Daily Business Report — April 23, 2010

40 Under 40 Nominations

Nominations are now open for San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 11th annual 40 Under 40 awards. The nomination period ends May 31. The honorees will be feted at our annual luncheon on Sept. 9 at the San Diego Convention Center and profiled in the September issue of the magazine. Visit http://sandiegometro.com/40under40/ for a nomination form.

Desalination Plant Under Study for Camp Pendleton

The San Diego County Water Authority and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton have agreed to investigate the feasibility of building a major regional seawater desalination plant on the base.

Under an agreement signed by the two entities, the Water Authority would conduct offshore and onshore technical studies that the Marine Corps Base would use to evaluate whether a desalination plant would adversely affect military training, the environment or the quality of life of Camp Pendleton residents. The studies, according to the two parties, will enable the Water Authority to evaluate the feasibility and cost of building and operating a desalination plant that would produce 50 million gallons or more of drinking water daily.

“Our current water shortage sharply reinforces the fact we not only have to carefully manage our current water resources, but that we must continue to pursue a strategic vision for securing additional supplies to meet our region’s needs in the future,” said Maureen Stapleton, Water Authority general manager. “Seawater desalination is an important part of the Water Authority’s long-term strategy to increase the region’s water supply reliability through diversifying our portfolio of local and imported water resources. This agreement will help us conduct the research necessary to determine whether a desalination facility at Camp Pendleton fits our strategy, without impacting on Camp Pendleton’s primary mission, and we greatly appreciate the Marine Corps’ support and cooperation to help us move forward.”

Two potential sites for the plant, both in the southwest corner of the base near the mouth of the Santa Margarita River, were reviewed as part of a feasibility study in 2009. That Water Authority study identified Camp Pendleton as a desirable location for several reasons: The location has the potential availability of a coastal site large enough to accommodate a large-scale, expandable facility; a plant at Camp Pendleton could produce between 50 million and 150 million gallons per day, or 56,000 to 168,000 acre-feet annually; a facility at the north end of the Water Authority’s regional aqueduct system also would allow for more extensive and efficient distribution of the desalinated water.

The Water Authority board in 2005 established a goal to develop 89,000 acre-feet of desalinated seawater — enough to meet about 10 percent of the region’s projected 2020 water supply needs. The scheduled completion of the privately developed Carlsbad seawater desalination project in 2012 will meet 56,000 acre-feet of that goal. The Water Authority’s Urban Water Management Plan determined that the remaining 33,000 acre-feet could come from a new project at Camp Pendleton.

Baseball-Playing Gonzalez Brothers to Open Sports Academy

Two leases totaling $2.72 million and 107,104 square feet have been signed at Salt Creek Industrial Center in the Eastlake area of Chula Vista — one of them involving major league ballplayer brothers Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres and Edgar Gonzalez of the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Baseball League. The Gonzalez brothers will use the space, leased for nearly $800,000, for a new sports community center to benefit area youth and families. The other leases involves a nearly $2 million commitment by TAP Automotive Holdings.

Gonzalez Sports Academy has signed a five-year, $792,732 lease for 28,754 square feet of industrial space in the industrial center at 2390 Boswell Road, Suite 400. The lessee was represented by Dan Malcolm of Lee and Associates. Gonzalez Sports Academy is set to open in May of 2010.

TAP Automotive Holdings, dba Explorer Pro Comp, signed a five-year, $1,927,428 lease renewal for 78,350 square feet of industrial space in the center. The company has been located at the center since its completion in 2000. The lessee represented itself.

The San Diego office of Cushman & Wakefield along with San Diego-based Heritage Real Estate Advisors, announced that two leases. In each of the transactions, Charlie Adolphe and Bryan Teel of Cushman & Wakefield and Travis Jaedtke of Heritage Real Estate Advisors represented the owner/landlord, Adaya Asset Boswell East and West.

