Daily Business Report — Feb. 25, 2010

Voters Get Final Say on New City Hall

Voters in the city of San Diego will get final say in whether a new city hall is built.  Councilmembers Carl DeMaio, Kevin Faulconer, Donna Frye and Sherri Lightner assured that on Wednesday when they committed to voting against any project that emerges from negotiations that does not include a requirement that the deal be put to a public vote. “It is essential the public is part of the approval process for a new Civic Center through a vote of the people,” said Kevin Faulconer. “Given the size of this project, the public deserves to have the final say,” said DeMaio.

The city is in negotiations with Gerding Edlen for construction of a 34-story city hall. City offices that are now located in leased offices in the Downtown area would be located in the new civic center.

Business is Green Showcase Set for March 17

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce will host a Business is Green showcase on March 17 featuring exhibits from 35 vendors offering products and information about green and sustainable business ideas and practices. A short film festival will be a part of the event. The showcase will be from 2 to 6 p.m. at Windmill Banquet & Catering, 890 Palomar Airport Road, in Carlsbad. It’s free to anyone who wears green. Otherwise, admission is $5 per person. A Sundowner will be held in conjunction with the event from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call call (760) 931-8400 or visit carlsbad.org.

NASSCO Delivers USNS Matthew Perry

NASSCO has delivered the USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) to the Navy — a 689-foot-long supply ship that will serve under the Military Sealift Command. It is named in honor of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), the Navy officer who established American trade with Japan in the mid-19th century. NASSCO began construction of the ship in April 2008. The ship is capable of delivering almost 10,000 tons of dry cargo and petroleum products at one time to U.S. Navy and allied ships at sea. Including the Matthew Perry, NASSCO has delivered nine T-AKEs, which are also known as Lewis and Clark-class ships.

Pilot Community Weight Control Program to be Launched

The Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego and CalorieKing are partnering to pilot a community weight control program to battle obesity. The goal is to learn whether it is possible to provide a long-term, community-based treatment program for the public. “Just about any diet will cause weight loss, but how many can you think of that stay with you as you fight to keep the weight off,” said Keith McGuinness, CEO of CalorieKing. “What the Kroc Center and CalorieKing hope to achieve is a program that will follow you and assist you as you work to prevent weight regain, potentially for the rest of a healthy life. Imagine that.”

The Kroc Fit Challenge will incorporate CalorieKing print tools and the online CalorieKing Program in a way that teaches the fundamentals of weight control. Subsequent pilot phases will experiment with outreach, using the connectivity tools within the CalorieKing Program to communicate with participants in creative ways. The CalorieKing Program is divided into three stages, corresponding to three stages of weight loss. The Bronze stage is where initial weight loss happens and the basic principles of healthy weight loss are learned. During Silver the goal is a significant shift in behavior that constitutes a true turn-around in terms of weight control. Finally, during Gold, preventing weight regain is the focus, participants learn to transition to independent weight control. As needed, participants return for help with a particular obstacle, a tune-up, or just a pep talk.

Valley View Casino Names VP of Hotel Operations

Mike Tansley, a 25-year veteran of the casino industry, has been appointed vice president of hotel operations for Valley View Casino’s boutique hotel, scheduled to open in December. Tansley also has the responsibility for overseeing the casino’s table games, player development, bus transportation and PBX departments. Tansley began his career in 1985 as a dealer and supervisor at Bally’s Park Place and Caesars Palace in Atlantic City. He later worked the Players Riverboat Casinos in Illinois and  Louisiana and New York, New York in Las Vegas. He joined Valley View Casino in Valley Center in 2005 as director of table games.

The hotel will begin accepting reservations on Aug. 1. The seven-story building will have 108 suites, a pool overlooking the Palomar mountain range and a 5,000-square-foot event center. The hotel is a project of the San Pasqual Casino Development Group, development arm of the San Pasqual Indian tribe.

PRSA Extends Reach to Imperial County

The San Diego chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has obtained approval to extend the boundaries of its jurisdiction to include Imperial County. The organization is now known as the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the PRSA. “PRSA San Diego has worked very hard over the last six months to formally incorporate Imperial County into our chapter boundaries,” said Sara E. Wacker, chapter president. “The members and prospective members in Imperial County have long awaited the opportunity to be associated with a local chapter. I’m very pleased that we will be able to extend our reach and make local membership available in the Valley. These individuals have much enthusiasm and creative ideas to continue to help our chapter and the local industry mature.”

“The extension of this chapter into Imperial County is a measure of the growth in the professional practice of public relations that we are experiencing in the Valley,” said Bill Gay, media and community relations director of Imperial Valley College. “Several months ago, we began an informal organization of local practitioners to foster continued professional education. Members of PRSA San Diego have been very helpful in this endeavor.”

Career Fair Scheduled March 17 in Mission Valley

Diverse Careers Inc. is inviting job seekers and employers to take part in the San Diego Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 17 at the Doubletree Hotel San Diego/Mission Valley, 7450 Hazard Center Drive. The recruiting event is open to everyone and is free to all job seekers. Diverse Careers is a job board Website and career fair management company. Some of the exhibitors include Advanced Colleges of America, Aflac, California Dental Certifications, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coleman University, DJO, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, ITT Technical, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Census Bureau and Wells Fargo, among others.

Cubic Corp. Approves Another Dividend

Cubic Corp.’s board of directors has approved a regular semi-annual dividend of 9 cents per share. The dividend will be payable on April 2, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2010. Cubic has paid uninterrupted semi-annual dividends for 38 years.

