Daily Business Report — March 3, 2010

Four Banks Consolidate to Become Sunrise Bank on March 8

Four San Diego-area banks affiliated with Capital Bancorp Limited have received regulatory and shareholder approvals to consolidate operations into a nearly $300 million-asset bank. The four that will consolidate bank charters are Point Loma Community Bank, Bank of Escondido, Sunrise Bank of San Diego and Sunrise Community Bank. They will begin operating as Sunrise Bank on March 8.

“In this economy, being a larger bank makes for a stronger institution together than the four separately,” said Scott Andrews, 52, who will become chairman and CEO of the newly named Sunrise Bank. Andrews currently is chairman of the boards of Point Loma Community Bank and Sunrise Bank of San Diego. “We will be a fairly typical community bank, looking to the lending needs of the communities we serve,” said Andrews, indicating that that would include commercial real estate lending, among others. “We will be looking at all the good quality loans than we can make.”

There will be no customer disruption as a result of the consolidation, according to Andrews. “The same people will be working at the offices, there will be no account number changes…” he said.

The consolidated bank will employ 61 persons.

Joining Andrews on the executive management team of the consolidated bank will be Mike Peters, named as president; Tony Calabrese, who will serve as Point Loma regional president; Randy Cundiff (currently the president and CEO of Sunrise Bank of San Diego), named San Diego regional president; and Stu Baily, Palm Desert regional president. Others on the management team will be Gary Weitner as chief credit officer and Millie McKibbin as chief operations officer.

“The consolidation of these four banks brings together a very strong team of experienced bankers,” said Andrews. “Sunrise Bank will be a nearly $300 million community bank that is well capitalized and will continue to support the communities we serve. Customers will continue to work with their same friendly bankers and enjoy the added convenience of locations throughout San Diego County and the Coachella Valley.”

Joining Andrews and Peters on Sunrise Bank’s board of directors will be Dr. Gregg W. Beaty, an oral surgeon; Debra Clark Dixon, CPA with Godecke Clark; Richard J. Fleck, president of Southland Paving Inc.; Theodore Griffith, president of Pacific Tugboat Service & Pearson Marine Fuel; Brian S. Harnik, attorney with Roemer & Harnik LLP; Mark E. Hayes of Mark E. Hayes CPA; John F. McColl, president of Trinity Capital Group; Michael F. Murphy, president of Computer Protection Technology Inc.; and Julius S. Paeske Jr., president of Commercial Facilities Inc.

Regulatory approval was from the FDIC and the California Department of Financial Institutions. Sunrise Bank has locations in Point Loma, Escondido, UTC and Palm Desert. Capital Bancorp Limited is a $5.2 billion national community banking company with a network of separately chartered banks in 17 states. It has executive offices in Lansing, Mich., and Phoenix, Ariz.

G2 Software Systems Receives Giant Military Contract

G2 Software Systems Inc., which provides software development and systems engineering services, has been awarded a contract with a potential value of $648.7 million by the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. The contract was awarded on behalf of the Command and Control Program Office and will have a three-year base period and up to two one-year extensions. G2, under the contract, is to develop command and control software for the Department of Defense and modify and enhabnce the department’s existing systems. “We are honored to be the only small business selected to take on this monumental task for the U.S. Department of Defense,” said Pete Keyes, G2 general manager. G2 is a woman-owned company formed in 1989.

Name Change for Alden Em

AldenEm, a San Diego-based advertising, design and marketing communications firm, is changing its name to Alden Marketing Communications in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The firm also named two new principals — Florentino “Junior” Fangon and Jennifer McKinley — expanded its services and launched a new Website: aldenmc.com. Alden Marketing Communications is affiliating with Eric Tulin, a new media strategist who has managed the development of online applications, strategic planning and Websites for several companies.  He was involved in the early development of Facebook and other social network companies. Tulin is a graduate of Yale University. He is relocating from Connecticut to San Diego. The firm’s services include corporate identity, product and packaging design, branding, print advertising, online annual reports, Web development and design, ecommerce development and site maintenance. Agency founder is Allen Guilmette.

Fangon joined the firm in 1997 after working as a digital imaging specialist for a photography studio. He holds a degree in environmental design from San Diego State University. McKinley serves as director of new media. After studying fine art at the University of Western Ontario, McKinley studied multi-media at Platt College.

BBB Stages Consumer Protection Day

The San Diego Better Business Bureau says it will donate $500 to any high school student club or on-campus organization that brings at least 100 attendees, preferably high school students, to the BBB’s free 2010 Consumer Protection Day on March 13 at the Scottish Rite Event Center, 1896 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Advance registration of the groups is required by contacting the BBB’s Andrea McNelis at (858) 637-6199. The San BBB is jointly presenting Consumer Protection Day with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office and the San Diego County District Attorney. Event co-sponsors include ESET and San Diego County Credit Union. The theme is “Dollars & Sense: Tips for Teens & Adults.” Consumer Protection Day will feature speaker panels and exhibit booths offering free resources and information that will help all consumers fight back and protect themselves against fraud, identity theft and data security. For more information, visit sandiego.bbb.org.

