Meet the people behind the scenes at National Ergonomics Conference.

Alan is a highly experienced human factors ergonomist with over 45 years of professional experience. He leads the ergonomics services offered by Humanuse and has extensive expertise in design and workplace ergonomics that impact the health, comfort, and productivity of workers. Alan has been a Professor Emeritus in the Human Centered Design department at Cornell University since 2019, where he previously served as a Professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis from 1987-2019. Alan's research and teaching activities have focused on themes such as workstation design, carpal tunnel syndrome risk factors, alternative keyboard and input system designs, postural strain, and environmental stressors. He has authored and edited several books and published numerous book chapters and articles on these topics in ergonomics and related journals and proceedings. Alan is also highly involved in professional activities, serving in leadership roles in various organizations, including the International Ergonomics Association and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. He has received several awards for his contributions to   

David Brodie, MS, CPE, is the Ergonomist Lead for the North America region of Cargill, Inc. In this role Brodie oversees the implementation of programs, processes, solutions, and technologies across the region. In 2011, Brodie joined Cargill as a Corporate Ergonomist for their Protein enterprise, where he worked with fellow ergonomists and plant EHS personnel to implement an ergonomics program that resulted in >70% reduction in musculoskeletal injuries. Brodie has over 25 years of experience in office, industrial, meat processing, transportation, and healthcare settings. Brodie is currently Co-Chair of the National Ergonomics Conference and has held volunteer roles as the Co-Chair of AExG, Administrator of the Ergonomics Practice Specialty within the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), and President of the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE). A Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), David holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo.

Rachel Michael is a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) & Certified Health Care Safety Professional (CHSP) and President Emeritus of the Board of Directors for the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE). She is also the past Administrator of the Ergonomics Practice Specialty under the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). Rachel ensures systems leverage their human components for safe, productive, and efficient outcomes and has over 20 years of experience implementing successful ergonomics controls and programs in diverse industries. An energetic and engaging trainer, she is a frequent speaker at industry events and is currently the co-chair of the National Ergonomics Conference.

Matthew Marino is the CEO and Head of Performance at Prime Performance in Portland, Oregon. He is a Physical Therapist, Certified Professional Ergonomist, sport scientist, and performance coach. Matt specializes in wearable technology and exoskeletons, and is an internationally recognized expert in workplace health, safety, and ergonomics. He has introduced exoskeletons to hundreds of companies and authored scientific research. Matt is a respected educator and advocate for helping people thrive and is a founding partner of the ASTM International Exo Technology Center of Excellence.

Anuja Patil serves as the Director: Ergonomics for CNA Insurance. In this role, she is responsible for the overall assessment, evaluation, and delivery of all risk control ergonomics services. Anuja earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Health (Ergonomics) in 2011 from Colorado State University. She is a Board Certified Ergonomist (CPE), a Board Certified Safety Professional (CSP), and Six Sigma Green Belt Certified (IISE). Anuja serves as the Administrator of the ASSP Ergonomics Practice Specialty Group and is a Board member of AES.