Daily Business Report — Jan. 26, 2010

Interstate 15 Corridor to Get Smart Systems

The federal government has chosen the Interstate 15 corridor as one of two national demonstration projects to receive funding for smart systems that will integrate traffic management techniques in order to fight traffic congestion. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $8.7 million in funds to a partnership that includes SANDAG, the California Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transit System, the North County Transit District and the cities of San Diego, Escondido, and Poway. SANDAG will contribute the remaining $2.1 million to the $10.8 million project. “I-15 is already one of the smartest freeway corridors in the world, and it’s about to get smarter,” SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos said. “Our partnership will use these funds to deploy technology that will upgrade and integrate our traffic management systems — improving the flow on the freeway and nearby surface streets.”

The project will deploy Intelligent Transportation Systems along I-15 to enable “smart” traffic management that will combine road sensors, prediction and simulation tools, and traveler information to take steps to reduce congestion. It will deliver information to commuters via the Internet and message signs, enabling managers to adjust traffic signals and ramp meters, as well as directing travelers to HOV lanes, HOT lanes, bus rapid transit, and other options. The project’s “smart brain” technology (multi-modal decision support system) will predict problems on the freeway and nearby arterials and propose recommended strategies to address them.

Interior Design Work Finished for Thomas Jefferson School of Law

ID Studios of Solana Beach has completed the interior design and furniture fixtures and equipment for Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s new campus in the East Village area of Downtown San Diego. The new eight-story law school is currently under construction. The interior design includes green features that the school believes will qualify it for a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold rating. Several fossils, including thouse of a 200,000-year-old mammoth and a 400,000-year-old gray whale were found during the excavation of the law school site at 1155 Island Ave.

The new campus will include two floors of classrooms and a student lounge, two floors of law library space, distant learning studios, a moot courtroom, more than 45 faculty offices, a board room and faculty/staff lounge, a floor devoted to student support services, two outdoor terraces and, on the ground floor, a law clinic, café and bookstore. The school is to be finished in December. Classes will start in January 2011.

Members of the ID Studios design team are Deborah Elliott, design principal; Lorraine Morgan, project manager; Andrew Fordham, senior designer; Tracy Morran, senior designer; and Mary Nelson, designer.

Get Connected Business Expo on Feb. 9

Joyce Hyam, a San Diego business trainer and coach, and Nancy Rapp, a local business owner, will host the Get Connected Business Expo in Del Mar on Feb. 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. The free event will be held at the Del Mar Hilton, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd. The Expo is intended for business owners and executives. The Expo will provide networking opportunities and exhibitor tables to catalyze business-to-business contacts. Two interactive presentations using accelerated learning techniques will take place at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, call Hyam at (858) 794-0675.

Executive Briefing Set for Feb. 5

Corey Rosen, executive director and founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership, will be the featured presenter at the Feb. 5 Employee Ownership Executive Briefing at the Beyster Institute in UCSD’s Rady School of Management. Rosen will review current research and opinions on whether broad-based employee ownership works for employees, companies and society. To learn more or to register for the program, visit http://rady.ucsd.edu/beyster/events.  The event is free of charge, but registration is required because of limited space.

Red Door Interactive Announces New Hires

Red Door Interactive announced the hiring of several new employees as the result of continued growth. The company estimates revenues increased by 40 percent last year over 2008 despite the impact the recession had on similar agencies. Chelsea Bakewell was named marketing communications coordinator. She worked most recently for Barney and Barney in helping to plan and execute its 100th year anniversary gala. Sarah Carr was hired as project manager. She has experience working in media at Digitas LLC in Boston and most recently as a junior integrated producer at the Crispin Porter + Bogusky ad agency’s Boulder, Colo., offices. Jessica Hill joined the company as business coordinator. She has had several marketing and agency internships, including NBC/GE Telemundo, and is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Stephanie Shortsleeve was hired as business manager. She comes to Red Door from the San Diego-based advertising agency Greenhaus, where she worked in client services. Other recent hires that occurred last fall include Renee Brown, media planner and Gema Terrones, experience planner.

Madrigal Joins Silvergate Bank

Terrece Madrigal, a 20-year veteran of the banking industry, has joined Silvergate Bank as vice president for commercial lending in its La Jolla headquarters. Madrigal was most recently vice president and community lending manager for San Diego National Bank.

Sbicca Restaurant Promotes Bryan Graham to Executive Chef

Sbicca Restaurant in Del Mar has promoted Bryan Graham, former chef de cuisine, to executive chef. Sbicca co-founder and chef Susan Sbicca has decided to pursue culinary interests outside the restaurant, including writing her first cookbook. She will continue to have creative input on menu development. Graham has worked at eateries from the East Coast to the mountain states, including the famous Black Dog Tavern in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., Hilton Hotels in Boston and Excelsior Café in Telluride, Colo. He studied at the Smith Vocational High School for Culinary Arts at the age of 14 and earned his culinary arts degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2003. In 2005 he began teaching at Putnam Vocational High School.

