Daily Business Report — Aug. 26, 2010

Lunch With the 40 Under 40

San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 11th annual 40 Under 40 Awards luncheon will be held at noon on Sept. 9 in Ballroom 6 A&B of the San Diego Convention Center. Tickets are $75. Tables are $750. For tickets, contact Cyndi Meeves at (619) 906-4105. The awards honor 40 of the San Diego region’s best and brightest minds in a variety of industries. And read about the honorees in the September issue of San Diego Metropolitan.

Taxpayers Group Seeks Pension Records

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has petitioned the Superior Court in San Diego to force the San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA) to disclose public records as it relates to employee pensions. Association President Jon Coupal said the legal action comes after SDCERA rebuffed a Public Records Act request seeking a list of retirees receiving a gross monthly pension benefit exceeding $100,000 per year. The request asked for retired employees’ names, their last employing agencies and the amount of their monthly benefits. “The public has a right to know about public employee pensions which they pay for with their tax dollars,” said Coupal. “No county is too far from the reach of the law, nor from the light we will continue to shine upon the runaway pension train that is further pushing California’s finances off the tracks.”

According to Coupal, three recent Superior Court decisions in other counties – Orange County, Contra Costa County and Stanislaus County – sided with Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in ruling that the pension information of public employees is public record. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is representing Marcia Fritz and the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility in the matter.

Dennis Clerke Joins Software Equity Group

Dennis Clerke has joined Software Equity Group as executive vice president. Clerke has more than 20 years of experience as a software entrepreneur. From 1991 to 2004, he served as co-founder, president and CEO of Cardiff Software. From mid-2004 to June 2007, he served as CEO of Alignent Software Inc. Alignent was sold to Sopheon in 2007. Software Equity Group served as Alignent’s investment banker in that transaction. Clerke also was founder and managing director of DaggerBoard Advisors LLC before joining Software Equity Group. He holds a master’s degree from the Anderson Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Boston University.

Barona Promotes Liggett to Casino Manager

Greg Liggett has been promoted from director of special events to casino manager at Barona Resort & Casino. He is one of eight casino managers having responsibility for day-to-day operations. Liggett is a veteran of more than 33 years in the gaming industry. He came back to Barona after serving as the director of gaming operations at another local casino. His past experience includes working as assistant general manager at the Rainbow Casino in Mississippi, table games manager at Lakeside Casino & Resort in Iowa, assistant table games manager Sandia Casino in New Mexico and operations manager of President Casino in Iowa.

Revitalization Program Set for Linda Vista Plaza Site

A revitalization and redevelopment program for the southwest corner of Linda Vista Plaza in Linda Vista have been announced by MRW Development Co. LLC and Bayside Community Center. The 1.6-acre site is owned by the city of San Diego Redevelopment Agency. The city has an exclusive negotiating agreement with MRW to develop a project for the community. A vacant corner lot and a retail complex that includes Skateworld roller skating rink is currently on the site. The project entails an investment of $3 million to $5 million for improvements to the site. The new plan calls for a multi-use center to provide space for community and cultural events, meetings and classrooms as well as office and retail uses. The center also can be used for various recreational activities including futsal, basketball and skating. The facility will be designed by architectural firm Hanna Gabriel Wells. Bayside Community Center will operate the project.

Handlery Renovates San Diego and San Francisco Properties

Handlery Hotels has unveiled multi-million dollar renovations to the Handlery Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley and the Handlery Union Square Hotel in San Francisco. The improvements throughout the San Diego property include new custom furniture, high-end bedding, new carpeting and wall and window coverings in each of the 217 guestrooms. Marble-top desks with ergonomic desk chairs and 37-inch flat-panel TVs are also offered in every room. The resort’s common areas and event space have new carpeting and wall coverings, as well as state-of-the-art presentation technology, elegant new artwork and tropical landscaping.

Small Business Workshops

SCORE San Diego continues its series of small business workshops in September. Fees range from $29 to $109.

• Sept. 1 – Internet Marketing 101 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 2 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door)

• Sept. 8 – QuickBooks Advanced – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 9 – How to Start a Non-Profit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 10 – Professional Selling – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 11 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door)

• Sept. 14 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 15 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 16 – Good Governance for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 17 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha De Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by 9/14, $45 thereafter; exhibitor rate: $85 by 9/14, $95 thereafter)

• Sept. 20 – Managing Grants & Contracts (for Non-Profits) – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 21 – Internet Marketing 301: Pay-Per-Click – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 22 – Marketing & Contracting w/ State & Local Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 23 – Internet Marketing 201 (SEO) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 24 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 25 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door)

• Sept. 27 – Internet Marketing 304: Tools/LinkedIn – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 28 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 29 – Restaurant 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 30 – Internet Marketing 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

To register, visit score-sandiego.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.