Cubic Contract Calls for Smart Card Ticketing System

Cubic Transportation Systems Inc., the transportation business unit of Cubic Corp. has been awarded a $15 million contract to design, deliver and provide services for a new smart card ticketing and revenue management system for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system will process smart cards and printed tickets and will encompass 76 ticket vending machines, 85 station validators, six ticket office machines, and 60 handheld units.

Judy Mantle Heads St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center Board

Judy Mantle, chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching at USD, has become chair of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center board of trustees. St. Madeleine’s is a day treatment provider for adults with developmental disabilities. Most of Mantle’s career has been devoted to the field of special education where she has taught, prepared teachers and administered programs across several agencies serving persons with mild, moderate and severe disabilities and their families. She has been a teacher, administrator, consultant and professor. “She has a profound understanding of the individuals we serve, the important role we play in our community, and I am confident she will help us to continue to position St. Madeleine’s as an international leader in serving adults with developmental disabilities,” said Debra Turner-Emerson, executive director.

St. Madeleine’s also announced that Kirk Gentry, vice president and senior branch manager for North Island Credit Union, is secretary of the board of trustees, and David Walters, senior vice president/business banking for First Business Bank, is treasurer.

Leases

• High Velocitees Inc. leased 4,338 square feet of office and warehouse space at Centerpointe Commerce Park, 8920 Kenamar Drive in San Diego 92121. The 27-month lease is valued at $153,531. Dean Asaro of CB Richard Ellis represented High Velocitees and the lessor, H.G Fenton Property Co.

• Variable Image Printing leased 8,400 square feet of office and production space at Centerpointe Commerce Park, 9020 Kenamar Drive, San Diego. The 25-month lease is valued at $156,660. Dean Asaro of CB Richard Ellis represented the lessor, H.G. Fenton Property Co. Wayne Downs of Foster & Company represented Variable Image Printing.

• Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken leased 1,669 square feet of retail space at Fornaca Center, 2850 National Ave. in National City. The five-year lease is valued at $278,305. Joel Wilson of CB Richard Ellis represented the lessor, National LLC. Russell Walker of Keller Williams Realty represented the lessee.

Federal Contracts

• Dynamic Instruments Inc. in San Diego received a $74,150 federal contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command, Philadelphia, for the repair and modification of optical sensing units.

• Clinicomp International Inc. of San Diego, won a $3,447,146 federal contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., for clinical information and anesthesia record keeping systems. (Source: Targeted News Service)

Small Business Workshops

SCORE San Diego continues its series of low-cost workshops in March. Fees range from $29 to $109. Upcoming workshops:

• March 2 – California Sales & Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 3 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 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)

• March 3 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 4 – 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).

• March 5 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 6 – Costing, Pricing, Break-Even Analysis – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 8 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 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).

• March 10 – 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).

•  March 10 – Internet Marketing 201: Build Your Business through Search Engine Optimization – 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).

• March 11 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now! – 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).

• March 11 – Good Governance for Non-Profits: Board Performance – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 12 – 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 $39 by March 9, $49 thereafter).

• March 13 – 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).

• March 16 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 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).

• March 16 – Import/Export – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 17 – 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).

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

• March 18 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 20 – QuickBooks Advanced – 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).

• March 22 – Legal Issues for Small Business: Organizational Structure – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 23 – 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).

• March 24 – Managing Grants and Contracts – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 25 – 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).

• March 26 – Marketing & Contracting With the Federal Government – 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).

• March 27 – 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).

• March 31 – Insurance: What You Need to Know – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

Business Datebook

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.

March 4

WORKSHOP: The Asian Business Association will present its latest Pacific Rim Entrepreneur Series, “Doing Business With Sempra Energy Utilities-SDG&E and Southern Cal Gas,” 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Courtyard Marriott, 8651 Spectrum Center Blvd., San Diego. Keynote speakers: Caroline Winn, director of Supply Management, and Carolina Herrera, director of Diverse Business Enterprises. Cost for ABA and partner members, $10; nonmembers pay $15. To reserve, call (858) 277-2822, Ext. 102, or visit abasd.org.

March 6

FORUM: “Doing Business in a Difficult Time,” a forum presented by the Southeastern Economic Development Corp. for small businesses. 9 a.m. to noon, SEDC offices, 4393 Imperial Ave., San Diego. Will include information on enterprise zone tax advantages, storefront improvement program, loan programs and marketing. $10 cost includes breakfast. For reservations, call (619) 527-7345.

March 17

BREAKFAST MEETING: Influenza experts will discuss lessons learned from the swine flu pandemic at BIOCOM’s monthly breakfast meeting, 7 to 9 a.m., Hyatt Regency La Jolla, 3777 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego. Speakers: Brian Plew, head of public health, Life Technologies; Larry R. Smith, v.p., vaccine research, Vical Inc.; John D. Tamerius, senior v.p., clinical and regulatory affairs, Quidel Corp. For information, call Valerie Sanderson (858) 455-0300, Ext. 112.

MEETING: The March meeting of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) San Diego will feature Jo Dee Jacob presenting “Building and Nurturing a Winning Team.” 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton La Jolla, 3299 Holiday Court, La Jolla. Jacob is CEO of The San Diego-Imperial Council of Girl Scouts. $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers. For more information, visit nawbo-sd.org.

March 18

MEETING: Web content strategist Shelly Bowen, principal of Pybop LLC, will speak on “Virtual Story Telling: How to Grow Your Business with Social Media,” at the meeting of the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SD/PEN), 6:30 p.m., Joyce Beers Community Center, Uptown Shopping Center, Hillcrest. Free and open to nonmembers. For more information, call (619) 281-6951 or visit sdpen.com. $45 for BIOCOM members, $90 for nonmembers.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.