OrthoWorx announced the appointment of Ryan Christner to the role of Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI) executive director.
“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 Bob Vitoux, OrthoWorx president and CEO. “Ryan is passionate about the industry and has been a supporter of and contributor to OrthoWorx through his involvement as a volunteer in several talent and community related initiatives over the past decade, which should serve him, the organization, and OrthoWorx’s partners well as he settles into this new role.”
Christner, a lifelong resident of Kosciusko County, is invested in the community where he and his wife are raising their four children, according to a news release from OrthoWorx. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Grace College and has over 14 years of experience in the orthopedic industry, holding positions in operations management, supply chain and logistics.
Christner’s commitment to the community and workforce development is demonstrated through his volunteer work, including serving on the Education Workforce Committee and the OrthoWorx Academy Advisory Board, along with traveling abroad earlier this year with several leaders from the state as a part of the Richard M. Fairbanks funded iLab initiative, to explore youth apprenticeship education models in Switzerland. He also actively coaches youth sports, serves as chairman of the local Wawasee Ducks Unlimited organization and volunteers with his church’s youth group. In his free time, Christner enjoys adventuring in the outdoors.
The OIRI executive director will oversee the implementation and deployment of the state-funded Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative. In this role, Christner will serve as the primary point of contact for the initiative, working in close partnership with the OIRI Visioning Committee, government entities, industry and business leaders and other community stakeholders to fulfill the vision of OIRI.
“I’m incredibly excited about the vision laid out by those who have been key in securing the state funding, and I’m deeply inspired by the opportunity to contribute to such as an important initiative,” Christner said. “Kosciusko County has a rich legacy of innovation, growth and a remarkable talent pool which makes it a fantastic place to live and work. As the Orthopedic Capital of the World, there’s no better place to continue building on this legacy. It’s truly an honor to be a part of a team which is working to bring the OIRI vision to life and create a brighter future for our community and future generations.”
In addition to the OIRI executive director role, OrthoWorx is actively recruiting for the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative project manager position that will serve as a direct report to the OIRI executive director.