Ruben Garcia heads the SBA's San Diego District Office
The owners of Oceanside’s popular Beach Break Café needed a break, and finally got one — through a Small Business Association-backed loan funded by Chase Bank and CDC Small Business Finance. The financing enabled the café to purchase and construct a new building twice the size of its former location. “We’re seeing a revival. Our records show an uptake in SBA-backed loans,” said Ruben Garcia, district director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) San Diego District Office. In fiscal year 2010, area banks issued 606 SBA-backed loans totaling $228.6 million, a 28 percent increase over 2009. While a positive sign, the increase has not yet reached 2007 levels of $432 million, with 1,200-plus loans. But it is an indication that lending is moving in a positive direction, he stressed. Read more about banks helping small business in the January issue of SD METRO.
Port Commissioners Approve Embarcadero Plan
The Board of Port Commissioners has approved a coastal development permit for the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan that includes improvements to West Broadway, North Harbor Drive and the Lane Field Setback Park. Whether the redevelopment project moves ahead as planned is not certain because of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal that calls for the state to take all redevelopment funds to help balance the state budget. Also, local activist Scott Andrews has indicated he will appeal the decision to the California Coastal Commission.
The improvements to West Broadway will occur from the rail tracks west to North Harbor Drive. Included is a lowering of a crest, or high point in the road; the creation of a raised, landscaped median with signature lighting; and adding improved traffic signals and striping. North Harbor Drive improvements include realigning portions of it to enable development of a 105-foot wide esplanade from the south edge of B Street Pier to the north edge of the former Navy Pier. A 30-foot wide continuous promenade would also be developed within the 105-foot esplanade closest to the water’s edge. The esplanade will include a storm water capturing and treatment system, a running/walking path, improved landscaping and a public plaza at the foot of West Broadway. The public plaza would be flanked by formal gardens. Kiosks and structures that are currently on the waterfront would be replaced with a walk-up café and information building. The Lane Field Setback Park/Plaza would be located on the Lane Field development site on the east side of North Harbor Drive. It will include about two-acres of additional public green space and be designed with a mix of hardscape and landscape, which would be ideal for picnicking or sitting and relaxing.
Excel Trust to Purchase San Marcos Property
Excel Trust Inc., a real estate investment trust, has agreed to purchase a 100,511-square-foot property in San Marcos that is being leased by Edwards Theatres, a subsidiary of the Regal Entertainment Group. The purchase price is $23.6 million. Excel Trust estimates that the current annual net operating income of the building is $2.18 million.
Genelux Corp. Appoints President
Genelux Corp. of San Diego, a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-cancer drugs, has appointed Jodi Devlin as president. Company founder Aladar Szalay will continue as CEO and chairman of the board. Devlin most recently was vice president at Abbott. She has held positions as vice president of international marketing, U.S. specialty operations, primary care and virology. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree from Washington University Olin School of Business.
World Trade Center San Diego Presents Leadership Awards
World Trade Center San Diego has presented 2011 International Business Leadership Awards to four companies that have made outstanding achievements in international trade. “The array of products, support services and innovation represented among the recipients was more impressive than ever,” said Belle Heule, president and CEO of the organization. “Their achievements bode well for future growth of international trade throughout the region.”
The recipients:
• 2011 Importer of the Year Award: Nationwide Promotions LLC
“Despite the significant drop in overall sales in the advertising specialty industry caused by the economic recession, Nationwide Promotions has perpetuated its substantial growth through a 37 percent increase in imports over the past two years,” according to Lily Cohen, director of business development and legal affairs for the company.
• 2011 Exporter of the Year Award: Orthodontic Design & Production Inc.
“Under the direction of an experienced and dedicated management team, ODP has experienced explosive growth over the past two years, overcoming the ongoing economic downturn that has affected many small businesses around the world,” said Tracey Pelletier, the firm’s director of sales and marketing.
• 2011 Service Provider of the Year Award: Validation Technologies Inc.
“One important obstacle the firm has faced this year has been the aligning of life science regulatory requirements between the U.S. FDA, the European EudraLex and China’s own SFDA,” said Honey David, marketing and sales coordinator. “VTI has worked diligently with the Chinese government in order to meet safety, regulatory and process requirements for pharmaceutical product that is shipped and consumed all over the world.”
• 2011 Essence of World Trade: WorldTrans Services Inc.
Presented to WorldTrans Services because of its high standards of integrity in business practices and promotion of global understanding and international commerce.
Martin Buchanan Opens Private Appellate Practice
Martin N. Buchanan has opened a private appellate practice in Downtown San Diego. The Law Offices of Martin N. Buchanan is located at 600 B St., Suite 1900. Before forming his own firm, Buchanan was a partner in the appellate law firm Niddrie, Fish & Buchanan. He has nearly 25 years of experience as an appellate lawyer, handling over 250 appeals and writs in state and federal appellate courts. In November 2010, he argued in front of the United State Supreme Court in the case of Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America Inc. Buchanan received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He served as a law clerk for the late Chief Judge Robert F. Peckham of the Northern District of California, and also worked as a senior staff attorney for Justice Cynthia G. Aaron of the California Court of Appeal in San Diego.
Marie Patino has joined Scatena Daniels Communications Inc. as an account coordinator. She is a recent graduate of the School of Journalism at San Diego State University. Patino worked for San Diego organizations and coordinated events, training and other special engagements. She worked for two years as an assistant project coordinator for Bosa Development Corp. and worked for five years as the sales and catering assistant at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla.
SDSU Holds Writers’ Conference
The 27th annual SDSU Writers’ Conference will be staged Jan. 28-30 at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley. Hours are 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. on Sunday. Attendance is $399 per person. Offered through SDSU’s College of Extended Studies, the conference is among the largest of its kind on the West Coast. Participants will discover ways to sharpen their writing skills and make connections with editors and agents of fiction, nonfiction, and screenwriting while learning how to publish in the traditional manner or on the Internet. For more information, call (619) 594-2517 or visit neverstoplearning.net/writers.
Small Business Workshops
SCORE San Diego has scheduled January workshops to help small business owners and those interested in starting a small business. Fees range from $29 to $109. For more information, call (619) 557-7272. To register for a workshop online, visit scoresandiego.org.
Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:
• Jan. 14 – Legal Issues for Small Business: Contracts and Leases – 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).
• Jan. 15 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Jan. 18 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Jan. 19 – Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales Through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Jan. 20 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Marketing Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Jan. 21 – Women’s Networking Breakfast – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $30 by Jan. 18, $40 thereafter).
• Jan. 21 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; no charge – please pre-register).
• Jan. 24 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now! – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Jan. 24 – Insurance: What You Need to Know – 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).
• Jan. 25 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Jan. 26 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
• Jan. 26 – Good Governance for Nonprofits: Effective Board Performance – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Jan. 27 – Internet Marketing 302: Develop a Winning E-mail Marketing Success Strategy – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Jan. 27 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Jan. 28 – Marketing and Contracting with State and Local Governments – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Jan. 31 – Intellectual Property: Promise and Practicalities – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.