Federal Contract Awards

• Tapp Management Group LLC of Chula Vista won a $62,779 federal contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Seaside, Calif., for multi-year custodial services for the Van Deman Hall. Place of performance will be in San Diego.

• Sonabend Co. in San Diego won a $8,727,180 federal contract from the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton for military uniform alteration services.

• ABC Metals Inc. in San Diego won a $25,625 federal contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command, San Diego, for aluminum sheets and plates.

• Priority Suites LLC in San Diego won a $232,500 federal contract from the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Va., for the lease of fully furnished corporate apartments. Place of performance will be in San Diego.

• Pacific Maritime Industries in Chula Vista won a $142,000 federal contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command, Bremerton, Wash., for metal habitability furnishings.

• BAE Systems National Security Solution in San Diego won a $31,005 federal contract from the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for instruments and laboratory equipment. (Source: Targeted News Service)

• Science Applications International Corp. has been awarded a task order by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to provide system performance management services for the Military Health System Tri-Service Infrastructure Management Program Office. The follow on task order has a one year base period of performance, four one-year options and total value of more than $16 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily in Falls Church, Va., San Diego and San Antonio.

SBA Loans Increase in the First Quarter

Capital provided to San Diego and Imperial County small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s loan guaranty programs during the first quarter of 2010 surpassed the same period a year ago in both loan numbers and dollar amounts, the agency reported. Total loan dollars increased to $70 million from $45 million a year ago, a 56 percent increase. A total of 143 loans were approved during the three-month period this year, compared to 123 for the same period last year, a 16 percent increase in the number of loans. “The newly unemployed often find self-employment or entrepreneurship a viable option. In turn, the SBA becomes a likely resource for financing as well as counseling,” said San Diego SBA Director Ruben Garcia. He pointed to two reasons why loan volume is on the rise. The first is that the SBA received $730 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help unlock the small business lending market and to get capital flowing again to America’s small businesses. This allowed SBA to eliminate and reduce fees for borrowers on loans and to increase the guaranty to lenders from 75-85 percent up to 90 percent, thereby reducing their risk. “The other reason is economic,” Garcia said. “The newly unemployed often find self-employment or entrepreneurship a viable option. In turn, the SBA becomes a likely resource for financing as well as counseling.”

February Small Business Workshops

SCORE San Diego announces a full schedule of small business workshops for February.  Workshop fees range from $29 to $109, depending on the program. Upcoming workshops:

• Feb. 2 – Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales Through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Feb. 3 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Feb. 4 – Restaurant 201: How to Survive and Thrive in Today’s Economy – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Feb. 5 – Intellectual Property: Promise and Practicalities – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Feb. 6 – Internet Marketing 302: Develop a Winning E–mail Marketing Success Strategy – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Feb. 8 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – Carlsbad – 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

• Feb. 9 – Import/Export – 9 a.m. to 4 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).

• Feb. 9 – How to Start a Nonprofit Organization – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• Feb. 10 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 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 $79, $89 at the door).

• Feb. 10 – QuickBooks Basic – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Feb. 11 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Feb. 11 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Feb. 12 – Repeat Customers: The Key to Business Success – 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).

• Feb. 16 – How to Start & 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).

• Feb. 17 – Financing Your Business – Carlsbad – 9:30 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Rd., Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Feb. 18 – QuickBooks Basic for Nonprofits – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Feb. 19 – Legal Issues for Small Business: Organizational Structure – 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).

• Feb. 19 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road., Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Feb. 20 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 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).

• Feb. 23 – Internet Marketing 303: Social Media for Small Businesses – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Feb. 24 – Business Plan 201: How to 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).

• Feb. 25 – Marketing & Contracting with the Federal Government – 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).

• Feb. 26 – Insurance – What You Need to Know – 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).

• Feb. 27 – Small Business Marketing – Basics for Promoting Your Business – 9 a.m. to 4 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).

Business Datebook

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. 10

PANEL: The San Diego Press Club presents a panel talk on “WriterPalooza: 50 Tips in 50 Minutesw to Boost Your Writing Business,” aimed at professional and aspiring writers and editors. 6 p.m. at KGTV/10, 4600 Air Way, San Diego. Panelists: Dennis Morgigno, Channel 4 San Diego; Kimberly Edwards, formerly of KGTV/10; Lee Swanson, former broadcaster; and Jan Rieger, McLane Rieger Communications. Free for Press Club members, $10 for nonmembers. RSVP to: sdpressclub@cox.net.

SHOWCASE: CleanTECH San Diego and the US Renewables Group present the CleanTECH Showcase, which explores opportunities in the wind-power industry. Keynote presentation by Jim McDermott, managing partner, US Renewables. Registration 4 p.m., keynote 6 p.m., panel 6:40 p.m. La Jolla Marriott. $10 for students, $30 for CleanTECH members, $45 for others. RSVP at: http://ctsd.eventbrite.com.

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. 18

ROUNDTABLE: Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, will speak on “Predicting the Present with Google Trends” at the Economics Roundtable, 7:30 a.m., UCSD Faculty Club. Admission is $50 per person, includes continental breakfast and parking. For more information and registration, call (858) 822-0510.

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.