Nexus 21 Exhibits at CEDIA

We, as well as a few passers-by, fancied our new tradeshow booth at the CEDIA Expo 2007 in Denver. The new 10 x 20 booth featured a skyline backdrop, a window-sill inlay to display the L-27 TV lift, and a red leather sofa to promote the "loft-like" atmosphere (great views with limited space). "2007 has been a big year for Nexus 21; We've changed our logo, brand, website, and launched our first ecommerce site in addition to the tradeshow booth," said Nicole McClain, Nexus 21's Business Development and IT Marketing Manager. "The creation and development was an involved step-by-step process and it was exciting to see the booth shining on display."

The new Nexus 21 tradeshow booth for CEDIA 2007.

"Having the L-27, L-39 and DL-39 all on display were crucial at the show. People were interested in the differences between the lifts, not to mention the sound (what sound?) and simplicity of our TV lifts," said Heather Sanders, Nexus 21's Business Development Manager.

Nicole McClain demonstrating the DL-39 TV lift at CEDIA 2007.

"Sitting on the DL-39 and being lifted up in the air created amazement, laughs and smiles from the crowd," said Nicole. "I can't determine if we heard more buzz about our TV lifts at the show itself or during the after hour events! CEDIA gave us a terrific opportunity to promote the versatility and affordability of our powerful TV lifts - and we did exactly that!"

Nicole McClain and Heather Sanders during a product demonstration.

Nicole McClain and Heather Sanders at CEDIA in Denver.

Thank you to everyone who stopped out to see us! If you are interested in product updates, where we will be next, and what goofy things we are up to, click here to sign up for our newsletter. We'll see you again next year!

Nexus 21 Playing Hard Ball

Work is tough and time consuming. But every now and then we each have a chance to check out a few fun details of the cities we live in or travel to across the country. While Nicole McClain, Nexus 21's Business Development and IT Marketing Manager was in Phoenix, she caught some hot seats at the Diamondbacks game.

Nicole McClain at the Diamondbacks game in Phoenix, Arizona

Even though the Diamondbacks didn't bring home a winner, the seats were unbeatable and so were the pitches caught on film (Gills missed this pitch by the way)!

Diamondbacks fast pitch caught on film!

Black and Colbert talking about the Nexus 21 TV lifts.

Jeff Meskan, CEO of Nexus 21, and Nicole McClain, also flew out to Viva Las Vegas to attend the AWFS show. AWFS is combined the largest exhibition of woodworking hardware and machinery, board and panel products, upholstery material, wood components, supplies, services and new technologies in North America with unmatched networking opportunities and the finest professional educational conference in the industry.

Jeff Meskan at AWFS in Las Vegas.

As a strong supporter of education for the industry, AWFS sponsors the Fresh Wood competition to spotlight outstanding student works being produced at some of the best high school and post-secondary woodworking programs in North America. Nicole McClain picked out her favorite piece, "She's a Brick House." "This is an absolute must have! Can I have all of my bedroom furniture designed with a woman in mind?" said Nicole of the lingerie armoire shaped like a woman's body.

Nexus 21 Jet-Planes to Anaheim for InfoComm

InfoComm is the leading business-to-business marketplace for display, projection, audio, conferencing, lighting and staging, digital signage, Internet streaming and networked presentation and communications systems. More than 28,000 professionals from over 80 countries gathered to explore new products, learn the latest trends and techniques and interact with peers.

Panasonic unveiled its remarkable 103" plasma TV weighing 474 lbs for the bargain price of $69,999.00 with out-of-the-box 1600 x 1200 resolution (drop more cash for 1920 x 1080 resolution). "No one would believe it if I told them. I've seen this size as a projection TV, but not a plasma TV," said Nicole McClain, Business Development Manager and IT Marketing Manager for Nexus 21. "I had to take a picture to back up my story - only I've come home to find it's not on the camera!" To get the scoop on Nicole's Fantasy or Fiction? TV, click here.

Which Way to the Water?

Jeff in the office. Not really, but he does this in the office too.

Jeff Meskan, master scubadiver and avid traveler, is the founder and CEO of Nexus 21. He is responsible for overseeing the design and engineering of Nexus 21’s products as well as managing all aspects of Nexus 21’s operations. "I'm excited about the upcoming year. We've hired a few super creative and energized team members that will enhance Nexus 21 on so many levels. We're also bringing new designs like the Swivel and the L-39 TV lift to market. We will have a complete product line to meet the needs of our customers."

And seeing customers happy is one of Jeff's favorite parts of the business. "I wanted to buy a TV lift for myself and found them to be so expensive and difficult to work with, I thought there had to be a better way. I decided to build an easy-to-install lift system at an affordable price, so you didn't have to be rich to own one. I'm happy to see the positive reaction and feedback from our customers."

