Daily Business Report — April 2, 2010
Fewer Businesses Change Hands
A total of 104 businesses in San Diego County changed hands in March, down 28 percent from 144 deals that were concluded in March of last year, according to a report by BizBen.com, a firm that matches people interested in selling and buying businesses. The company’s figures also show the county’s closed escrow count through the first quarter of 2010 is lagging about 7 percent behind sales for the same period last year. The number of sales for the year to date is 272, down from the 294 transactions comnpleted in the first three months of 2009.
“There isn’t a lot of consistency in the market for small and mid-sized businesses right now,” said Peter Siegel, CEO of BizBen.com. “In addition to the uncertainty about how the economy is progressing, there has been limited access to the funds buyers often need to complete a deal on a business opportunity.”
The city of San Diego accounted for 42 of the county’s deals in March. There were six transactions completed in El Cajon, and four each in Escondido, Spring Valley, Oceanside and National City.
Currently, 718 businesses in the county are listed for sale on the BizBen Website (bizben.com).
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
The Vista Hill Foundation has purchased a 12,000-square -foot office and medical building at 8910-8912 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in San Diego from The Dossett Group Inc. The property, purchased for $1,950,000, will be used as the foundation’s new main corporate office. Since 1957, Vista Hill has provided services and care to children, teens and adults struggling with developmental disabilities, mental health issues and substance abuse. The buyer was represented by Gina Coldani of NAI San Diego. The seller, The Dossett Group Inc., was represented by John Drummond and Greg Wagner of Capital Growth Properties Inc.
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Digital Healthcare Systems has subleased 1,633 square feet of space at 6390 Greenwich Drive, Suite 185 in San Diego from Swissphone LLC. The property subleased for 29 months at $50,762. The lessor, Swissphone LLC, was represented by Kevin Calmenson of NAI San Diego. Digital Healthcare was represented by Ryan Gilbert of Vontage Real Estate Partners Inc.
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San Diego Fit has leased 5,662 square feet of flex space located at 6197 Cornerstone Court, Suite 101-106, in San Diego from Realty Associates FundVI. The property leased for 38 months at $164,900. San Diego Fit was represented by Jason Smithson of NAI San Diego. Realty Associates Fund was represented by Brad Tecca, Bryce Aberg and Brent Aberg of Cassidy Turley BRE.
Navy Lodge North Island to Receive $27.9 Million Renovation
Naval Base Coronado on April 6 will officially break ground for the renovation of Navy Lodge North Island. The $27.9 million project will include the construction of a 146,000-square-foot, four-story lodge addition directly adjacent to the existing two-story Navy Lodge, which will remain. The Navy Lodge offers temporary living accommodations for military personnel, retirees and their families while on travel or in a permanent change of station status. The lodge addition will consist of 205 units, which is a mixture of four guest room configurations, double loaded corridors, formal porte-cochere drop off, two-story lobby area, administration offices, lounge, breakfast area, retail shop, public laundry, commercial laundry and rooftop activity deck area. The project also includes demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a temporary lobby, maintenance building, west parking lot, east parking lot and courtyard pool with splash play area. Completion is scheduled for October 2011. RQ Construction is performing the work.
PERSONNEL MOVES
Waste Management has appointed Mike Schwartz as the western group business development manager for the WM Green Squad, where he will manage sales activities in the West. He was promoted from his former position as senior eco-consultant for the Green Squad, which was launched to meet a growing demand for sustainability programs. WM Green Squad assists public and private organizations to implement these programs. Schwartz previously worked with the California Climate Action Registry and the Chicago Climate Exchange as a lead verifier of greenhouse gas emissions. He is a member of the San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership and the U.S. Green Building Council’s San Diego chapter. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon.
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Salt Lake City-based Celtic Bank has hired Liz Schaper as vice president of SBA business development for the San Diego and Inland Empire region. Schaper has more than 12 years experience in commercial lending on both the credit and sales sides of the business. She has worked in the San Diego/Inland Empire lending market for over 10 years. Schaper has a master’s degree from West Texas A&M and a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College.
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Josh Drew has been promoted to senior associate at The Saywitz Co., a privately held commercial real estate brokerage company. Drew joined the firm in 2008 and has five years of commercial real estate brokerage experience. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. Drew’s promotion was announced by Jeff Saywitz, senior vice president and managing director of the firm’s San Diego operations.
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ResortCom International LLC has named Robert Ferris as director of financial services. Ferris previously was with BHNM Inc., where he was vice president and director of operations, and with Winners Financial Inc. as president at the firm’s corporate headquarters.