Bonita Professional Building Sold for $5 Million

The Bonita Professional Plaza, a 45,507-square-foot multi-tenant medical and professional office property with a 19,000-square-foot parking structure, has been sold for $5 million. The property, located at 180 Otay Lakes Road in Bonita, was purchased by Bonita Professional Plaza LLC. The seller was 180 Otay Lakes Road Holdings LLC.

Building features include flexible floor plans and sizes; multiple building signage spaces; secured, covered parking; and separate outdoor private entrances. The property will undergo a significant exterior upgrade including several of the common areas, according to brokers involved in the transaction. The seller and buyer were represented by Duncan Dodd and Phil Linton of Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial.

Old Gringo Renews Lease for Larger Quarters

Old Gringo, a manufacturer and wholesaler of leather goods, has signed a 36-month, $221,000 lease renewal and expansion for 8,500 square feet of industrial space in Southrail Business Park at 683 and 675 Marsat Court, Suite B, in Chula Vista. Old Gringo, which opened its first factory location in 2000, manufactures artisan handcrafted cowboy boots and western wear. According to Hack Adams, regional senior vice president of leasing, the company’s recent expansion of 2,800 additional square feet reflects its growth in the marketplace. In the transaction Old Gringo and the lessor, Westcore Properties, represented themselves. Southrail Business Park is a 14-building, 128,000-square-foot warehouse and industrial park. Other tenants include LGB Inc., Delphinus Engineering, Sammy’s Kitchen & Bath, Servpro and Activewear Garments Inc.

Taxpayers Association Sponsors Global Warming Debate

A panel talk on AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, has been scheduled for April 30 by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Critics say the measure will hurt California’s economy and drive away jobs while doing little to help the environment. Supporters say the costs of responsible climate policy are far outweighed by projected economic growth and job creation.

The panel discussion will take plae at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice on the campus of USD, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego. Registration is at 7 a.m. The program and breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Panelists will be county Supervisor Ron Roberts, a member of the California Air Resources Board; Scott Anders, director of the Energy Policy Initiatives Center at the USD School of Law; Dorothy Rothrock, co-chair of the AB 32 Implementation Group; Michael Murray, regional vice president of state government affairs for Sempra Energy; Barry Bloom, president of Priority Moving Inc.; and moderator Lewis Michaelson, vice president of Katz & Associates.

SONY Electronics HQ Earns LEED Gold Certification

The Sony Electronics headquarters building in San Diego has earned the LEED Gold certification rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building’s design integrated a number of green elements including 80 bicycle racks, 140 spaces reserved for vehicles opting to carpool, and 76 set aside for fuel-efficient vehicles, to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Sony maneuvered more than 92 percent of the building’s construction debris away from local landfills. In addition, open space accounts for 29 percent of the lot, with vegetation making up 52 percent – more than double the requirement. Nearly 15 percent of the buildings’ materials are local, obtained from within 500 miles of the site’s location in Rancho Bernardo. A minimum of 75 percent of the wood used in the framing, flooring and furniture is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and 47 percent of the building materials has been manufactured using recycled materials.

Mexport Opens on May 13

The 21st annual Mexport, a business-to-business trade show focused on Southern California and Baja California, will be held May 13 at 1462 Corporate Center Drive in Otay Mesa. An inauguration ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. and the trade show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The host is the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. The event will feature matchmaking opportunities with Baja California purchasing and logistics directors, a program that offers U.S. businesses the opportunity to be paired with key decision makers in Baja. San Diego Gas & Electric will sponsor a Green Pavilion where businesses will showcase products to help industry members reduce their carbon footprint. For additional information, visit mexport.org.

