Daily Business Report — Jan. 21, 2010
Cubic Subsidiary Leads African Program
Cubic Applications Inc., the mission support services subsidiary of Cubic Corp., provide military training and strategic adviser services as a member of the AECOM Corp. team for the Africa Peacekeeping Program (AFRICAP). AECOM is one of four companies to win the five-year AFRICAP contract, which has a maximum value of $375 million per company. AFRICAP is the primary support services contract used by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs. The program establishes an ordering mechanism for selected contractors to provide military training, strategic advisory services, equipment procurement, logistical support services and construction services consistent with U.S. Department of State peacekeeping policies for developing countries in Africa. Under the contract, AECOM will work under the oversight of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs, Office of Regional and Security Affairs and the U.S. Sudan Special Envoy, and in close coordination with the department’s organizational elements. Cubic Applications’ Defense Modernization Division in Kingstowne, Va., is the lead for the new program.
With this latest contract win, Cubic Applications holds three separate contracts related to U.S. efforts to enhance regional security in Africa. In 2009, the subsidiary’s San Diego-based Information Operations Division received a $30 million contract to provide joint training and exercise support to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). Under another contract with AFRICOM, Cubic Applications provides media analysis support to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
Padres to be Regional Sponsor of Torrey Pines Tourney
The San Diego Padres have formed a partnership with the Century Club of San Diego to become a regional sponsor of next week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Padres Vice Chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad made the announcement with Tom Wornham, president and general chairman of the Century Club. The Padres’ new relationship is centered on the tournament’s military events, including sponsorship of the Military Appreciation Pavilion, participation in the Military Luncheon and support of the Military Pro-Am. The Pavilion, located near the 14th green, is a popular free venue for military members attending the tournament and is open only to active duty military and their families.
Proceeds from Padres merchandise sold at the tournament will be donated to the Fisher House, located at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. The Fisher House serves as a home away from home for families who are coping with the medical crisis of a loved one who has served his/her country and have no local accommodations. The Padres Foundation has donated the first $5,000 to this worthwhile facility.
TACNA Acquires Upgrade Auto Products
San Diego-based TACNA International Corp., a manufacturer of automotive trim and other products, has acquired the assets of UpGrade Auto Products, a maker of molded dash kits. Upgrade, based in Rocklin, Calif., will be consolidated into TACNA’s B&I division, which itself was acquired just over one year ago. With the acquisition, B&I has the largest interior trim product offering in the auto aftermarket, the company said. Products now include molded dash kits (over 425 applications), real wood and synthetic flat dash kits (over 3200 applications), combo dash kits, wood and leather-wrapped steering wheels, wood and leather-wrapped grab handles and custom part dipping (hydrographics).
New Managing Director Named at Trigild
Trigild, a property management firm based in San Diego, has named Randy Hulce as managing director for hotels. Hulce has several years of experience as a senior-level executive in the hospitality and restaurant industries. Before joining Trigild, Hulce was CEO/owner of Executive Guidance Inc., focusing on advising lenders and owners regarding hotel performance in operations efficiency, sales and marketing, revenue management, Internet deployment and strategic options for exit or retention strategies. Prior to that, he was vice president/asset management for Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc., a lodging real estate investment trust. Hulce holds a master’s degree from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.
Don Starkey Joins Union Bank as a Vice President
Don W. Starkey has joined Union Bank as a vice president and senior relationship manager for the Corporate Banking Group. He will manage a portfolio of bank clients, develop market strategies, direct new business efforts and form key partnerships within Union Bank. Starkey has nearly 20 years of experience and has held various positions in retail, small business and commercial banking in multiple California markets. Prior to joining Union Bank, he was senior vice president, commercial banking director for Wachovia Bank in San Diego. Starkey also was a senior vice president, group manager at Comerica Bank. Starkey attended California State University, Sacramento. He earned the Cohen Brown Excellence in Sales Leadership award.
Sparling Promotes 3 Staff Members
Sparling announced the promotion of three staff members in its San Diego office. Jeff Hankin was elevated to vice president, market development. Nate Larmore was promoted to principal, technology consulting. Kelly Mamer was promoted to associate principal, electrical engineering. Hankin, who has 20 years in the industry, will lead market development initiatives firm-wide to enhance Sparling’s presence in core markets locally and nationally. Hankin moved to San Diego to open the office in 2007, growing it from four to 11 employees in just over two years. Larmore has more than 12 years in the industry with seven of those at Sparling. He will lead the coordination of teams in San Diego to provide tight and integrated technology design solutions across disciplines. As associate principal, Mamer will continue project and team leadership. He has been in the industry for 18 years.
