Mark E. Benden received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He also received his Master of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering with a specialization in Ergonomics and a minor in Safety Engineering from Texas A&M University and his PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M.

As a commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserve, he served on active and reserve duty with the Corps of Engineers and as an enlisted, combat medic with the Texas Army National Guard. His civilian career includes experience as a Rehabilitation Engineer, an Ergonomic Consultant, a plant Ergonomic Engineer, a corporate Ergonomist for Johnson & Johnson Inc., Executive Vice President for Neutral Posture, Inc. in Bryan, Texas, and most recently named Assistant Professor, Texas A&M Health Science Center,School of Rural Public health,Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Dr. Benden is co-founder and owner of Positive Motion LLC, a faculty led startup company designed to develop several of his patent pending stand-biased desk solutions through the Stand2Learn product line.

Dr. Benden is the author of several articles and book chapters on Ergonomics and has been called upon to lecture at multiple professional groups throughout the United States, Canada, the Carribean and Central America. He also holds 18 US Patents for current ergonomic office products and has many patents pending.

Mr. Benden received certificate #706 from the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics Inc. as a Certified Professional Ergonomist. He is an active member of the Institute for Industrial Engineers, The American Society of Safety Engineers and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Mark claims his greatest achievement was convincing his wife of 23 years, Teresa, to marry him. This union resulted in them being blessed with 3 wonderful sons, Travis, Justin and Luke.

Education

PhD. Interdisciplinary Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

M.S. Industrial Engineering Specialization: Human Factors/Ergonomics Minor: Safety Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

B.S. in Bioengineering Specialization: Human Factors Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

Certification

Certified Professional Ergonomist, October 1994, certificate #706 from the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics, Inc.

Honors

Top 10 Most Innovative Product Designer, Healthcare Design Magazine, May 2008

Platinum ADEX award in the 2004-05 Awards for Design Excellence for AbStool™ in the Design Journal

Member, Canvass Committee for BSR/HFES 100 the proposed draft to the ANSI/HFS 100 – 1988 American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display Terminal Workstations

ANSI/BIFMA Classroom Furniture Standards Development Committee

National Ergonomic Conference and Exposition (NECE)

NECE 2007 Attendees Choice Award for the N·tune™ Seating System
NECE 2006 Attendees Choice Award for the Pipette Arm
NECE 2005 Attendees Choice Award for the NeXtep™
NECE 2004 Attendees Choice Award for the StandUp™
NECE 2003 Attendees Choice Award for the AbStool™

Common Speaking Topics

Consulting Services Offered

Worksite Evaluation, Return to work assessment, Ergonomic Training, Product Design and Testing, Prototype construction, ADA accommodations, Expert Witness, Patent Development

Publications

Benden, M., "An Evaluation of the Use of a Dual Frequency Vibrometer in the Screening of Individuals for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," Texas A&M University Office of Graduate Studies, (Thesis) May 1992

Benden, M., "Creating the Painless Inspection Station," Ergonomics in Design, July 1994

Benden, Mark and Parker, M. K. "Benefits of Three Dimensional Knitted Fabric on Chair Manufacturing". Applied Ergonomics Conference, Orlando, FL. March 2000

Applied Ergonomics, Edited by Alexander & Rabourn, Taylor & Francis 2001 Chapter 35 – "Use of Three-Dimensional Fabric Yields Ergonomic Benefits in Upholstery Work"

Benden, M., "The Patent Process for Ergonomic Products" Conf. Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Applied Ergonomics Conference, Dallas, Texas Mar. 2003

Congleton, J., Craig, B., Benden, M., and Parker, M. (October 2003) Current and Future Office Ergonomic Trends. 47th Annual Human Factors and Ergonomics Conference, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Poster Session.

Benden, M., "Use of Three Dimensional, Knitted Fabric Yields Ergonomic Benefits in Upholstery Work – A Two Year Follow Up Study" Conf. Proceedings of the First Annual Association of Canadian Ergonomist’s Conference, Toronto, Canada, Oct. 2003

Benden, M., "The Obese Office Worker Seating Problem" Texas A&M University Office of Graduate Studies (Dissertation) Dec 2006

enden, M., Congleton, JJ., "Chair Specifications and Testing for Big & Tall Seating" March 13, 2007 Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Applied Ergonomics Conference.

Benden, M., "Selecting Seating for 911 Communication Centers", Emergency Number Professional Magazine March 2007, Volume 25 Number 2.

Benden, M., "Could You Stand to Lose? Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers" 2nd Edition, Trinity River Publishing, July 2007. ISBN 978-60402-234-6

Benden, M.,"Measuring Office Ergonomics Training can Show Impact" Industrial Engineer, Sept 2009, Vol 41:No 9

Benden, M, "Could You Stand to Lose? Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers" 2nd Edition Trinity River Publishing, July 2008. ISBN 978-60402-234-6

Benden, M., Blake, J., Wendel, M, Huber C., "The impact of stand-biased desks in classrooms on calorie expenditure in children" 2011 March 18 AJPH August 2011, Vol 101, No.8 pages 1433-1436 PMID: 21421945

Benden, M., Congleton, J.J., Fink, R., "An In-Situ Study of the Habits of Users that Impact Office Chair Design and Testing" Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Feb 2011, No.1 Vol. 53, PMID 21469532

Blake, J., Benden, M., Wendel, M., "Using Stand/Sit Workstations in Classrooms: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Study in Texas" accepted for publication Dec 2010 in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

Benden M, Mancuso L, Zhao H, Pickens A. "The Ability of the SenseWear® Armband to Assess a Change in Energy Expenditure in Children While Sitting and Standing". JEPonline 2011;14(3):1-14

Patents

US Patent # 6,142,571 – Ergonomic Footrest Apparatus for a Chair - Fring™
US Patent # 6,220,663 – Lumbar Pump Assembly for a Chair
US Patent # 6,296,312 – Ergonomic Armrest Assembly
US Patent # 6,290,295 – Air Pump Assembly for a Chair
US Patent # D458,777S – Onboard Instruction Guide
US Patent # D463,441S – Computer Accessories and Mouse Deck
US Patent # 6,604,786 – Support Apparatus for a Chair and Keyboard
US Patent # 6,607,246 – Improved Footrest for a Chair
US Patent # 6,877,812 B2 – Abstool "Support for a Seating Device"
US Patent # 7,036,886 – NeXtep™ "Support for a Seating Device"
US Patent # 7,048,236 – "Vertical Adjustment Apparatus for a Keyboard" StandUp™
US Patent # 7,104,606 – "Support for a Seating Device" AbStool™ Dual use, 4 position, Rotating Support Cushion
US Patent #D541,061 Seating Device - Balance™ Chair Ergo
US Patent #D543,038 Support for a Seating Device - Balance™ Conference
US Patent #D557,513 Foot Support - The N·position™
US Patent #D588,245 Elemental, Recycled Aluminum Keyboard Tray

As of 1 Aug,2011 – 3 additional patent applications were "Pending"