Alaska Airlines to Add 2 Nonstop Local Flights

Alaska Airlines this fall will add two new nonstop flights serving Maui and Puerto Vallarta from San Diego International Airport. On Oct. 1, the airline will inaugurate its first route from San Diego to Hawaii. Flights will be available between Lindbergh Field and the island of Maui seven days a week. Alaska Airlines is offering introductory one-way fares of $159 on tickets purchased by May 4 for travel through Feb. 11, on all San Diego flights to Hawaii. Beginning Nov. 12, a daily flight between Lindbergh Field and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, will be available for seasonal travel. The flight enhances Alaska Airline’s current service from San Diego to Mexico, as it also has flights to Cabo San Lucas. The new flights between San Diego and Puerto Vallarta will be available for purchase pending approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Mexico Director General of Civil Aviation. The new Alaska flights will be operated with Boeing 737 aircraft, with 16 first class seats and 141 coach seats.

Closing The Job Gap

Henry DeVries, assistant dean at UC San Diego Extension and the jobs and careers editor for San Diego News Network, will speak on “Closing America’s Job Gap: Innovation and Job Creation,” at 8 a.m. on May 6 at the Hong Kong Association of Southern California and the International Trade Advisory Board quarterly joint breakfast meeting.  It will be at National University, Spectrum Business Park Campus, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Admission is $5 for nonmembers and payable at the door. DeVries says the job gap is the disparity between the good jobs being created by innovation in the U.S. and the lack of American workers with the skills to fill them. He is co-author of a book to be published in the fall titled “Closing America’s Job Gap” that asserts the American workforce is out of alignment with technological advances because the U.S. is not retraining like other nations in Europe and Asia. “The solution is to sync training with innovation to be ahead of the curve,” says DeVries.

USS Mobile Bay Undergoes Major Modernization

The Ticonderoga-Class USS Mobile Bay, a San Diego-based cruiser, has completed a comprehensive upgrade and modernization at BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, and soon will be reintegrated back into the fleet, the Navy reported. It is the second cruiser to undergo an upgrade. During the ship’s modernization, it was equipped with the some of the world’s most modern warfighting technology, including upgrades to the Aegis weapons system, improved sonar and radar technologies and a full combat systems overhaul, according to Rear Adm. James P. McManamon, the Naval Sea Systems Command deputy commander for surface warefare (SEA 21).

Over the next several years, the remaining 19 cruisers will undergo modernizations to ensure they are able to reach their projected 35-year service lives.

Procopio Law Firm Adds 3 Attorneys

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch has added three attorneys to its San Diego staff. Paul E. Burns joins the firm as senior counsel and Robin L. Phillips and Evan J. Topol join as associates. Burns came from the Phoenix office of Gallagher & Kennedy. He is an adjunct professor at Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College Of Law, and Pepperdine School of Law. Phillips was with McDermott Will & Emery’s San Diego office. She holds a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Topol is a 2009 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Southwestern College to Offer Phlebotomy Classes

The state has approved Southwestern College’s new Phlebotomy Program and classes are to begin in May. Phlebotomy is the act of collecting blood samples for laboratory testing. The new program received nearly $200,000 from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. “We’re proud we can offer this cutting-edge opportunity to our students,” said Raj K. Chopra, superintendent/president of Southwestern College.  “This program gives them a chance to learn a skill that directly impacts people’s health – and learn it right here, in our community.” Southwestern will offer phlebotomy classes at its Higher Education Center at National City. Students interested in the phlebotomy program must quality for Recovery Act assistance (displaced workers and adults).  For further information, students can contact the San Diego Workforce Partnership.

Datebook

April 28

WORKSHOP: Grossmont College Career Center will present “Job Interview Fitness,” a free workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Career Center, Room 627, on campus. Topics: job interview tips, ethics and etiquette. Speakers:  Nancy Davis, Grossmont College student development services supervisor, and Carole Martin of The Interview Coach. For more information or to reserve a seat, phone (619) 644-7614.

April 29

PROGRAM: The World Trade Center presents “Standards, Connections, Pathways and Problem Solving — the DNA of Lean,” featuring Samuel Obara of Honsha demonstrating why so many companies fail when trying to implement lean strategies. 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., World Trade Center conference room, Downtown. $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers. Walk-ins, $55. For information, call (619) 615-0868, Ext. 111. To register, visit wtcsd.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.