Jeff 'schooling fish' on the Nexus 21 TV lift. "Does anyone
here have a TV lift at home?"

As a long time Arizona resident, Jeff enjoys tennis and other outdoor activities. He particularly enjoys traveling with his family to tropical locations that offer water sports, particularly scuba diving. "The sea is an alien environment, like being on another planet. My favorite feeling is moving in 3 dimensions, particularly around caves and tall coral formations. I sometimes imagine myself to be like a bird, flying to a hilltop or diving down to land from high up."

But Jeff is no fish (or bird) out of water when it comes to education and experience. Jeff graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He earned his CPA certificate in Arizona and furthered his educational development by earning an Associates Degree in Information Technology from High Tech Institute in Phoenix.

When Jeff is not designing 21st century concepts or "living down under," he participates as a board member of Phoenix After School Sports (PASS), a charitable organization founded to promote education and opportunities to disadvantaged students through tennis.

Keep the ideas flowing, Jeff!

Who Are These Wonderful People?

Are they from Alice in Wonderland? Is one of them the Mad Hatter in disguise? Guess again! It's the Highway 85 Creative team in uniform at the office!

Highway 85 Creative's team, "Chokehold" founder Guy Zwick,
"Big Fun" creative guru Sean Green and "Always In a Good Mood" Liza Noland.

Highway 85 Creative is Nexus 21's tradeshow exhibit builder. With a philosophy to always be a creative company with culturally relevant ideas, Highway 85 capabilities include graphic design, tradeshow exhibits, large format printing, web design and logistical services.

Highway 85 Creative's drawing board (Leave it to Nicole to notice Starbucks in the picture).

The drawing board for the birth of Highway 85 Creative looked a little different than the one pictured above. Two years ago, on Highway 85 just outside of Ajo, AZ – a breakdown occurred, literally and figuratively. Guy Zwick, the owner and Chief Creative Officer of Highway 85 Creative, found himself with endless hours to sit idly at a service station with a sunburn from the beaches of Mexico and two dogs dramatically panting on their leashes in the 100 degree heat. He decided it was time to go out on his own and do something he’d always dreamed of doing. Thus, Highway 85 Creative was born. And yes, the dogs survived.

Only a few questions remain . . .
1. How many more changes will Nicole and Jeff make to the tradeshow booth?
2. Does Guy's ancient chinese stronghold technique really rejuvenate their endless energy?
3. What do they keep under those hats (besides their huge creative brains)??

The finished tradeshow booth is still kept under wraps for now, but we'll leave you with this comfy red clue. Check back for updates!

ROAD TRIP! Nexus 21 BBQ's with Calise Outdoor Kitchens

We love Phoenix - the sunshine, the blue sky, the cactus. But we also love Las Vegas, and one of Nexus 21's coolest OEM's, Calise Outdoor Kitchens, is located in the heart of the desert.

If you are ready for the outdoor kitchen of your dreams, put Calise Outdoor Kitchens on your speed dial. They are the leader in manufacturing the highest quality outdoor ModularTM cabinets, ModbarTM, stainless steel gourmet grills, integrated stainless steel products and matching accessories. Their patent-pending ModularTM cabinet offers more than 1.9 million possible configurations and every single one of them is made right here in the USA.

The Nexus 21 L-27 TV Lift System is featured inside a Calise "moveable island."

What's even more exciting? We sprayed the TV island down with a hose because the whole system is completely (goofball-with-a-hose) weather resistant inlcuding the TV! Calise uses Mirage Vision televisions which are wireless and weatherproof. The entire outdoor integration of the cabinet, TV lift and TV is a finished product and an outdoor success!

President of Calise Outdoor Kitchens, Bruce Spangrud, teaches Jeff Meskan and
Heather Sanders of Nexus 21 more about Modrock (Nicole McClain learns
from behind the camera lens).

Calise Outdoor Kitchen employee, Luis, polishes one of the Calise Gourmet Grills.

A diligent worker welds in the 144,000 square foot warehouse and manufacturing facility.

The L-27 Lifts Spirits on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

Watch Exteme Home Makeover: Home Edition
Sundays 8/7c on ABC

You heard it right! The Nexus 21 L-27 TV Lift System has turned Hollywood and left all of us star struck!

Nexus 21 has partnered with ABC’s hit television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help improve a deserving Oklahoma family’s life at home.

“I feel privileged and grateful that we are being included in this experience,” said Jeff Meskan, founder and CEO of Nexus 21. “Knowing that we can do anything at all to help ease the strain of day to day life for this family is gratifying.”

