New York, NY, December 18, 2002 - Over 1,200 ergonomics professionals, the largest group to attend the event in its eight-year history, gathered at last week's National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition (NECE) in Las Vegas, further cementing the Show's reputation as the most important ergonomics event in the nation. Each day of the NECE, the exhibit floor and conference were packed. According to Judy Leese, Sr. Ergonomics Program Manager for Herman Miller, Inc. "The 2002 NECE, raised the bar for ergonomics events and surpassed expectations.".

Despite a slow economy, the NECE had record-breaking attendance and a larger exposition than ever before, taking this event - already considered a "home" to the industry - to the level of ergonomics industry focal point. "What we see now is that the community has grown to include more than just the Fortune 500. It now incorporates businesses of all sizes and complexities because ergonomics offers a demonstrable way to increase productivity, while reducing workplace related injuries," noted Walter Charnizon, President of Continental Exhibitions, Inc., owners and managers of the NECE. Ergonomics professionals from companies including Alcoa, Boeing, GM, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks and Toyota came together in more than 50 conference sessions - many so popular, it was standing room only.

Ergonomic professionals from all over the USA raved about the quality and value of the Champion Seating product line. As one attendee stated "it's a no-brainer that Champion's chairs are unbeatable in both ergonomic quality and vaule compared to the other industry leaders." With the economy tightening, ergonomic professionals are looking to Champion's direct to the customer, Dell Model Concept, to solve their seating solutions, and save their companies thousands of dollars annually.

Champion Seating Company introduced the MVP 911 Control Room Dispatch Chair, designed for ergonomic comfort and at an unbeatable price compared to competitive manufacturers. With memory foam seat, Schukra lumbar, and a fully adjustable headrest, the MVP 911 Control Room Dispatch Chair was the talk of the show, selling price just over $500.00 Attendees raved about the ergonomic comfort, quality and value of the MVP 911 Control Room Dispatch Chair. Additionally the chair can be customized with lift and pivot arms and Champion's new Extreme gel arm pad.

The unprecedented number of ergonomics professionals at the NECE is especially noteworthy in light of how many trade shows and conferences are having difficulty sustaining attendance levels. "Perhaps the challenging nature of the current economy is precisely the reason for the NECE's extraordinary turnout. Clearly ergonomics programs are now relied upon as a critical business element for improving profitability," said Charnizon. Setting that tone early on, Tuesday's Keynote Address by Jack D'Angelo, VP of Employee Health and Productivity at Verizon, challenged the ergonomics industry to focus on the measurable return on ergonomics investments. At Wednesday's Keynote, John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, detailed OSHA's approach to helping businesses achieve ergonomics success. Henshaw explained that, "the business case for ergonomics is becoming more and more evident."