Episode 4: OrthoWorx – Honoring the Past, Building the Future

Bob Vitoux’s leadership has transformed OrthoWorx from a community organization into a powerful catalyst for regional growth. Sitting down with host Matt Deuel and board member Suzie Light, Vitoux reflects on his three-year journey at the helm of the organization tasked with preserving Kosciusko County’s status as the orthopedic capital of the world. The conversation reveals the fascinating origin story of OrthoWorx, born in 2009 from concerned community leaders’ collaboration with the Lilly Endowment and BioCrossroads. What began as a mission to retain orthopedic companies has evolved into a comprehensive strategy built on three pillars: talent development, community enhancement, and industry support. Under Vitoux’s guidance, the organization has become the nexus of collaboration in a county where medical device manufacturing has thrived for over 130 years alongside agriculture. Perhaps most transformative has been OrthoWorx’s role in deploying $30 million in state funding, which Vitoux describes as providing “30 million reasons for people to care about what’s going on in our community.” Whether you’re interested in economic development, community building, or the future of manufacturing in America’s heartland, this conversation offers valuable insights into how strategic leadership and collaborative spirit can transform a region. Discover how neighbors helping neighbors might be the most powerful economic development tool of all.