The father of the selected family is a veteran of Project Iraqi Freedom. He was discharged from the Army after being injured in Iraq. Nine months ago, he and his family survived a tragic car accident that left him and his 8-year-old son paralyzed, and his youngest daughter suffering from severe organ damage.

The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode featuring Nexus 21’s products will air Sunday, April 22 at 7p.m. on ABC 15.

Nexus 21 Gets "Juiced Up" at EHX!

Thousands of CE Professionals from across the U.S. and around the world came to “get juiced” at EHX in Orlando, Florida. Nearly 350 exhibitors packed the Expo Floor and showcased the coolest products, services and solutions for the CE market - Panasonic, JVC, Polk, Philips, Universal, AVAD, Logitech, Monster and Lifeware just to name a few. A team of Editors from CE Pro magazine was on-hand, providing live news coverage throughout the show. Click here for highlights and analysis posted to The CE Pro Weblog. The complete CE Pro Post-Show Wrap Up will be featured in the May issue of CE Pro magazine.

Left to Right: Nicole McClain, Ray Wright, Jeff Meskan

Nicole McClain and Jeff Meskan of Nexus 21 meet with Ray Wright at EHX in Orlando. Ray Wright is the Executive Director of IPRO, a professional sales representative organization, with key industry affiliations to CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) and CEA (Consumer Electronics Association).

Nicole McClain & Jeff Meskan

Nicole checking out Panasonic's tradeshow booth

Jeff decides to find out where all the hot spots in Orlando are located. Who knew the Crab House would be a winner! The crab, avocado & mango stack turned out be one of Nicole's favorites!

Nexus 21 Featured in Airpark News

In May 2006, Nexus 21 was featured in Airpark News. This article, written by Sarah Laidlaw, is packed with a ton of information about Nexus 21, the unique TV lift systems, and the creators of this quiet, space-saving, must-have device...

Jeff Meskan and Steve Lewine are retirees who met on the tennis courts of Scottsdale Ranch Tennis Club. Between matches they would talk. Meskan says, "Steve was always the idea guy and this idea sounded great." The idea he speaks about is Nexus 21, which Meskan and Lewine started design and development on about one year ago.

Nexus 21, which officially opened its doors in January 2006, is the manufacturer and distributor of a unique flat-screen TV lift system and associated custom cabinets. Lewine says, "We started with a blank piece of paper and have created something that goes far beyond our closest competitor, who has been in business 50 years." The reasoning behind this statement is Nexus 21's technology allows for quieter operation, smaller necessary space and easier installation all at a lower price.

The TV lift itself is designed after those used in the hospital and medical fields, operating smoothly and quietly due to its stable, chain driven system. It can hold up to 180 pounds and up to a 45-inch LCD TV. It uses a double-telescoping quick-rise lift that vertically extends up to 26-and-a-half inches. The software involved in the lift system provides safety precautions, including a slow start and stop and collision control in that it reverses when meeting any unusual pressure. Nexus 21 also provides a five-year warranty, which is unusual in the industry, and are confident. Meskan says, "We tested the device at 30,000 cycles and there was no difference in its performance from the first cycle."

The space necessary for the TV lift can be as small as four-inches-wide and 22-inches-tall. This is due to the unique bracketing system and mechanics of the TV lift, most of which is manufactured locally. Lewine adds, "Everything is manufactured as locally as possible and only the precision mechanism that drives the unit is manufactured outside of the U.S." The small design allows for the TV lift to be placed within its stylish cabinet at the end of a bed, while appearing only as intrusive as an extension of the bed. It can be manuevered around the room and, compared to a wall-mounted TV, does not detract from the room's decor. Beyond that, the experience of watchin a plasma TV located at the foot of a bed as opposed to an adjacent wall has the clear advantage. Lewine explains, "Placing our LCD television cabinet at the foot of the bed would be the physical equivalent of watching a 65-inch screen, mounted 15-feet away. Size is important; it creates cinematic impact." The cabinets themselves may be customized to an individual taste with a variety of hardwoods, finishes and designs to match any decor.

The TV lifts are shipped UPS usually for under $50, and according to Lewine and Meskan, are easily installed. All TV lifts come with everything needed for their installation, right down to a wire management accessory. Beyond that, Nexus 21 offers follow-up customer service for any questions and in-home installation for any television sets purchased through them. Nexus 21 ships its product nationally and it is used beyond the bedroom, including in offices for video conferencing and presentations, in hotels for its sleek look and convenience, and on boats and in RVs as a space saver.

Originally a manufacturer of silk products and a retailer of office furniture by occupation, Lewine and Meskan have tasted retirement and ventured back into entrepreneurship in a new field, and look towards a bright future. They invite people to stop by their showroom, visit their Web site or just call with questions.

To learn more about Nexus 21 or to order your own TV lift system, click here.