Daily Business Report, Sept. 16, 2009

Economic Summit set for Friday

The South County Economic Development Council will host its 19th annual Economic Summit Friday (Sept. 18) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center (Rooms 33 and 20D). The breakfast keynote speaker is Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Other speakers will include Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Macy’s Inc.; Congressman Bob Filner; Assemblywoman Mary Salas; Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. The morning session will be followed by a luncheon, awards ceremony, a panel discussion and presentations. The focus of the summit will be on issues affecting economic progress and regional development in the South County and border regions.

A panel discussion on “The Future of Our Bi-National Region” will feature Filner, Salas, Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, National City Mayor Ron Morrison, Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney, Ensenada Mayor Pablo Alejo Lopez Nuñez, Mexicali Mayor Rodolfo Valdez Gutierrez, Rosarito Councilmember Crosthwaite Reyes and Tecate Mayor Donaldo Peñalosa.

SCORE San Diego’s Small business workshops

SCORE San Diego continues its series of low-cost workshops for the remainder of the month. Workshop fees range from $29 to $109, depending on the program. Topics include: developing a business plan, starting and operating a business, getting financing for abusiness and basic business accounting.

Upcoming workshops:

• Sept. 18 — Women’s Networking Breakfast — 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha De Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by Sept. 15, $45 thereafter).

• Sept. 19 — How to Start and Manage Your Own Business — 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Sept. 22 — Internet Marketing 201: Build Your Business Through Search Engine Optimization — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Sept. 24 — Import/Export Basics — 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Sept. 26 — Business Plan 201: Write a Winning Business Plan — 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

• Sept. 29 — Business Plan II for Nonprofits: Organizational Design and Your Financial Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at San Diego Foundation —Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).

Free career workshop offered by University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix will host a free career strategies workshop on Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kearny Mesa Learning Center, 3890 Murphy Canyon Road, in San Diego. The workshop is free to current UOP students and the public-at-large. Career expert and University of Phoenix faculty member Tony Vianna will run the workshop. Vianna is the author of “Career Management and the Employee Portfolio Tool Kit, 2ndEdition” and co-author of “Leader Champions: Secrets of Success.” He has more than 30 years of human resources experience and is currently the head area chair for the John Sperling School of Business at the University of Phoenix. To register, call (858) 650-4655.

Study: Green building workers more productive

Employees who work in green buildings are more productive than their counterparts who work in non-green buildings, according to a study by researchers at UCSD’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and CB Richard Ellis. Green buildings were defined as those that are LEED-certified at any level or those that bear the Energy Star label. In the study, researchers Norm Miller, academic director at the Burnham-Moores Center, and David Pogue, national director of sustainability at CBRE, surveyed 154 green buildings nationwide containing over 2,000 tenants, 534 of which participated in the study. The study is the largest of its kind; a 2003 study looked at productivity levels in just 33 green buildings.

Miller and Pogue used two measurements of productivity: sick days and the self-reported productivity percentage change after moving into a new building. Forty-five percent of respondents reported that they had experienced an average of 2.88 fewer sick days at their new, green office location vs. their previous non-green office location. An equal amount noted no effect, while 10 percent reported more sick days. The 10 percent that reported more sick days were residents of Energy Star-labeled, not LEED-certified buildings. Unlike LEED buildings, Energy Star buildings do not have air quality requirements.

Based on the average salary of the tenants, an office space of 250 square feet per worker and 250 workdays a year, the 2.88 fewer sick days translate into a net impact of $4.91 per employee, according to the authors. “Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity,” says Miller. “If you consider the benefits in terms of recruitment, retention of employees, less sick time and greater productivity, tenants should be willing to pay more rent for such space or require steep discounts for less healthy space.”

CCDC to honor Frank Alessi

Centre City Development Corp.’s board of directors will honor Frank Alessi with a Directors’ Award during today’s board meeting at 1 p.m. at CCDC offices Downtown. Alessi will be recognized for more than 30 years of service and commitment to Downtown’s redevelopment. “Frank has been instrumental in the revitalization of Downtown San Diego,” said CCDC Chairman and CEO Fred Maas.  “He has been directly involved in the development of major projects, including Horton Plaza, the Convention Center and Petco Park. He has been a catalyst in the transformation of what is now a thriving urban environment.” Alessi joined CCDC in June 1979 as director of finance. CCDC says he has helped produce 30 years of clean financial audits despite the economic downturn and has worked on issuing 36 tax-exempt and taxable bonds totaling $857 million, the primary public funding source for Downtown redevelopment. He was also highly involved with the 1992 merger and expansion of the Downtown project areas.  Alessi is a member of Lambda Alpha International, the Urban Land Institute and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and is currently serving his second term on the city of San Diego’s Parking Advisory Board.

