By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Robert E. “Bob” Vitoux Jr. said he aims to be a “servant leader.”

“The real thing that gets me up in the morning is to have impact, and the desire to be a servant leader has always been what I’ve been brought up to think about,” he said.

Vitoux has been president and CEO of OrthoWorx for a year. Founded in 2009, the organization’s goal is to support the orthopedic industry in Kosciusko County.

Robert E. “Bob” Vitoux Jr.

Vitoux comes to his role from what he referred to as a humble background before gaining experience at a number of companies.

“I would say I came from very, very simple means,” he said. “I came … from Wanatah, a small rural community (in northwest Indiana), and never would have guessed that I would have the opportunity to do some of the things that I’ve done, having lived in Manhattan for two years with Steinway (Musical Instruments), having moved overseas with Johnson & Johnson. I just feel immensely blessed to have had that opportunity.”

After graduating from LaCrosse High School, Vitoux obtained his bachelor’s degree from then-Manchester College, where he met his wife, Debbie. The two have been married for 36 years and have two adult children, Austin and Ashlyn.

Vitoux studied accounting and finance at Manchester, also having a two-year degree in computer applications. He gained additional knowledge through executive programs at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Notre Dame.

“I’m a numbers guy, by background, and just have always been intrigued by business,” he said of how he picked a career in those areas. “To be honest, at a youthful age, I really wasn’t probably astute enough to know all that going into accounting, finance would open the doors of, but just really fortunate to have curiosity.”

“I started my career in public accounting, and then over the course of my career have had a number of progressive responsibilities, largely in the orthopedic industry, and then also have some exposure to the automotive industry as well,” he said. “Most notably probably here … at Dalton and initially as the controller, and (I) eventually became one of the sales leaders at the foundry.”

Over the years, he’s also had leadership and finance roles at Zimmer, Biomet and DePuy.

“Coming kind of full circle, having been in orthopedics directly and indirectly 25-plus years, I just felt like I knew a fair bit about the industry,” said Vitoux of his qualifications for becoming OrthoWorx’s leader.

Vitoux said he was happy to return to Kosciusko County upon assuming the president and CEO roles.

“It was an opportunity to come back to a community that has … really, really (helped shaped) our family’s lives,” he said. “It’s been very impactful to our family as I’ve worked for Zimmer on two occasions. I’ve worked for DePuy on one occasion and finished my career at Biomet, so again I felt a draw to the community, but also just a longing to get back in the industry in some fashion and have impact.”

Vitoux notes late Biomet co-founder, president and CEO Dr. Dane Miller is “the most notable” influence for him from the orthopedic industry.

“That was also some of what was in the back of my mind … if there was an opportunity to come back and continue to really build upon his legacy and create all the more notoriety for what he and so many others have contributed to building,” said Vitoux. “We all know that Revra DePuy was the starter of orthopedics here, but I would tell you as far as I’m concerned one of the greatest leaders that we’ve ever had in our community as of late was Dane.”