BRAVO! Awards Nominations Open

The National Association of Women Business Owners San Diego announced that registration is open for its annual BRAVO! Awards. The dinner event, featuring Lisa Nichols as keynote speaker, will be held on May 19 at the Marriott Courtyard Airport/Liberty Station, 2592 Laning Road, San Diego. Individual seats for NAWBO members are $55; non-members will pay $65. The registration deadline is May 14. Nominations for the six BRAVO! Awards are being accepted through April 9. BRAVO! sponsors to date are the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, CoCo & Associates, Staff Smart, Transworld Systems, The Center for Mind & Body Wellness, Avitus Group, Batten Accountancy, Herr Photography and InToInk. Registration information, nomination forms and sponsorships details are available at nawbo-sd.org. Call (877) 866-2926 with questions.

Lease Expansion for Competitor Group Inc.

Competitor Group Inc., a San Diego-headquartered sports marketing and management company that produces such publications as Triathlete, has signed a seven-year, $5,125,640 lease expansion for 56,796 square feet of industrial space in Pacific Technology Park at 9477 Waples St., Suites 120 and 150, in San Diego. The company, which focuses specifically on endurance sports and running events, is expanding its space in the park by nearly 40 percent. Competitor Group previously occupied 34,951 square feet at 9401 Waples St., (Suite 150), also in Pacific Technology Park. The lessor, Pacific Tech Property Inc., was represented by James Duncan and Mickey Morera of Cushman & Wakefield. Competitor Group Inc. was represented by David Marino of Irving Hughes. Pacific Technology Park is a five-building, 542,776-square-foot multi-use park located in the Sorrento Mesa area of San Diego. The park currently offers space available from 22,000 to 44,000 square feet.

‘Best of the Decade’ Smart Growth Awards

The San Diego/Tijuana district council of the Urban Land Institute is accepting nominations for the 2010 Smart Growth Awards, an annual competition recognizing projects, plans and people that emulate smart growth principals. For criteria information and to submit a nomination, visit ulisd.org/events/213. The deadline is March 19. Unlike past competitions, this year’s event will encompass the “Best of the Decade,” welcoming nominations from projects that were entitled, built or significantly remodeled between 2000 and 2010. Leaders, policies, events, plans, programs and initiatives from the past 10 years also may be nominated. Past Smart Growth Award winners and nominees also may resubmit. The Smart Growth Awards jury will select three to six winners.

Cavignac & Associates Hires Account Administrator

Jennifer Cox has joined Cavignac & Associates as its newest account administrator. She has five years of career experience within the insurance industry. Most recently, she was employed as an account manager with Compass Insurance Agency in Englewood, Colo. Previous experience includes having served four years as an account administrator for Lockton Cos. of Colorado, a commercial insurance firm based in Denver. Cox holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado.

Federal Contract Awards

• MDF Technologies Inc. in Encinitas won a $215,716.45 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Center, Richmond, Va., for oil pressure valves.

• Teledyne Wireless LLC of Poway won a $100,000 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio, for audio-rad amplifiers.

• Viasat Inc. in Carlsbad won a $99,000 federal contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command, Philadelphia, for the repair and modification of receiver-transmitters.Viasat also won a $30,500 federal contract from the Naval Supply Systems Command for the repair and modification of electronic components.

• Kevcon Inc. of Escondido won a $769,000 federal contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration for the installation of crypts at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery. Place of performance will be in Gustine, Calif.

(Source: Targeted News Service)

AAUW to Present Information on Beijing Initiative

The American Association of University Women San Diego and Cabrillo-Diego Branches is inviting the public to attend “Equality, Development and Peace:15 Years after the Beijing World Conference on Women,” a free presentation to be held March 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mission Valley Library Community Room, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego. AAUW and United Nations Association-San Diego members who recently served as delegates to the Beijing +15  conference in New York City will describe history of the Beijing initiative and report on progress made by countries throughout the world to improve the lives of women and girls. Additionally, progress made locally in San Diego county on the status of women and girls will be discussed. To reserve a seat, call (619) 504-4741 or e-mail to: publicpolicy@aauwsandiego.org.

‘Triple Espresso’ Returns for Four-Week Engagement

“Triple Espresso—a highly caffeinated comedy,” will return to San Diego for a four-week engagement March 16 at The Lyceum Stage Theatre in Horton Plaza. The popular show closed an 11-year production in San Diego in February of 2008. “We keep getting e-mails from people in San Diego asking us when we’re coming back, said Executive Producer Dennis Babcock, “so when this opportunity came up, we thought, why not? We have so many fans there. Let’s bring the laughter back for a few weeks.” The Lyceum appearance will include a mixture of original cast members and other performers well known to San Diego audiences, such as Duane Daniels, Dane Stauffer and Charles Peters. Tickets may be purchased online at lyceumevents.org; tripleespresso.com; or in person or by phone at the Lyceum Box Office (619-544-1000). The box office is open from noon until show time on performance days, and closed Mondays. “Triple Espresso—a highly caffeinated comedy” will perform Tuesdays through Sundays.

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.