Journalism Scholars to Speak on the Future of Journalism
Leonard Downie Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post, and Michael Schudson, scholar of journalism at the Columbia School of Journalism, will speak on “The Reconstruction of American Journalism” at a Feb. 12 program presented by the Helen Edison Lecture Series. It will be at 5 p.m. in the Copley Auditorium at the UCSD Institute of the Americas. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required. The United States must preserve independent, original, credible reporting, whether or not it is profitable, and regardless of the medium, according to Downie and Schudson. Downie and Schudson will assert that
American society must now take some collective responsibility for supporting news reporting — as society has, at much greater expense, for public education, health care, scientific advancement and cultural preservation, through varying combinations of philanthropy, subsidy and government policy. They say it may not be essential to save or promote any particular news medium, including print newspapers.
Downie stepped down last year after 17 years as executive editor of The Washington Post, during which time the paper won 25 Pulitzer Prizes, to become a professor of journalism at Arizona State University. Schudson, a MacArthur fellow, is the author of “Discovering the News,” “The Good Citizen” and “Why Democracies Need an Unlovable Press.”
BRE Commercial Becomes Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial
BRE Commercial in San Diego, formerly a Grubb & Ellis affiliate, announced that the company has officially changed its name to Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial. The immediate change reflects a move-up from the original March 1 launch date of the rebranding efforts the company announced earlier this month. “After reviewing our launch plan, BRE Commercial determined that it was in the best interest of our clients to accelerate our transition to the new Cassidy Turley platform, including the immediate conversion of over 2,000 property signs and marketing materials,” said John Frager, president and CEO.
Real Estate Sales
• A 52,425 square foot building located at 9888 Carroll Centre Road sold for $4.2 million. The seller was COMPS Plaza Associates and the buyer was Jutland Investments LLC. The seller was represented by John Gross and Gary Williams of Colliers International and the buyer was represented by Jeff Solomon of Major League Properties.
• A 26,054-square-foot building sold for $2.8 million at Raceway Point, formerly The Opus Point project in the Carlsbad Raceway Business Park.
The seller was Bank of the West and the buyer was San Diego Sign Co. Bank of the West was represented by Chuck McNary and Erik McNary of Colliers International and the buyer was represented by Todd Davis of Grubb and Ellis.
Workshop on Enterprise Zones Set for Friday
South County Economic Development Council will host an enterprise zone workshop on Friday (Jan. 22) with presentations by the state Franchise Tax Board and the IRS to give information on enterprise zone tax credits. Attendees also will receive business law updates and learn how businesses qualify and claim these credits. The workshop will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the South County Regional Education Center, 800 National City Blvd., National City. Lila Fedler of the Franchise Tax Board and Katie Williams of the IRS will be the presenters. There is no admission. For more information, call Cindy Gompper-Graves at (619) 424-5143.
State of the County Address Set for Feb. 10
Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price will deliver her State of the County address Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall, 5775 Morehouse Drive, in San Diego. For reservations, call (619) 531-5732.
Jewish Foundation Establishes Price Charitable Fund
The Jewish Community Foundation has established the Helen and Sol Price Charitable Fund to honor the memory of Sol Price. Price was the founder of the Price Club, which later merged into Costco. “Helen and Sol’s legacy will live on through the thousands of lives they improved,” said Marjory Kaplan, president and CEO of the foundation. “The foundation is very honored to hold this fund as a perpetual reminder of their generosity and kindness.”
Federal Contract Awards
• Patricia I. Romero Inc. in National City won a $556,302.02 federal contract from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, San Diego, for the installation of efficient boilers and water heaters under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Place of performance will be at Camp Pendleton. (Source: Targeted News Service)
Business Datebook
Jan. 21
LUNCHEON: Lawyers Club of San Diego monthly luncheon, noon to 1:15 p.m., Bristol Hotel, 1055 First Ave., Downtown San Diego. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. Members $25. Nonmembers $30. Make reservations to rsvp@lawyersclubsandiego.com.
LUNCHEON: Annual installation luncheon of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. 11:30 a.m. check-in, program at noon, Hard Rock Hotel, Downtown San Diego. For information, call Sheri Snead, (619) 234-0201 or e-mail her at ssnead@downtownsandiego.org.
WORKSHOP: Presentation workshop sponsored by BIOCOM, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at BIOCOM, 4510 Executive Drive Plaza 7, San Diego. Provides opportunity for practice, feedback, videotaping and one-on-one coaching for each participant. Each participant will present three times, be videotaped and receive group and one-on-one feedback. For information, call Kristie Grover, (858) 455-0300.
