Daily Business Report — March 2, 2010

BOMA Sponsors A ‘Green Luncheon’

The Building Owners and Managers Association of San Diego will hold a “Green Luncheon” on March 9 to address multiple aspects of the green industry including advocacy, financing and green leasing opportunities. It will be held at noon at the Marriott Courtyard in Mission Valley, 595 Hotel Circle South. Matt Ellis, director of CB Richard Ellis’ Carbon Services, will speak on the  the green building phenomena and its implications for real estate professionals. Courtland Weisleder, president of Greener Dawn Inc., will speak on the green methodology that will enhance the financial performance of businesses. For more information, contact BOMA at (619) 236-8397.

Real Estate

Sales:

• The 11,580-square-foot industrial building at 13700 Stowe Drive in Poway has been sold for $1.63 million. The buyer is  BCD, LLC; David Davey, managing partner, was represented by Ross Provenzano of NAI San Diego. SEEM, LLC, the seller, was represented by Barry Slotten of Commercial Realty Advisors.

• Townspeople, a San Diego community housing developer, has acquired a 34-unit residential complex in Normal Heights to house people living with HIV/AIDS. The total development cost was more than $6.6 million and was financed by a number of entities and programs — the San Diego Housing Commission; California Multi-Family Housing Program; California Mental Health Services Administration; Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS; Supportive Housing Program Capital; and two programs under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The four-building complex has 20 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom units to accommodate individuals and families with children. On-site management and supportive services including a resident food pantry are planned. The new facility will undergo rehab construction over the next few months and is expected to be available for full occupancy in June 2010.

Construction:

Tenant improvement construction has begun for the 56,700-square-foot office, R&D and manufacturing facility of Roka Bioscience Inc. at 10398 Pacific Center Court in the Sorrento Mesa area of San Diego. Roka Bioscience is a new spin-off company from Gen-Probe that focuses on molecular assays for biopharmaceutical production, water and food safety testing and other applications. The company uses Gen-Probe’s Closed Unit Dose Assay system, a portable testing instrument that can deliver precise molecular results in roughly an hour. Nearly 20 former Gen-Probe employees with expertise in industrial fields have joined Roka, which began operating last September.

Smith Consulting Architects is design services for the building tenant improvements. Wally Narajowski, senior vice president and general manager of Roka, is overseeing the $852,000 project, along with Dave Patterson, vice president of operations for the start-up firm. Good & Roberts is serving as the general contractor. The two-story building, formerly occupied by Nanogen, will encompass office and laboratory space and manufacturing areas. Design and construction is being performed in two phases to expedite completion and allow Roka Bioscience to occupy the space by March 31. Full completion is targeted for June.

Pete Bussett is project executive for Smith Consulting Architects, with Ned Haskell as project manager and Jaime Ramirez as job captain. Shawn Burnett of Irving Hughes is representing the tenant. Prime Structural Engineers is the structural engineer, Ickler Electric is the electrical engineer and Jackson & Blanc is serving as the mechanical engineer.

Leases:

• AET Solar has leased 3,890 square feet of industrial space at 1800 John Towers, Suite B, in El Cajon. The lessor is HELF Investments. The property was leased for 48 months at $136,700. HELF Investments was represented by Jason Smithson, Scott Collins and Mark Silverman of NAI San Diego. AET Solar was represented by Erika Lidstrum of Pacific Coast Commercial.

• Alarm Center Inc. has leased 6,031 square feet of industrial space at Kearny Mesa Industrial Park, 7350 Convoy Court, in San Diego. The five-year lease is valued at $380,886. Doug Works of CB Richard Ellis represented the lessor, LBA Realty. Dottie Surdie of Sperry Van Ness represented Alarm Center.

• Wireless Choice Inc., dba Sprint, has leased 1,502 square feet of retail space at SR Ranch Shopping Center, 9838-9880 Hibert St., San Diego. The five-year lease is valued at $263,200. Reg Kobzi of CB Richard Ellis represented the lessor, Scripps Windmill – D.Q LLC. Lauren Matricardi, also of CB Richard Ellis, represented Wireless Choice.

West Wireless Health Institute Hires New Chief Operating Officer

Amir Jafri has joined West Wireless Health Institute as chief operating officer and Mitul Shah was hired as senior director of programs and partnerships. Jafri formerly was with Cardinal Health. Jafri’s appointment is effective immediately while Shaw will begin his new position on April 12. The institute was formed in March 2009 with a $45 million gift from the Gary and Mary West Foundation. It is a medical research organization aimed at cutting the cost of health care through the use of wireless technologies. In addition to overseeing the institute’s operations, Jafri will drive collaboration between the institute’s clinical and engineering teams to ensure quality control and regulatory adherence of research, development and validation activities. Prior to joining the company, he spent seven years at Cardinal Health, most recently serving as vice president of strategic programs.

Grand Pacific Resort Management Promotes Guy Hall

Grand Pacific Resort Management, a privately owned timeshare vacation ownership management company in Carlsbad, has promoted Guy Hall to the newly created position of area manager. Hall will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at Carlsbad Seapointe Resort and oversight of Coronado Beach Resort. Hall has been general manager at Carlsbad Seapointe. In addition to new role as area manager, Hall will help identify acquisition and management contract candidates to add to Grand Pacific Resort Management’ portfolio of resorts.

Better Business Bureau Mixer Scheduled for March 4

The San Diego Better Business Bureau will host a business-to-business networking mixer from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Altitude Sky Lounge atop the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, 660 K St., in Downtown San Diego. The public is invited to attend. Cost is $10 per person. For information, visit sandiego.bbb.org. or contact Andrea McNelis at the BBB offices, (858) 637-6199. Program underwriters for the BBB’s mixers are Gaslamp Insurance of San Diego and AFLAC Insurance.

