momentum in many K-12 projects. In the spring, OrthoWorx, in partnership with IN-MaC, celebrated the launch of two advanced manufacturing academies at Warsaw and Wawasee high schools. These academies provide students with opportunities to learn from industry experts and gain hands-on experience with regional employers. To further support these academies and career education, OrthoWorx collaborated with the Don Wood Foundation to develop a technical education ecosystem report. This report identified strengths and opportunities within career and technical education centers across Kosciusko and Whitley counties, the release states.
OrthoWorx also secured a grant from the Don Wood Foundation to fund a partnership with iXplore, a virtual reality (VR) career exploration group. This initiative will introduce VR modules that immerse students in orthopedic industry careers. The program is meant to expose students to the work environment and is focused on gamifying hard to fill jobs. Beginning in spring 2025, students will have the opportunity to engage with the first two modules, which focus on polishing and machining.
In fall 2024, OrthoWorx hosted nearly 1,000 eighth-grade students for the annual DiscoverME program. During the event, students learned about Warsaw’s status as the Orthopedic Capital of the World and explored the manufacturing careers essential to the industry’s success. Additionally, in May 2024 the first cohort of students from the Bridge to Employment (BTE) mentorship program, an initiative of Johnson &Johnson with local support from OrthoWorx, graduated from Warsaw Community High School. The BTE program pairs students with mentors who guide them through academic enrichment activities, career exploration and post-secondary education preparation.
A crucial element in OrthoWorx’s talent pipeline efforts is the talent director role and the organization recently welcomed Friedberg to fill the role. She will continue advancing the organization’s K-12 workforce initiatives, building on the 15 years of work since OrthoWorx’s founding in 2009.
“I’m beyond excited to join the OrthoWorx family as the talent director. With my background in both career development and education, I am eager to contribute to our mission of bridging the gap between our educational and orthopedic industry partners,” Friedberg said. “My family and I have lived in Warsaw for the past 16 years, and there’s no place that I’d rather be. This community is truly the best, and it holds deep meaning for us. I’m honored to represent such a vibrant and dynamic place as we grow together. I am looking forward to contributing to initiatives at OrthoWorx that foster an innovative culture, while helping build a strong orthopedic talent pipeline. My goal is to support the development of exciting and impactful initiatives that prioritize growth and learning. Together, we’ll achieve great things and make a lasting impact in the world of orthopedics and our community.”
In addition to workforce development, OrthoWorx was honored to receive $30 million in funding through the Indiana state budget for the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI). This funding aims to position Kosciusko County as a global leader by enhancing amenities and experiences that complement its reputation in orthopedics and other key industries. Ryan Christner, the OIRI executive director, has appointed Rife as the OIRI project manager to support and elevate the efforts.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join the OrthoWorx team and work alongside many different leaders from our community and with various organizations to help achieve our vision of Advancing the Orthopedic Capital of the World for Generations to Come,” Rife said. “There are a wide variety of opportunities to leverage the experience I gained from working in public accounting at Katz, Sapper, and Miller (KSM) over the past few years. It is an honor to make a difference in the communities of Kosciusko County which will extend far beyond our lifetimes and that truly motivates me to dig in and assist in ensuring this initiative thrives. I am grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see the advances to come over the course of the next few years.”