PANEL TALK: Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 hosts a breakfast dialogue, “Are the Tides Turning on Equity and Environmental Justice in San Diego Planning?” Harborside Room, Holiday Inn Embarcadero, 1355 North Harbor Drive, Downtown San Diego. Registration 7:30 a.m. Program runs from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Cost for the continental breakfast and program is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Cost at the door is $35 for all. Student admission is $10. For reservations, call (619) 232-7196.
Jan. 26
WORKSHOP: “Unlocking the Secrets: The Art of Giving a Presentation,” a training course sponsored by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. 8 to 9:30 a.m., San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, 402 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego. Learn how to show off what you do and share what makes your business, product or service unique. For more information, call (619) 544-1382.
Jan. 27
WORKSHOP: The San Diego chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators holds a special workshop/learning session on “The New Rules of Engagement: How Communicators Shape Leaders’ Thoughts and Actions.” Speaker is Mark Schumann, principal of Towers Perrin and 2008-09 chair of the IABC. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., learning session and lunch; 1 to 2 p.m., roundtable workshop. Doubletree Hotel San Diego/Mission Valley, 7450 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego. Register by Jan. 21 and its $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers. Register afterwards, its $50 and $60, respectively.
Jan. 29
CONFERENCE: The Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s 14th annual Real Estate Conference will feature real estate icon Sam Zell. Panels will discuss “The Shape of Things to Come: Capital Markets” and “The Shape of Things to Come: REITS, Retail, Development and Loan Workouts.” 7:30 a.m. to noon, Hilton San Diego Bayfront. To register, visit sandiego.edu/bmcevent. For more information, call Diane Gustafson at (619) 260-2379.
Feb. 3
ANNUAL DINNER: The 139th annual dinner of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, 5-8 p.m., Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, Grand Exhibit Hall. $150 individual registration. Highlights include induction of the 2010 chairman of the board, Tom Wornham of Wells Fargo, and the board of directors, and presentations of the Spirit of San Diego, Courageous Leadership and Regional Unity awards. For more information, call Katie at (619) 544-1370.
Feb. 4
FORUM: San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will discuss past, present and future city government reforms that will shape the region in NAIOP San Diego’s fourth annual Breakfast with the Mayor program. (Rescheduled from Jan. 19). Marriott San Diego/Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego. Registration at 7:30 a.m., program runs from 8 to 9:15 a.m. $40 for members, $60 for nonmembers. Attendees may pay online at naiopsd.org. NAOP San Diego is a chapter of the Real Estate Development Association. For more information, call Karen Burgess at (858) 509-4110.
Feb. 5
MEET THE LEADERS: Vista Chamber of Commerce host reception and dinner featuring talks by Congressman Darrell Issa, Assemblyman Martin Garrick and county Supervisor Bill Horn. 6:30 to 9:15 p.m., Shadowridge Country Club, 1980 Gateway Drive, Vista. Tickets are $125 per person. Contact the Vista Chamber of Commerce at (760) 726-1122.
Feb. 16
CELEBRATION: The Asian Business Association of San Diego holds its 16th annual Lunar New Year Celebration featuring Lucky Lion Dancers, a casino night with prizes and Chinese cuisine. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., dinner from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., no-host bar, Fat City Steakhouse/China Camp Restaurant, 2137 Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego. Cost: before Feb. 16, $30 to ABA members, $35 for nonmembers; at the door, $40 members and nonmembers. Register online at abasd.org. For more information, call (858) 277-2822.
Feb. 24
DIGITAL FORUM: A forum on social media marketing will feature social media strategist and coach Jason Baer, who will lead a panel discussion on the topic. Sponsored by LEAD San Diego and Bailey Gardiner. 7:30 a.m., continential breakfast and networking; 8 a.m., presentation by Baer; 8:45 a.m., panel discussion. USD’s Joan B. Kroc Theatre, San Diego. $20 general admission, $15 for LEAD San Diego members. For more information, call (619) 280-5323.
Feb. 27
WORKSHOP: The San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers sponsors a “Day with Designers,” a public workshop to provide information on practical interior design basics and how to select an interior designer, among other tips. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Art Institute, 7650 Mission Valley Road, San Diego. Advanced tickets available for $35 by visiting ASIDSanDiego.org. Tickets at the door are $45. For more information, call (858) 646-9896.
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan magazine and the North Park News. (619) 906-4104.
