By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — OrthoLazer, a retail pain management therapy company headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., is moving its corporate office to Warsaw.
The company is in the midst of expanding, wants to be in the orthopedic capital and is receiving financial support from the city of Warsaw.
OrthoLazer has 17 service centers across the country, but plans to expand to about 300 in seven years, said Dan Stichter, president of the company who was part of a presentation Monday during the Warsaw City Council meeting.
Rod Mayer who became CEO of the company in July and is a former executive with Warsaw-based Nextremity Solutions (and later, Medartis) appears to have been a key cog in the decision to move to Warsaw.
The local office will open with two employees, but that’s expected to grow to 14.
The city’s Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner said the payroll for those positions will be around $700,000.
The company also plans to open a laser therapy services center in Warsaw.
“The city’s been wonderful to work with. As we thought about how we might be able to justify the relocation of those headquarters,” Stichter said. “These funds are incredibly important and allow us to move forward knowing we have the backing of the city and the community, and, again, introduce this to the orthopedic community and the orthopedic ecosystem at large.”
Officials are still firming up plans for the corporate office.
The company provides pain relief through the power of light, using an M8 Robotic Therapy Laser, according to the firm’s website.
Stichter said the therapy, which normally spans a series of weeks, allows people who have had an acute injury, chronic pain or post-operative conditions to help heal and relieve pain.
In exchange, the city is offering a three-year $75,000 forgivable loan that will be similar to ones provided to Nextremity and Mentor Media in recent years, Skinner said.
The money will come from the city’s Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund.
The money will be provided in three increments and could be recouped if OrthoLazer does not meet wage and job figures spelled out in the agreement.
Warsaw City Council unanimously approved two agreements that are part of the financial arrangement.
