Fit For Work Institute

Dr. James Rethaber, Ph.D., CPE, LSSMBB, Vice President – Technical Operations at Fit For Work, provides strategic direction for the Safety, Ergonomics, and Testing departments/initiatives, as well as process mapping and streamlining of processes to increase operational efficiency/effectiveness for internal and external clients. Dr. Rethaber also oversees the onboarding and continuing education initiatives to assist Fit For Work staff with ever-changing/evolving needs of our internal and external clients. 

Bethany Gardner has been an occupational therapist since 2008 working in occupational health settings in a variety of roles including as a clinician, consultant, academic researcher, and ergonomics engineer. She has worked in various industries including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. Bethany began working for Fit For Work in 2017 as an Area Manager overseeing a large-scale injury prevention program including onsite early intervention, ergonomics, and employment testing services. She is currently Vice President - Service Development where she manages several company initiatives geared toward operational and program excellence and company growth. Her experience as a clinician and testing provider, manager of employment testing providers and programs make her well qualified to provide high-quality continuing education instruction. 

Lauren is the Director of Ergonomics at Fit For Work. She provides ergonomic consulting services for clients in the industrial and office settings. She has a BS in Animal Science and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental and Occupational Health from Texas A&M University. Lauren is a Board-Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE).

Rachel joined Fit For Work in September of 2018 as an Injury Prevention Specialist in Salt Lake City and now also serves as an Area Manager. She earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from BYU-Idaho and taught Science and Health for a time, prior to going back to school to earn a Masters degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Athletic Training. While at Texas Tech University she was able to work with high profile collegiate athletes with Track & Field as well as Football. Some of those Track & Field athletes have since gone to the Olympics.

Kyle attended North Dakota State University and Minnesota State Mankato. Kyle joined the FFW family in September 2012. Kyle has been an Certified Athletic Trainer since 2010. Since that time I have strived to gain as much experience and knowledge to continue to grow as a professional. I seek out educational opportunities and aim to gain more certifications to further my career in Athletic Training. My goal is to provide the gold standard of care to patients based off the most recent evidence based medicine practices. He serving as an Regional Director in Minnesota.

Mark Snow has been working as a Injury Prevention Specialist for Fit for Work since 2021. Previously, Mark was the Dean of the School of Human Performance and Program Director for the Master of Athletic Training Program at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. Mark received his Doctorate of Education Degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2021.

Sean Pilola is an Ergonomic Specialist. He obtained a bachelors degree from Texas State in 2013 and a masters in athletic training from the University of Houston in 2019. He started with FFW as an on-site Injury Prevention Specialist in Houston, Texas working directly with HEB grocery employees. In 2020, he moved to the ergonomic department and has spent the last 3 years traveling North America completing ergonomic consulting projects. His hobbies outside of work include CrossFit, coaching Crossfit, trail riding, and any outdoor adventures with my dog, Bo.  

Anna Gibilisco is the Learning and Development Coordinator servicing Fit For Work out of Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in athletic training where she had the opportunity to work with the Nebraska Cornhusker football team for two years. She completed her Master of Science in Health Services Administration with a concentration in institutional leadership at the University of Wyoming. While at the University of Wyoming, she worked with the track and field team and football team.

Kristen is a San Antonio native, attending Texas Lutheran University for her undergraduate education. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2016. She then continued to Terre Haute, Indiana to complete her Doctorate in Athletic Training at Indiana State University. Her Doctoral work was heavily focused on Adult Learning and Simulated Learning Strategies. Kristen then completed just over three years of work with a large Health System in East Texas, serving as an Orthopedic Technician and Education Director. In the fall of 2022, Kristen returned to her hometown of San Antonio to begin a career with Fit For Work as an Onsite Provider. Since joining, she has been a part of many projects and initiatives from  onsite work to educational endeavors.

Jacob Wilkins is an Ergonomics Specialist for Fit For Work in San Antonio, TX. He provides ergonomics consulting services for various clients in the industrial and office settings. Jacob has a BS in Kinesiology from Bowling Green State University. He has spent 16 (+) years in the injury prevention/ergonomic field. Jacob’s career began in 2006 with a truck manufacturing facility in San Antonio. He joined Fit for Work in March of 2016. His work experience has allowed him to work with employees of all crafts, such as warehouse order selectors, utility workers, manufacturing laborers, and office personnel. Jacob has performed hundreds of physical demands analyses, ergonomic risk assessments, and onsite injury prevention trainings. Jacob currently resides in San Antonio, TX with his wife Delayna and five children. They are heavily involved with the foster care community, as well as within their church family. For fun, Jacob enjoys spending time outdoors with his family services.

Jarred Binner is originally from Pennsylvania but currently resides in Mississippi with his fiancé and two cats. While not at work, you’ll find him on his Harley-Davidson and/or at a classic car show. Jarred graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with his Bachelor’s of science in Athletic Training and Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation. His past experience includes working as a Head Athletic Trainer for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at Jackson State University. Currently at Fit For Work, he is an Injury Prevention Specialist for an asphalt and gravel client, as well an Ergonomics Specialist, a Fit For Work Mentor, a Velocity EHS ambassador, and a Fit For Work Institute Early Intervention Roundtable Facilitator.

