Who We Are

Bret is the Owner & Consultant of Wolf Orthopedic Development, a biomedical company based in Canal Fulton, Ohio.

Hartzell has over two decades of experience in the orthopedics industry and possesses a diverse knowledge and expertise base. He has worked for various Orthopedic OEM companies and was actively involved in the complete product development process across multiple departments.

His roles have ranged from Product Development Engineer to Director of Product Development. The Ohio native was responsible for the design incubation of surgeon ideas during his tenure at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.

With multiple system launches under his lead, Hartzell understands the aspects of going from concept to clearance. His vast experience in medical device manufacturing, particularly forging and machining, balances his perspective of vendor relationships, cost reduction, and efficiency. The knowledge he has gained in his multiple roles over his career in orthopedics provides fresh and unique approaches to a wide range of orthopedic specialties.

Throughout his career, Bret has found that he enjoys working on design concepts and prototypes, and using his wealth of knowledge to mentor and work with new engineers. Bret’s expertise and holistic approach to orthopedic design often generate questions that lead to new critical design inputs sooner, streamlining processes and boosting overall efficiency.

His visionary perspective can revolutionize your design journey from the onset. With Bret's expertise, you can discover new possibilities, save valuable time, and elevate the impact of your next medical device design project.