Daily Business Report — Feb. 4, 2011
Bruce Reznik Heads Sustainable San Diego
Bruce Reznik, former executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper, has been named the director of Sustainable San Diego, a nonprofit collaboration of local, regional and statewide groups promoting sustainable practices. Reznik has been involved in environmental activities for nearly 20 years and spent 11 years with San Diego Coastkeeper before his resignation last November. “Bruce made Coastkeeper the leading voice on coastal protection in the region during his tenure there, and demonstrated a strong ability to bring different constituencies together to effectively advocate for the common good,” said Susan Riggs Tinsky, executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation, which serves as the fiscal agent for Sustainable San Diego. “We are thrilled to add someone with such a strong reputation and record of accomplishment.”
Sustainable San Diego said its mission is dedicated “to creating a vibrant and more equitable future for the San Diego region by strengthening and integrating land use, housing, transportation, environmental, health, social equity and economic development policies.” It was formed over a year ago to advocate for the implementation of a bill, now law, calling for the creation of regional growth plans. “I have long been interested in working to address the underlying policies that impact our environment and quality of life,” Reznik said. “I am incredibly fortunate to have an opportunity to work on the intersection of these policies for Sustainable San Diego as we develop and advocate for a shared vision for future development in our region that will transform San Diego into a model for sustainability.”
Judiciary Committee Approves Battaglia Court Nomination
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved President Obama’s nomination of Magistrate Judge Anthony Battaglia to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of California, which covers San Diego and Imperial counties. The president first nominated Battaglia last year and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination unanimously in December. However, Senate Republicans blocked his confirmation before the end of the last session. The Senate must confirm Battaglia’s nomination. Battaglia has served as a magistrate judge in the Southern District of California since 1993, where he handles trials, preliminary criminal proceedings, misdemeanor pleas and sentencing, felony guilty pleas and other matters in San Diego. Before becoming a judge, he was a litigator in private practice. Battaglia is the immediate past president of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association. Battaglia earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States International University, which is now Alliant International University. He received his law degree from the California Western School of Law.
Fish & Richardson Elevates Three to Principals
Attorneys Andrew Abrams, Michael Amon and Michael Rosen have been named principals of the law firm Fish & Richardson, whose Southern California office is in San Diego. Abrams will continue to focus his practice on trademark prosecution and representing clients in litigation matters. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 2000. Amon focuses his practice on patent infringement and business litigation. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, his master’s degree from the University of San Diego and his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University. Rosen’s specialty is IP litigation in the areas of medical devices, computer software, telecommunications, consumer electronics and biotechnology. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.
Somaxon Names Business Development V.P.
Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc. has appointed Robert Cutler as vice president of business development. Cutler has 13 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He previously was senior director of business development for Biogen Idec Inc. and associate general counsel of that company. Cutler spent over five years in private legal practice, where he completed numerous capital raising and strategic transactions for life science clients.
University Town Center Office Buildings Sold
MIG Real Estate of Newport Beach has acquired two office buildings in University Town Center in an all-cash transaction whose terms were not disclosed. The buildings total 138,000 square feet and are at 4110 and 4224 Campus Point Court. The multi-tenant office properties will be marketed to tenants with space requirements of 40,000 square feet or more. Louay Aldesak, Evan August, Chris Pascale and Mike Hoeck of CB Richard Ellis represented the seller in the transaction. MIG Real Estate did not have broker representation.
Caffe Calabria/Whole Foods Market Fundraising Party
Caffe Calabria in North Park and Whole Foods Market Hillcrest will sponsor a Feb. 28 “A Hand Up” fundraising party to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation, which provides microcredit loans to woman-owned, home-based businesses in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The 6 p.m. party at Caffe Calabria, 3330 30th St., will have live music by local singers and musicians, a silent auction and sales of local wines, beer, specialty coffees and small plates at reduced prices. Caffe Calabria has made a commitment to support villages where it buys its coffee beans. The café will feature $2 specialty coffee drinks and pizza slices from the just completed Italian brick oven. Other local selections include $3 pints, $4 wines, $2 empanadas assorted vegetarian and vegan plates and desserts. All proceeds will go to the foundation. Additional participating sponsors include the San Diego County Vintners Association, South Coast Winery, Ballast Point Brewery and The Finest Food Empanadas. For more information, or to make an auction donation, call Ray Kau at Whole Foods Market (619) 294.2800.
Remodeled Office Depot Store Now Open
Office Depot on Thursday opened its newly remodeled store at 4428 Convoy St. and accompanied it with the donation of 100 new children’s book bags along with essential school supplies and $100 to each of three local nonprofit organizations — the Miracle League of San Diego, the YMCA of San Diego County and Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. John Robles, store manager, said the store made several upgrades, including carpeted floors, a simple-to-navigate floor plan and the grouping of products in strategically located “pods,” with core office products on one side of the store and consumer electronics on the opposite side. The furniture area has been updated with additional product lines and assortments, and is located in the back of the store. The store employs six full-time employees and 10 part-time employees. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The telephone is (858) 569-9971.
Small Business Workshops
Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:
• Feb. 8 – Internet Marketing 304: Cost-Effective Internet Marketing Tools – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Feb. 8 – 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).
• Feb. 9 – 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).
• Feb. 9 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).
• Feb. 10 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 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).
• Feb. 11 – Legal Issues for Small Business: Organizational Structure – 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).
• Feb. 12 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Feb. 14 – Customer Service: The Key to Business Success – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Feb. 15 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 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).
• Feb. 15 – Marketing for Nonprofits – 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).
• Feb. 16 – Internet Marketing 303: Social Media for Small Businesses – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Feb. 18 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Feb. 23 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
• Feb. 25 – QuickBooks Advanced – 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).
• Feb. 25 – 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).
• Feb. 28 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
North County:
The Business & Entrepreneur Center and the Small Business Development Center at MiraCosta College will offer free upcoming workshops to help businesses succeed. The workshops will be held at Vista City Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:
March 1: Increase Sales Using Social Media: Learn how to incorporate social networking into a business.
April 5: Financing Options for Businesses: Direct lenders and the SBA will discuss financing options for a business.
May 3: Ways to Market A Business: Learn to identify the “right” customer for a business and easy ways to market your business to them.
June 7: Marketing A Business Using Google Tools: Learn how to use Google tools such as ad words, ad sense, Google trends and more.
Bring a lunch to the workshops. Drinks will be provided.
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.