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Who We Are

Winter Innovations was founded by Lia Winter and Preston Dishner to bring simplicity and innovation to orthopedic surgery. Lia’s inspiration came from personal experience—watching her mother undergo a difficult ACL revision and working with surgical needles during an R&D project. She recognized a clear opportunity to make stitching more efficient and reliable for both surgeons and patients.

While pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee, Lia teamed up with Preston to transform that idea into a company. Together, they co-founded Winter Innovations with a mission to develop simple, effective tools for overlooked areas in surgery.

Their idea became EasyWhip®, the first two-part needle system designed for ligament and tendon repair, introducing new possibilities for how surgeons stitch and secure soft tissue. Since launching EasyWhip® to the surgical market in 2022, Winter Innovations has earned recognition in national accelerator programs, secured competitive grants, and continued expanding its product family to improve surgical outcomes at scale.

Winter Innovations is proud to be supported by a strong network of mentors, investors, surgeons, and partners who share the company’s vision for making surgery simpler, smarter, and more efficient.

Our Team

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Lia Winter

CEO and Co-founder

Lia Winter is a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur with a passion for advancing innovation in orthopedic surgery and mentoring the next generation of medical innovators. As CEO and co-founder of Winter Innovations, she leads company strategy, product development, and partnerships, drawing on her background in research, engineering, and business. Lia holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and dual MS and MBA degrees from the University of Tennessee. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, spoiling her dog, and exploring the outdoors.

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Preston Dishner

COO and Co-founder

Preston Dishner is a third-generation entrepreneur with a passion for analytics and problem-solving. As COO and co-founder of Winter Innovations, he oversees operations, supply chain, and finance, applying his expertise in business analytics and procurement strategy to drive efficiency and growth. Preston holds a BS in Supply Chain Management and dual MS and MBA degrees from the University of Tennessee. Outside of work, he enjoys attending concerts and motorsports events with friends.

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Anna MacKay

Associate Product Manager

Anna MacKay grew up immersed in orthopedics, inspired by her father, an orthopedic surgeon. She brings hands-on experience from clinical settings to her role at Winter Innovations, where she manages product marketing, social media, and physician communications. Anna earned her BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading fantasy books, and perfecting her sourdough starter.

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Jensen Dropp

Marketing Graphic Designer

Jensen Dropp has been passionate about art and design since childhood. With extensive experience in illustration, event marketing, and branding, she creates visual content that helps communicate Winter Innovations’ story — from instructional infographics to digital campaigns. Jensen earned her BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She enjoys dancing, watching dystopian and sci-fi movies, and spending time with her fiancé and two cats.

Accelerators

2025

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2022

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2021

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2020

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2019

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