NAWBO Hosts Talk by Founder of Better San Diego
The National Association of Women Business Owners San Diego will feature a talk by Joon Han, founder of Better San Diego, at its April 21 luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton La Jolla, 3299 Holiday Court, La Jolla. Han’s talk is titled “Getting Ahead by Giving Back.” Early bird pricing for members and guests is available through 5 p.m. on April 15. More information, including online registration, is available at nawbo-sd.org.
Darwin’s Contributions to Science and Religion
UC Irvine Professor Francisco Ayala will present “Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion” at an April 20 free lecture sponsored by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. The lecture will be at 3 p.m. at the Scripps Seaside Forum, 8610 Kennel Way, in La Jolla. Ayala is an evolutionary biologist, geneticist and philosopher of science whose address will be on Darwin, natural selection and connections to science and religion. Ayala, the fifth recipient of the annual Richard H. and Glenda G. Rosenblatt Lectureship in Evolutionary Biology, has been the Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences at UC Irvine since 1987. In March, he was announced as the winner of the 2010 Templeton Prize, which “honors a living person who has made exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.” During “Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion,” the title of Ayala’s lecture as well as the title of his 2007 book, he will discuss biological evolution and especially Darwin’s discovery of natural selection, the process that accounts for the adaptive organization of organisms and their features. Ayala will discuss natural selection and religion and in particular put them in the context of the design of organisms as a natural process. A book signing and reception will follow the lecture.
Business Datebook
April 9
SEMINAR: National Association of Women Business Owners San Diego continues its monthly seminar series. Angie Swartz of Square Martini Media will present “Using LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool.” Noon to 1 p.m., Brandman University, 7460 Mission Valley Road, San Diego. NAWBO San Diego members free, nonmembers $25. Box lunches provided. Online reservations at nawbo-sd.org.
CONGRESSIONAL LUNCHEON: San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce to host its annual Congressional Luncheon, presented by BAE Systems, at the Holiday Inn on the Bay, 1355 N. Harbor Drive, in Downtown San Diego. Registration at 11 a.m., luncheon and program noon to 1 p.m. Confirmed representatives include Congresswoman Susan Davis and Congressmen Bob Filner, Duncan D. Hunter and Darrell Issa. Moderator, Dennis Morgigno of Channel 4 San Diego.
April 13
PANEL PROGRAM: The cost and legal ramifications of the proposed California High Speed Rail system will be discussed at a program sponsored by the Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana. 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the University Club, 750 B St., in Downtown San Diego. Panelists: John Chalker, member of the California Transit Commission; Steve DeBaum, partner with Best Best & Krieger; and Job Nelson, director of intergovernmental relations for the San Diego Mayor’s Office. Moderator: Jose Martinez, regional program manager for the California High Speed Rail Authority. $40 for ULI members, $50 for nonmembers. To register, call (800) 321-5011 or visit ulisd.org.
April 14
CONFERENCE: San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts tri-national conference to discuss competitiveness, innovation and clean energy. Principals include U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Canada Minister of Industry Tony Clement and Mexico Secretary of Economy Gerardo Ruiz Mateos. Invited participants: Gov. Schwarzanegger and Baja California Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos will participate. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., main theater, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, 5998 Alcala Park, on the campus of University of san Diego. Conference and luncheon cost, $35 ($20 for students). To reserve, call (619) 296-0605, Ext. 234, or visit sdchamber-members.org/MBC2.htm.
April 17
FREE WORKSHOP: Entrepreneurial Excellence Workshop sponsored by the Universiy of Phoenix Kearny Mesa Learning Center, 3870/3890 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego. 9 a.m. to noon. Topics include outllook for small business in San Diego, business opportunities, legal issues for small businesses, search engine marketing, among others. Sports psychologist Casey Cooper to talk on “Home Run Leadership Styles.” To sign up, contact Gray Miller at (858) 650-4612.
April 20
PRESENTATION: Juval Aviv, president and CEO of Interfor Inc., will discuss some of the major financial fraud cases he has investigated during 30 years in the corporate investigations field, including personal anecdotes. Sponsor: Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) San Diego. 7 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. program, Doubletree Hotel Hazard Center, 7450 Hazard Center Drive, SanDiego. Free for ACG members, $50 for nonmembers. Make reservations at acteva.com.
April 21
LUNCHEON: Joon Han, founder and strategy specialist with Better San Diego, to speak on “Getting Ahead by Giving Back” at the luncheon meeting of the National Association of Women Business Owners San Diego. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sheraton La Jolla, 3299 Holiday Court, La Jolla. Early bird pricing for members and guests available through April 15. For more information and online registration, visit nawbo-sd.org.
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.