Daily Business Report — Jan. 31, 2010

Groundbreaking Today for New Emergency and Trauma Center

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. today for the Conrad Prebys Emergency and Trauma Center at Scripps Mercy Hospital, named after the local developer and philanthropist. Construction of the center at 4077 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest is expected to be completed by early 2013. It is part of an estimated $200 million hospital modernization and expansion project, which

includes a $50 million campaign for community support. In 2006, Prebys made a $10 million gift, the largest philanthropic donation in the nonprofit hospital’s 120-year history, to help fund the expansion of emergency and trauma services. Through his donation, and continued philanthropic support from the community, the new emergency department and trauma center will double the square footage of the existing facility, with 43 beds and three trauma bays. Scripps Mercy Hospital operates one of the busiest emergency departments in San Diego with more than 51,000 emergency room visits each year. In addition, Scripps Mercy’s designated Level I trauma center treats more than 2,500 patients annually – the most in the county.

Ocean View Corporate Center Sold for $17 Million

Mississippi-based EastGroup Properties has acquired the Ocean View Corporate Center in San Diego for a purchase price of $17 million. Located in the Otay Mesa submarket, Ocean View contains 274,000 square feet in three, multi-tenant business distribution industrial buildings. Constructed in 2005, the complex is 87 percent leased to 14 customers. Ocean View is projected to generate an annualized yield of 9.6 percent at its current occupancy and rents. “This acquisition, which is at a price 20-25 percent below replacement cost, increases our ownership in the south San Diego market to 465,000 square feet,” said David Hoster II, president and CEO of EastGroup. “Ocean View represents our fourth purchase in the last nine months and brings our total of newly invested capital to approximately $40 million over that period. We continue to seek additional investment opportunities.”

Asian Heritage Society to Honor Tom Hom

For more than a generation, Tom Hom has put his mark on San Diego, from the Chinese Historical Museum to the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park to the halls of city government. One of the city’s most influential Asian Americans, Hom will be honored at the July 10 Asian Heritage Awards sponsored by the Asian Heritage Society. The program will be held aboard the USS Midway Museum Downtown. The awards also will honor achievement in 14 categories ranging from education to community service. Other categories include art and literature, business enterprise, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, government, health and medicine, humanitarian outreach, innovation and technology, legal affairs, media, military and performing arts. The event will also feature entertainment representative of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese cultures.

Hom was the first Asian elected to the San Diego City Council and the first Asian from San Diego to serve in the state Assembly. Hom ran successfully for the City Council in 1963. He was re-elected four years later with 87 percent of the vote in what was then a citywide election. To this day, it remains the largest plurality in the city’s history and paved the way for other minorities to run for government offices in San Diego. He was elected to the Assembly in 1968.

“The USS Midway is the appropriate venue for this event because of its historical connection to Asia,” according to the Asian Heritage Society. “The carrier began its service off the coast of Japan at the close of World War II and served during the Korean War as well as Vietnam.”

For more information, call (619) 521-8008.

Cooley Godward Kronish Attorney Elevated to Partner

Charles S. Kim and John S. Kyle, attorneys with the San Diego office of Cooley Godward Kronish, have been elected partners of the firm. Kim is in the business department and is a member of the public offerings and debt securities transactions practice groups. He joined the firm in 2003. Previously Kim was a corporate associate at Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP in New York, where he represented both issuers and investment banking firms in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt, and commercial banks in syndicated financings.

 He received a J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 2000, where he was named a McKay Scholar.  He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1994.
 Kyle

is in the intellectual property litigation practice group. He joined the firm in 2006. Prior to joining the firm, Kyle was an associate at Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch in the intellectual property and litigation practice groups. He received his J.D. from the University of San Diego in 1998, where he was chairman of the Appellate Moot Court Board and was admitted to The Order of Barristers.  He received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1987.

Southern California Open Names Director of Operations

Mary Jane Schovaers has joined the Southern California Open as the director of sponsorship and operations. Formerly known as the Acura Classic, the professional women’s tennis tournament is returning to La Costa Resort and Spa from July 31 through Aug. 8 after a two-year absence. Schovaers spent 13 years as the director of sales and marketing for the Acura Classic. Prior to that she worked as an account manager for Carlsbad-based CAT Sports, producer of the Bud Light United States Triathlon Series and the NFL Quarterback Challenge.

Chief Technology Officer Named at Solekai Systems

Solekai Systems Corp. has named Marco Thompson as its new chief technology officer. Thompson has 30 years of engineering services management experience. In 1984, he founded Doctor Design, an embedded engineering services firm that contracted for such companies as AMD, Intel, Samsung, Mitsubishi, DIRECTV, Philips, Thomson, Sony and IBM. Thompson would later sell the $50 million firm to Integrated Systems, which merged with Wind River in 2000, and then merged with Intel in 2009.  Thompson stayed with the firm for 25 years before departing in November 2009. Prior to joining Solekai, Thompson co-founded and ran CommNexus San Diego, (formerly San Diego Telecom Council) a nonprofit network of communications, government and defense industry companies. Thompson also is a managing partner at Express Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm that has funded eight San Diego companies. He is the founder and vice chairman of Connect Sport and Entertainment Innovators and is the vice chair of the board of CONNECT, San Diego’s startup assistance organization.

Tina Malott Named Vice President of Marston + Marston

Marston + Marston Inc. has appointed Tina Malott vice president of the firm.  Malott will be responsible for overseeing major client initiatives, developing communication strategies and managing internal performance. Since joining M+M in 2007, Malott has served as account manager, leading many of the firm’s communication efforts for clients including joint venture Gilbane/SGI for Sweetwater Union High School District’s $644 million bond program, Prop O. Malott also oversees communication and outreach efforts for Otay Water District, Associated General Contractors of America-San Diego chapter, and Prop X, a $54.9 million construction bond program for the South Bay Union School District. Prior to joining M+M, Malott spent three years as the public relations and marketing communications coordinator for Hawthorne Machinery Co. A San Diego native, she earned her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. She is pursuing a master’s degree, also from San Diego State.

SDSU Offers Information Session on Certificate Programs

SDSU’s College of Extended Studies will host a free information session on Feb. 19 for its Lean Enterprise and Lean Six Sigma certificate programs. The event is at 10:30 a.m. at the SDSU Extended Studies Center, 5701 Hardy Ave. Attendees will learn to understand the basics of Lean Enterprise and Lean Six Sigma and how each program can help their organization. Instructors will be present to answer questions about the programs and help determine which Lean program best fits within a particular organization. To register for the information session and obtain a parking permit, call (619) 594-1138. The Lean Enterprise certificate program utilizes simulations, projects and presentations to create practical hands-on learning that is relevant to the workplace and can have immediate impact on business processes.

Business Datebook

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.

EXECUTIVE BRIEFING: Corey Rosen, executive director and founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership, is the featured presenter at a program sponsored by the Beyster Institute at UCSD’s Rady School of Management. 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Free. Registration required; visit rady.ucsd.edu/beyster/events.

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.