Daily Business Report-March 31, 2017
BIO held its international convention in San Diego in 2008 and 2014.
Big Biotechnology Convention
Returns to San Diego in June
The BIO International Convention comes to San Diego June 19-22, bringing more than 16,000 attendees, 1,800 exhibitors and an estimated economic impact of more than $56 million.
Staged at the San Diego Convention Center, the event will include a wide range of San Diego business leaders, academics, government officials and life science advocates. It will be hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
BIO held its international convention in San Diego in 2008 and 2014. The 2014 event drew 15,667 industry leaders, including nearly 2,500 CEOs from 50 states and 70 countries. Local economic impact was estimated at more than $56 million, which is expected to be surpassed in 2017.
“BIO is pleased to return to San Diego, one of the world’s largest and most innovative centers for biotechnology development,” said BIO President and CEO, Jim Greenwood. “This event provides biotech leaders with opportunities to showcase their breakthrough innovations, partner with C-level executives and network with the global biotech industry. We are excited to see that exhibit space is being reserved at a record rate. We look forward to announcing more details over the next two months as the education sessions are finalized and major speakers are selected.”
Convention programming will highlight the work in some of San Diego’s key biotech clusters, which often play a leading role in global innovation. Workshops, panel discussions, exhibits and other events will highlight the latest life sciences advances, including gene editing, stem cells, genomic diagnostics, devices and much more. Featured tracks in oncology, value, big data and digital health will be among the convention’s highlights. In addition, BIO will feature thematic exhibits and presentations, such as the Innovation Zone, Digital Health Zone, Start-Up Stadium and BIO Talent Connect.
San Diego alone boasts hundreds of companies – from startup biotechs to genomics giant Illumina that will participate in BIO 2017. The city is home to many research institutions including Scripps Research Institute, University of California San Diego, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
_____________________
Social Justice Visionaries
To Receive Honors on April 20
Environmental Health Coalition, an organization fighting toxic pollution in San Diego and Tijuana, will recognize three icons of environmental justice at its 2017 Awards Celebration — Leaders United for Justice — on April 20.
This year’s awardees:
-
Keynote Speaker and Spirit of Justice Award: Dolores Huerta
As a civil rights activist and co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, Huerta helped champion the rights of workers in agricultural fields. Her legendary work continues to empower communities to demand equality and social justice.
-
Environmental Justice Champion Award: Georgette Gomez
San Diego City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez grew up in Barrio Logan, where environmental injustices shaped her future in advocacy. Prior to her election to City Council, Gomez served as EHC’s associate director for policy where she spearheaded the effort for a new community plan for Barrio Logan and fought for climate justice.
-
Leadership Empowerment Award: Beatriz Barraza
Barraza was instrumental in developing the “promotora” model for peer-to-peer community health promotion, which Environmental Health Coalition adopted for SALTA, its leadership development program. Twenty years later, SALTA has trained more than 2,500 community members to become leaders for environmental justice in neighborhoods around the world.
The awards program will be held at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20.
Click here to purchase tickets or sponsorships to Leaders United for Justice.
_____________________
Changes Coming for Taxes on
Cigarettes, Electronic Vaping Devices
The cigarette tax rate in California will increase from $0.87 to $2.87 per pack of 20 cigarettes on Saturday. In addition, the distribution of nicotine delivery devices – including electronic cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, and e-hookahs – sold in combination with substances containing nicotine will be subject to the current tobacco products tax rate of 27.30 percent of the wholesale cost of the product.
California voters approved Proposition 56, which increased the excise tax rate on cigarettes and expanded the definition of “tobacco products” to include any type of tobacco, nicotine, little cigars, and electronic cigarettes sold in combination with nicotine.
Nicotine delivery devices sold independently and not in combination with any liquid or substance containing nicotine are not subject to excise tax. This includes any battery, battery charger, carrying case, or any other accessory used in the operation of a nicotine delivery device.
_____________________
Restoring Civility to Civic Dialogue:
Conference Returns April 18-19 at USD
How can we rebuild civility and our sense of common community in the wake of the most divisive election in recent history? That is the question the Institute for Civil Civic Engagement’s is working to address at the sixth annual Conference on Restoring Civility to Civic Dialogue set for April 18 and 19 at the University of San Diego’s Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice.
Mixing panel discussions with workshops on conducting effective civil dialogues and civic engagement, the conference targets community, private sector and government leaders, secondary and post-secondary students, faculty, staff and administrators and all San Diegans interested in discussing and learning strategies to reunite a politically polarized America. The conference is free and open to the public.
This year’s keynote address, A Conversation on Rebuilding Civility in a Divided Nation, is set for April 19 at 9 a.m. and features a discussion with former Republican Congressman Marvin Henry “Mickey” Edwards of Oklahoma’s 5th District and former Democratic Congressman Dan Glickman of Kansas’ 4th District.
Mesa College Professor of Political Science and USD visiting Professor Carl Luna serves as director at the Institute for Civil Civic Engagement.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. both days. For more information and to pre-register, visit www.sandiego.edu/restoringrespect.
_____________________
Personnel Announcements
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Elevates 3 Attorneys to Partner
The Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani law firm has elevated Sean Flaherty, Brook Barnes and Jacob Grillot to partner. The three are based in the firm’s San Diego office.
Sean Flaherty is a member of the Intellectual Property, Business Transactions and Sports, Media and Entertainment Practice groups. Flaherty represents clients in all phases of litigation and has experience handling patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and unfair competition cases.
His industry experience includes internet marketing, apparel manufacturing, sporting equipment, action sports, auto racing, and medical devices.
Brook Barnes is a member of the Employment practice group. He represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation including claims for improper wage deductions, failure to pay wages, failure to pay overtime wages, failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks, misclassification of employees, inaccurate wage statements, commission calculations, wrongful termination, Private Attorney General Act claims, class actions, and retaliatory and discriminatory employment actions.
Jacob Grillot is a member of the Employment Law practice group. He has extensive experience defending private and public entities throughout California in employment litigation including discrimination, harassment, defamation, breach of contract, and wage and hour claims. Additionally, he frequently represents employers in administrative forums including arbitrations, evidentiary hearings, and before state and federal agencies.
_____________________
Best Things to Do This Weekend
EVENTS
Schooner Cup Charity Regatta
April 1. Head to San Diego Bay for the 29th annual Schooner Cup. Eight to 10 schooners will be participating this year, and individuals who want to take part in the action can join Maritime Museum aboard the Californian, one of the boats in the race. Spectators can choose to watch from the San Salvador. $65. 9:45 a.m. 1492 N. Harbor Dr., 619.234.9153. sdmaritime.org