Dr. Jerroed Roberson PT, DPT is an onsite testing services provider with Fit For Work, a company that specializes in industrial/occupational health and safety. Dr. Roberson joined Fit For Work as a PRN employee in June of 2021 and shortly after, he moved to full time employment as the lead testing therapist for an onsite testing location in Temple, Tx.

Maria graduated from Michigan State University in 2016, earning a bachelor’s in both Athletic Training and Kinesiology. After school, she moved out to North Carolina with her husband and worked in the clinic setting for 2 years. During this time, she also provided outreach services for the local youth soccer league and provided PRN coverage at local high schools. In 2018, Maria and her husband decided to live closer to family and moved back to their home state of Michigan. Maria joined Fit For Work in June of 2018 and has been working with the company ever since. Currently, she provides services as an Onsite Injury Prevention Specialist and Ergonomic Specialist across clients in Michigan. She enjoys continued learning and along with her focus in ergonomics, has begun taking safety courses to further expand her knowledge. 

Jason joined FFW in June 2017. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University, where he earned a BS in Physical Education with an option in Athletic Training. He is a certified Athletic Trainer as well as a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He previously worked for a regional hospital in Urbana, IL for 17 years where he managed the performance enhancement programs for athletes, fabricated custom orthotics and did wellness coaching for a manufacturing plant. Jason is an Injury Prevention Specialist, Ergonomics Specialist and Safety Specialist for FFW.

Jason is originally from Mahomet, IL and recently relocated to Christiansburg, VA where he and his wife plan to spend more time outdoors with their 2 dogs. He and his wife love to travel the world and can’t wait to plan their next adventure.

Forrest is the FFW Safety Division Director providing OSHA, DOT, and EPA compliance services. Forrest also directs the Safety Subscription Program across the U.S. Forrest has over 27 years of experience in occupational health & safety management. He is a board certified Safety Professional (CSP) and board certified Associate Risk Management Enterprise (ARME). Forrest is an authorized OSHA outreach instructor for both OSHA general and construction industries. Forrest serves as the current ASSP South Texas chapter awards and honors chair. He has been a guest speaker for local, regional, and national organizations facilitating hundreds of sessions across many different industries.

Matt is a Louisville, KY native who graduated undergrad at the University of Kentucky and then received his MBA from Mississippi State University. He has been with Fit For Work since the beginning of 2016 and is currently the VP of Strategic Accounts managing the Business Development team.

I am Monica Steinborn. I have been an Athletic Trainer for 20+ years in which the majority of this time was in a clinic and on the sidelines. I transitioned to the industrial side of the field and have been with FFW for 5.5 years. I provide onsite services at various sites in West Central Iowa. I am an Ergo Specialist and Safety Specialist.

Dr. Laurence (Larry) Benz is the President/CEO of Confluent Health, a deliverer of musculoskeletal health solutions through private physical therapy, digital health, education (Evidence In Motion), occupational medicine (Fit For Work, IAA, Worksteps) and provider network management (PTPN). Confluent Health’s holdings include over 400 outpatient physical therapy centers under several industry-leading brand names, education and training companies with university partnerships, and a national provider of onsite workplace injury prevention services.

A frequent lecturer with over 250 invited presentations at multiple conferences, physical therapy, MBA, and Executive Education programs throughout the country, Dr. Benz has served on the American Physical Therapy Association's Advisory Panel on Practice, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and Foundation For Physical Therapy Research. He is the past Board Chairman at The University of Louisville, Neighborhood Engagement, and The University of Louisville Medical Center. He currently is a Trustee at Bellarmine University and board member of the University of Louisville Athletic Association and Evolve 502. He is the recipient of numerous business, leadership, and physical therapy awards. His book published in 2019, Called to Care: A Medical Provider's Guide to Humanizing Healthcare became an instant best seller on multiple lists.

Wendy Chelette has been an occupational therapist since 1989, working in a variety of clinical settings before shifting her focus to occupational health and injury prevention in the late 1990's. Wendy began her career with Fit For Work in 2005, providing a variety of services including onsite early intervention, ergonomics consulting, and post-offer employment testing services for a variety of employers within warehousing, manufacturing, and construction industries and large call centers. In her current role as Director of Employment Testing for Fit For Work, Wendy supports multiple teams of employment testing providers serving large US employers in the provision of employment testing services.

Curtis Kopotic, MS, ATC, ATR, serves as the Account Experience and Relations Manager to UNFI, along with providing some onsite coverage at the Hopkins Minnesota UNFI distribution center for Fit for Work. He is an athletic trainer, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Athletic Training, and his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. Along with being the lead host of Workplace Injury Prevention, a Fit For Work Podcast, he also was the editor for both he podcast as well as video content creating.

I have been an ATC for 23 years and have worked in a variety of settings as an ATC and also a teacher for high school and college students , and with the military. I have also worked as a health coach which I found interesting and rewarding. I have been with FFW for nearly 2 years as an Injury Prevention Specialist and more recently an Ergonomic Specialist. In my free time, I am with my 17 year old daughter or at the gym, lifting as training for my next powerlifting meet.