Daily Business Report — April 1, 2010
SBA Ombudsman Comes to San Diego
Small Business Administration Ombudsman Esther Vasser will be in San Diego on April 26 for a hearing to meet with small business owners and others about federal regulatory compliance and enforcement issues. Community leaders, members of trade and business associations and members of San Diego’s congressional delegation also have been invited. Registration is from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and the hearing is from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Harbor Conference Room at the Health Services Complex-Rosecrans, 3851 Rosecrans St. in Point Loma. Small business owners may testify by registering in advance; contact Cynthia Harris of the SBA San Diego district office at (619) 727-4884 or send an e-mail to: sandiego@sba.gov.
Construction Begins on Infantry Training Center at Camp Pendleton
Construction has begun on a new $10 million Marine Corps Infantry Training Center at Camp Pendleton. Developers of the project, designed by KMA in partnership with Straub Construction Inc., are seeking LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Construction is to be completed in the fall. “Because LEED-certified buildings are relatively new to Camp Pendleton, the addition of these sustainable buildings is an exciting project for KMA to take on,” said Don Blair, president of KMA. “The sustainable features will help to conserve resources, minimize energy and water consumption and improve occupant productivity, health and comfort.”
The two-story project will incorporate eco-friendly features including photovoltaic panels on roofs to offset building energy costs by an estimated 12.5 percent and water efficient landscaping with drought-tolerant native plant species to reduce irrigation requirements by 50 percent. Overall water-use reduction will be achieved with low-flow plumbing fixtures. The design also will include energy-efficient skylights and low-e insulated glass for exterior windows to bring natural daylight into the building. Parking for low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles is included in the design as part of the plan to achieve LEED certification.
A construction waste management plan will be implemented to recycle or divert 75 percent of construction waste from disposal. KMA project team is comprised of Don Blair, John Hilgeman, Alison Warren and Rey Zumarraga. Berg Engineering is the civil engineer, DS Engineering is the mechanical engineer, MPE Consulting is the electrical engineer, and SMR Consulting Group is the structural engineer. K. Killman Design is the interior designer and Crescere Design is the landscape architect.
San Diego Microfinance Summit to be Staged on April 28
The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD will host the second annual San Diego Microfinance Summit on April 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. The conference will focus on the international work of San Diego’s microfinance organizations, as well as opportunities to get involved in local microfinance initiatives and partnerships. The keynote address will be given by Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson on the television show “The Simpsons.” Early-bird admission through April 15 is available through www.sdmicrofinancesummit.org — $38 for the general public and $12 for students. Registration after April 15 is $50 and $20, respectively. The goal of the San Diego Microfinance Summit is to promote the effectiveness of San Diego’s microfinance organizations in supporting small businesses and to encourage involvement in microfinance activities from the local community. Participating organizations include ACCION San Diego, CDC Small Business Finance, Foundation for Women, Grameen Foundation, International Rescue Committee, La Maestra, Opportunity International, Point Loma Nazarene University, Project Concern International, San Diego State University College of Business Administration, Ahlers Center for International Business at USD and VIA International.
Kyocera International Subsidiaries Merge
Kyocera International Inc. says it is merging its two wholly owned subsidiaries serving the wireless communications equipment market. The merger will combine San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless Corp. (KWC) and Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) effective today. The merged entity will continue under the Kyocera Communications name. Eiichi Toriyama will continue in his current responsibilities as KCI president. Rodney Lanthorne, the current president of both KWC and Kyocera International Inc., the parent company, will become vice chairman of KII’s board of directors. Lanthorne, based in San Diego, will also remain as a director and member of the executive committee of Kyocera Corp., the global parent company. KCI was formed in 2009 following Kyocera’s acquisition of the wireless handset business of Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. in 2008. The subsidiary will continue its responsibilities in the Americas for the sales, marketing and service of wireless handsets produced by Kyocera Corp. KCI now will provide engineering and operations support services to Kyocera Corp.’s communications equipment division, which has assumed global responsibility for the company’s engineering and manufacturing in this segment.
National University Puts On Tech Show for Local Girls
National University will welcome 100 13- 17-year-old girls who are interested in the technology industry during a day-long “DigiGirlz Day” event on Friday at the university’s Technology and Health Sciences Center in Kearny Mesa. The seventh to 12th grade girls will interact with representatives from the local high-tech industry during career and education panels, robotics and gaming demonstrations and hands-on experience in interactive workshops. The girls will be from local middle and high schools, including Mesa Verde and St. Jeanne’s Middle Schools and Westview, Poway and Santa Fe Christian High Schools. The DigiGirl Days are part of Microsoft’s DigiGirlz program, which was established in 2000 to provide girls with a better understanding of career opportunities in the high-tech industry. National University’s Technology and Health Sciences Center is located at 3678 Aero Court in Kearny Mesa. The DigiGirlz Day runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Nature Center Offers Web Views of Rare Coastal Birds
The Chula Vista Nature Center has unveiled new Web cameras offering up-close views of some of California’s rarest coastal birds, including the highly endangered Light-Footed Clapper Rail as well the center’s Bald and Golden Eagle exhibits. The Web cameras at the Nature Center were funded through a grant from the AT&T Foundation and the support of the San Diego Port District. The animal Web cams can be accessed through the multi-media page of the Nature Center’s Website at chulavistanaturecenter.org. A new Website, also partially funded by the AT&T Foundation grant, will soon be launched and will include additional capabilities for the Nature Center, including e-commerce. The animal Web cam footage can be viewed at www.chulavistaca.gov/City_Services/Community_Services/Nature_Center/multimedia.
Business Datebook
April 2
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.
April 9
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 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.
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