Our story
Our clients come first.
Guided by integrity, independence, and a genuine commitment to the people who use the environments we help create.
Independent by design
Independence wasn't a marketing decision.
Since 1992 we've operated as an independent commercial interiors partner — and that independence was a lesson learned early, not a slogan. When we started, our business leaned heavily on a single manufacturer relationship. As that manufacturer consolidated into a larger dealer model, our alignment shifted abruptly.
The lesson was simple but lasting, and it still shapes how we work: represent the client's interests first — without quotas, pressure, or shifting obligations steering the advice. Independence lets us recommend what truly fits each project, the people using it, and the realities of long-term use. We've operated that way ever since.
The expertise behind the independence
Four decades of getting people out of pain.
Independence is how we work. Ergonomics is why it matters. Applied Ergonomics was built on nearly forty years of clinical specification — the discipline of fitting real bodies to real work, and taking people out of pain. It's the difference between a dealer who hands you a catalog and a partner who knows why one chair belongs under a particular body and another doesn't.
A NASA-grounded start
Before founding AE in 1992, Jeff Meltzer spent five years as VP of Sales at Backcare Corp and became an early dealer for Dr. Congleton's BodyBilt and Neutral Posture seating — the open-posture, NASA-derived approach he was specifying years before the industry adopted it.
Trusted by clinicians
For many years AE was a primary referral resource for the physiatrists and therapists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago — now Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, historically the top-ranked rehabilitation hospital in the United States.
Recognized by the field
Manufacturers revise their products on Jeff's input — Via Seating reworked the starting angle of its Genie task chair after his evaluation. Specification authority that's earned, not advertised.
On national television
When Montefiore needed an ergonomics expert, they looked nationally — and chose Jeff.
For an episode of The Balance — the health series created and hosted by Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, President & CEO of Montefiore Einstein — the hospital sought a single ergonomics expert from across the country and selected Applied Ergonomics. They flew Jeff to New York, shipped in products to recreate our store on the studio set, and paired him with a real Montefiore patient to show, on camera, how the right setup relieves pain.
Work with usFilmed alongside Montefiore Einstein orthopedic physiatrist Dr. Andrew Gitkind, the segment — a little “straightening up” for better spine health — is the centerpiece video featured in our store. When a major academic medical center wants someone to show the public how ergonomics changes lives, this is who they call.
We don't add ergonomics at the end of a project. After four decades, it's where we begin — and it's the knowledge behind every recommendation we make.
What guides us
People first, performance always.
We plan from the person outward.
Comfort, health, and well-being aren't extras — they're the foundation of spaces that work. Ergonomics isn't something we add at the end. It's where we begin.
A space should look intentional — and hold up.
Appearance only matters if it's supported by performance. We bring a refined, considered eye to every project while making sure decisions last under daily use and changing needs.
What we stand for
Standards, not slogans.
Your needs come first
We don't push product lines or upsell for margin. Recommendations start with what's actually needed — and we'll say so when something isn't worth the investment.
Honesty, always
We'd rather lose a sale than recommend the wrong solution. Our reputation was built on straight talk, and that hasn't changed.
Accountability, start to finish
We show up. We follow through. And when something doesn't go as planned, we own it and fix it.
Our history
Partnerships that last decades.
Many of the clients we serve today are organizations we first partnered with more than 30 years ago — and we're working on new projects for those same teams now. Not because of contracts, but because consistency, trust, and follow-through compound over time.
See our workFrom early planning through delivery and installation, you work with the same team throughout — no hand-offs, no surprises, no learning curve halfway through. Just continuity, coordination, and shared responsibility for the outcome.
Trusted relationships
Independent — but never alone.
Our open-market independence exists to support better decisions, not to limit options. Over time we've built lasting relationships with manufacturers we trust — partners who deliver quality, fair value, dependable delivery, and reliable support, so we can stand behind every recommendation.
Sustainability through partnership
Built to last is built to be responsible.
As a dealership, our direct influence on sustainability is limited — but the manufacturers we choose play a critical role. That's why shared values matter: durability, responsible production, and products designed to last all reduce waste over time.
Environmental impact
The built environment drives landfill use, manufacturing waste, material sourcing, and transport emissions. We take that seriously.
Manufacturer commitments
Many of our partners invest heavily in reducing the footprint of what they make — and how they make it.
Our responsibility
As a dealership our direct influence is limited, so we prioritize partners whose values genuinely match ours.
Long-term performance
Sustainability depends on durable products designed to last. Choosing those partners reduces waste over time.
We’re here to help.
We read every inquiry and follow up personally to help move your project forward.
Not sure exactly what you need? Tell us the space and the teams who’ll use it, and we’ll bring the options to you. Specifying is what we do.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 847-679-5148.
Phone: 847-679-5148 Email: info@appliedergonomics.com
Frequently asked