PRESS RELEASE : Monday, April 12th, 1999
Re: National Council for Exercise Standards

In response to the ever-eroding competence of the "fitness", exercise, and physical therapy fields, and the persistent lack of meaningful standards within these industries, a new exercise organization has been formed. Dedicated to making progressive changes and establishing high standards within the industry, the National Council for Exercise Standards (NCES) is born. Currently completing it’s development, this new organization will pick up where other "councils", "guilds", and "colleges" have left off or otherwise failed to follow through on their original missions.

The NCES is a non-profit organization that promotes safe, effective and efficient exercise; establishes meaningful standards of safety, quality, and instruction; educates and certifies exercise professionals, and informs the general public. Many of the top exercise minds in the industry will be and are intimated involved with the development of the NCES.

The NCES conducts and will soon be introducing a rigorous exercise instructor certification program as well as an exercise facility certification/seal of approval. This seal will come to be recognized as the "Good Housekeeping" seal for the exercise industry. The exercise instructor certification promises to set a new, higher "gold standard" for proper exercise application.

In the coming months a web site will be available, providing more information about the Council. An ‘800’ number will also be established to assist in easy disbursement of information regarding proper exercise along with the aforementioned certification for individuals and facilities. Additionally, an ongoing series of workshops and instructional seminars for health/fitness professionals will be offered, with the first of such offerings slated for late summer 1999.

In the interim, interested parties can obtain a copy of the official National Council for Exercise Standards position and mission letter, and/or ask further questions, by contacting one of the NCES’ officers and directors as listed below:

President / Executive Director - Fred Hahn (212) 579-9320 E-Mail: fhahn@seriousstrength.com

Vice President / Director of Education - Tim Ryan (630) 717-0166 E-Mail: tryan@precisionfitnessinc.com

Public Relations/Marketing Director - Patrick Ziebell (414) 896-6967 E-Mail: evolve@execpc.com

Operations Director - Mike Wolff (847) 931-5057