Green Contributions

Checon Cycles its Way to Lean n’ Green

North Attleboro, MA – September 30, 2008

Checon Corporation has taken to the road these days with a Lean n’ Green cycling program. What started as a suggestion in a monthly “reduce, reuse and recycle” committee meeting has turned into a daily event where employees cycle their way to relax, restore and even run errands on company break times. Some of the cyclists bring their own bikes but most take their ride on Checon owned bikes, purchased for the express purpose of encouraging fitness, reducing carbon emissions, and tackling the rising cost of gasoline.

Mike Garcia, Facility Manager for Checon’s manufacturing site headquartered in the North Attleboro Industrial Park, is the original author of the “use a bike at work today”, the latest addition to Checon’s company wide plan to become both lean and green. “While we’ve tried in the past to encourage such programs as Ride Your Bike to Work Today and Share a Ride, we find that too many of our employees live too far from the facility and each other to take advantage of them, ” said Mike. “This way, employees can reduce their fuel consumption for daily errands and trips to the fitness center, while at the same time reap the benefits from riding a bike.”

“The benefits are far more than you realize,” said Anne Smith, Checon’s Customer Liaison. “I ride as often as I can during lunch just to enjoy the outdoors and explore some of the neighborhoods around North Attleboro.”

Pam Brown, a Customer Service Representative for Checon, and one of the program’s biggest advocates, rides for many of the same reasons as her colleague. “It is a terrific way to get some exercise, de-stress, and recharge for the afternoon,” said Pam. “My husband and I are avid weekend riders and we are always looking for time to do more biking. I never dreamed I would find it at work without the hassle of dragging my own bike around,” she added.

While the program has only been in action for less than a month, its success has resulted in the creation of an on-line reservation calendar, the addition of more bikes, and the creation of an Internet bike group at MapMyRide.com with local routes and times already mapped out for daily rides.

“We are so excited by the involvement and support that we have seen with this program,” said Allen Conaway, Checon’s President and CEO. “Employees from the production floor and office have been equally enthusiastic, as were the owners of Sirois Bicycle Shop in North Attleboro, who helped specify the most appropriate bikes for around town riding,” he added. “We hope that our example may encourage other businesses and individuals to choose an alternative means of transportation when possible. There are so many walkers who work in this park, it will only be a matter of time before cars will make way for an expanded bike lane.”

For more information about Checon’s Lean n’ Green Cycling program, contact Mike Garcia at 508/809-5100.