SDSU offers new green courses

SDSU’s College of Extended Studies has three certificate programs designed to provide students with real-world skills and knowledge that could land them a job in today’s green industries. Courses in the certificate programs, which are held online, are set to begin this month. All three programs are approved by the San Diego Workforce Partnership and the Military Spouse program for financial aid for those who qualify. To find out about qualifying, visit the Website at www.sandiegoatwork.com.

Following is the fall schedule:

Professional Certificate in Green Energy Management Online

• Introduction to Renewable Energy (Sept. 21-Nov. 22; Registration deadline: Sept. 28). The instructors are Dawn Parker-Waites and Kathleen Connell from San Diego Loves Green.

• Converting to Renewable Energy (Oct. 5-Dec. 6; Registration deadline: Oct. 12). The instructor for this course is David Voss from Solar Turbines.

Professional Certificate in Sustainable Practices Online

• Overview of Sustainability (Sept. 21-Nov. 1; Registration deadline: Sept. 28). The instructor is Jacques Chirazi from the City of San Diego Cleantech program.

• Green Solutions for the Home (Oct. 5-Nov. 15; Registration deadline: Oct. 12). The instructor is Jennifer Owens from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Professional Certificate in Green Building Construction Online

• Building Green Buildings – The Contractor’s Perspective (Sept. 14-Nov. 21; Registration deadline: Sept. 21).

• Construction Materials and Processes (Sept. 14-Nov. 21; Registration deadline: Sept. 21).

• Fundamentals of Green Building Design and Construction (Sept. 14-Nov. 21; Registration deadline: Sept. 21).

• LEED for New Construction – Applying the Guidelines (Sept. 14-Nov. 21; Registration deadline: Sept. 21).

For more information, call (619) 594-3946.

Veterans Village San Diego Open House

Veterans Village of San Diego has completed the construction of Phase Two of its rehabilitation center for homeless military veterans suffering from chemical dependency or mental health issues. An open house was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the site, 4141 Pacific Highway, San Diego, with appearances by Mayor Jerry Sanders, Assemblywoman Mary Salas, Councilwoman Marti Emerald and Phil Landis, president and CEO of Veterans Village. Construction on Phase Three, the final phase of the estimated $26 million project, began in July. This phase of the development will add 96 transitional beds, 125 parking spaces and a storage warehouse. Phase Two added 112 early treatment beds, a medical facility, employment center and administration building. The facility offers a state-licensed alcohol and drug treatment center. Sandy Borum, a program graduate, is now director of development for Veterans Village and part of the organization’s executive staff. Borum is currently working on a graduate degree in organizational management.

Federal contracts awarded to San Diego County companies

• SkillStorm Inc., DBA SGIS in San Diego, won a $450,000,000 federal contract from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., for space and missile defense initiative support.

• MDF Technologies Inc. in Encinitas won a $62,217 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Center, Richmond, Va., for fluid filter bodies.

(Source: Targeted News Service: www.targetednews.com)

SAIC wins $18 million contract

Science Applications International Corp. has been awarded a contract by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to develop and deliver low band universal communications system transmit terminal equipment for the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Office of Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. The contract has a two-year base period of performance, with additional options through 2014, and a total value of more than $18 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily in San Diego.

Staples signs $2.3 million lease renewal

Staples has signed a 72-month, $2,327,454 lease renewal for 24,238 square feet of retail space at Hawthorne Crossings, a 140,796-square-foot shopping center located at the southwest corner of Kearny Mesa Road and Armour Street in San Diego. The lessor, American Fund US Investments LP, was represented by John Jennings and Aaron Hill of Cushman & Wakefield. The lessee was represented by Ron Pepper of Retail Insite. Other tenants at Hawthorne Crossings include Ross, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Aaron Brothers, Trek Bicycle Superstore and Calico Corners.

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