Federal Contract Awards

• Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure in San Diego was awarded a share of $250 million federal contract by the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, for the environmental remediation of radiological contaminants at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest and Atlantic areas of responsibility and other Department of Defense locations nationwide.

• Northrop Grumman Defense Mission Systems Inc. of San Diego was awarded a $77,915,492 federal contract by the U.S. Air Force, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., for maintenance and support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node System in support of overseas contingency operations.

• Coastal Marine Services in National City was awarded a $14.15 million federal contract by the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, for providing hullboard and insulation lagging services onboard Navy ships and other government vessels within a 50-mile radius of San Diego.

• Computer Sciences Corp. in San Diego won an $11 million federal contract from the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, North Charleston, S.C., for communication, detection and coherent radiation equipment.

• INTEVAC Photonics Inc. in  Carlsbad was awarded a $6,852,700 federal contract by the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., for high resolution low light camera systems configured as monoculars, binoculars and goggles.

(Source: Targeted News Service)

Awarepoint Corp. Attracts $10 Million in Capital

Awarepoint Corp., manufacturer of real-time location systems for U.S. hospitals, said it has raised $10 million of expansion capital led by JACFO Ventures and joined by existing investors Cardinal Partners and Venrock. The capital infusion will be used accelerate Awarepoint’s development of new technology, products and client success capabilities. As part of the financing, Tom Mawhinney, general partner of JAFCO Ventures, will take a seat on Awarepoint’s board of directors.

Proyecto ACCESO, a program based at Cal Western that promotes the rule of law in Latin America and educates the public on legal rights, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at 5:30 tonight with a reception and film screening at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Clips of its newest film, “Intellectual Property Piracy: The Challenges for Latin America,” will be shown. The film was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and explores the challenges of enforcing international intellectual property law across borders. “The rule of law helps everyone,” says Jamie Cooper, director. “It helps indigenous peoples, students, workers, women’s groups, multinational corporations, and governments. With the rule of law comes the enforcement of contracts, shareholder and IP rights, and the protection of fundamental human and civil rights.”

Consultant to Teach Leadership Course at SDSU

Columnist and consultant Holly Green will be instructor of the “Core Management and Leadership” professional certificate course offered Tuesdays, March 9-23, through SDSU’s College of Extended Studies. Class times are March 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and March 16 and 23, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Green has more than 20 years of executive level and operations experience in Fortune 100, entrepreneurial, and management consulting organizations. She works extensively with Vistage, the world’s largest CEO membership organization. The Core Management and Leadership certificate program is designed to provide critical learning experiences that will take students’ management and leadership skills to the next level. For more information, call (619) 594-5640 or visit neverstoplearning.net.

Cal State San Marcos Receives Hispanic Serving Designation

Cal State San Marcos has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, making it eligible to apply for grants that may be used for academic purposes serving all students. The designation is given to institutions having at least a 25 percent Hispanic student population. Cal State San Marcos’ Hispanic population is 27 percent. Grants may be used for scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching; construction or renovation of instructional facilities; faculty development; purchase of educational materials; academic tutoring or counseling programs; funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; endowment funds; distance learning academic instruction; teacher education; and student support services.

InterAmerican College Receives Nursing Degree Certification

InterAmerican College in National City has received approval and certification for a Master of Science in Nursing program from the state Board of Registered Nursing. “The certification is a testament to the outstanding quality of our nursing program” said Yoram Neumann, the president and CEO of InterAmerican College. The certification provides a boost in earnings for graduates of IAC’s MSN program. “It is worth $20,000 more a year in salary,” said Tom Finaly, chief operating officer. “It also provides our MSN graduates the opportunity to take their nursing careers to the next level.  It allows them to work in collaboration and not under the supervision of a physician.”

Health Care District Gives $100K to Volunteers in Medicine

The Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors has voted to approve a $100,000 grant to Volunteers in Medicine to help cover expenses for X-ray and ultrasound tests, as well as diagnostic lab fees and medical supplies, for uninsured East County residents who are treated at an El Cajon clinic by retired physicians and nurses who donate their time. The nonprofit VIM operates a free medical clinic at 1457 E. Madison Ave., behind Chapel of the Valley United Methodist Church, in El Cajon. More than 60 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and staff volunteers, donate thousands of hours in providing primary care services to about 1,000 patients annually. The majority of patients are employed but do not have health care insurance, according to VIM officials.

Nominations Sought for Asian Heritage Awards

The Asian Heritage Society is accepting nominations in 14 categories for the seventh annual Asian Heritage Awards. The event will be held July 10 aboard the USS Midway Museum. Nominations will close on April 7. The categories are: Art and Literature, Business Enterprise, Community Service, Cultural Preservation, Education, Entrepreneurship, Government, Health and Medicine, Humanitarian Outreach, Innovation and Technology, Legal Affairs, Media, Military and Performing Arts. Tom Hom, former San Diego Councilman and state Assemblyman, has been chosen as this year’s Special Recognition Honoree.  For more information on nominating an individual or an organization, visit one of these Websites: asiamediainc.com or asianheritageawards.com.

Business Datebook

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 11

PANEL TALK: Social media strategies to increase sales and raise brand awareness will be discussed during the Sales & Marketing Council’s “Social Media 101” event. 7:15 to 9 a.m., Building Industry Association offices, 9201 Spectrum Center Blvd., San Diego. $30 for BIA members. $60 for nonmembers. To register, call (858) 450-1221, Ext. 101. Panelists: Harley Orion of Orion Social; Jan Percival of Scribe Communications; Maria Swanson of Weston Mason Marketing.

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.