Daily Business Report — March 1, 2011

Nadia Bermudez Wins Top Lawyer Honors

Nadia Bermudez, partner in the San Diego law firm GCR LLP, is one of five attorneys nationally to receive the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2010 Top Lawyers under 40 award. She is the only San Diego attorney to receive the award. The association said the national award winners distinguished themselves as top Hispanic attorneys through their professional excellence, leadership and commitment to the Latino community. Bermudez works with attorneys on a national level and in her own firm to help them achieve positive outcomes in their cases. She has served as president of San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association and has been on its board since 2002. Bermudez also serves on the board of La Raza’s Scholarship Fund, which supports Latino law students in reaching their educational goals. She also served as president of the Lawyers Club of San Diego from 2008-2009.

“My philosophy is to lead by example,” said Bermudez. “I enjoy mentoring Latina law students and junior attorneys because I can provide career guidance and encourage them to be an active participant in their community. When attorneys are involved in their community, they gain a true understanding of what is happening around them and can therefore make positive change in their field and neighborhood.” Bermudez will accept her award at the Hispanic National Board Association’s mid-year conference March 12 in New Orleans. Bermudez represents employers in employment-related litigation including discrimination claims, wrongful termination, harassment, and wage and hour violations. She proviades legal services required by municipal and governmental entities of all sizes and is an expert in contract and tort-based claims.

Gordon Dunfee Leads California Receivers Forum Chapter

Gordon E. Dunfee has been elected president of the San Diego chapter of the California Receivers Forum for the 2011 term. Dunfee is a veteran real estate broker, developer, court-appointed receiver and attorney specializing in real estate law. He launched his real estate career 30 years ago with Coldwell Banker (now CB Richard Ellis).  Later, he joined the Lusk Company as vice president and San Diego division manager overseeing and expanding the company’s $650 million San Diego portfolio. He has also been involved in real estate as a private real estate developer and CEO of a large commercial construction company. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.

Other officers elected for the 2011 term include Vice President Kelly McLaren of Trigild; Secretary Thomas Hebrank of Douglas Wilson Companies; and Treasurer Mike Essary of Calsur Management & Realty.   Four new board members were elected: Gary Elam of Solana Advisors; Christopher Hawkins, Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel APLC; Derick Hembd of Willis Insurance Services of California Inc.; and Jerry Jacquet of Meissner Jacquet. Returning board members include Gordon Gerson of Gerson Law Firm APC; Robert Griswold of Griswold Real Estate Management; Orville Power of Vertical Infill; and Tony Yousif of Sperry Van Ness.

Joanna Fuller Joins Fish & Richardson Law Firm

Joanna Fuller has joined the law firm of Fish & Richardson as an associate in its intellectual property litigation group. Fuller earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley. Before attending law school, Fuller spent several years working as a chemical engineer at Dow Chemical Corp. and at ALZA Corp. in Mountain View, Calif. Fuller served as a law clerk for Judge David R. Thompson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and as a judicial intern for Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Fuller has also worked as a law clerk for the civil division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego, as a law clerk for the environmental and natural resources division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and as a research assistant at the Energy Policy Initiative Center.

Forum to Examine Governor’s Redevelopment Proposal

The Grantville Action Group and Affordable Housing Coalition of San Diego will hold a community forum March 2 on Gov. Brown’s proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Door of Hope, 2799 Health Center Drive, San Diego. Speakers will include Fred Schnaubelt, president of Citizens for Private Property Rights and a former San Diego councilman; Mike Aguirre, former city attorney; Brian Trotier, former interim president of the Southeastern Economic Development Corp.; and Grian Peterson, CEO of the Grantville Action Group.

Mercado del Barrio Project to be Outlined

The Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana will sponsor a March 8 program to provide information on the $80 million Mercado del Barrio mixed-use project in Barrio Logan. The event will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The University Club, 750 B St. in Downtown San Diego. Sponsors of the project say it will create 200 short-term jobs, 223 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs. Speakers will include San Diego Councilman David Alvarez; Tim Baker, project manager of Chelsea Investment Corp.; Kevin McCook, acquisition and development manager with Shea Properties; Robert Chavez, project manager with the city of San Diego Redevelopment Agency; Lara Gates, senior planner with the city; and Mark Steele of MW Steele Group, the moderator. ULI members are $45, nonmembers are $55 and students are $30.

General Dynamics Gets $78.4 Million Cyberspace Contract

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific in San Diego has awarded General Dynamics a $78.4 million contract to examine the engineering and functionality of cyberspace systems. The contract has a total potential value of $204 million over five years if all options are exercised. Under the contract, General Dynamics will provide basic and applied cyberspace research, digital forensics and reverse engineering capabilities, information operations expertise, cyber mission planning, doctrine and policy development, as well as modeling and simulation. General Dynamics will also provide software design and implementation as well as systems integration, test and evaluation and demonstration.

Marine Corps Barracks Receives LEED Certification

The Wounded Warrior Barracks at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has received a LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Building Certification Institute. It is the first Marine Corps project to be awarded a LEED Platinum designation, the highest level of certification. The $24 million Wounded Warrior Barracks was completed in March 2010 by Barnhart Balfour Beatty. The project features 100 semi-private suites for men and women of all ranks.

Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:

• March 3 – Leasing Strategies – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 5 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).

• March 5 – Costing, Pricing, Break-Even Analysis – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

•  March 8 – Managing Grants and Contracts for Nonprofits – 9 to 11 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).

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

• March 10 – 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).

• March 11 – 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).

• March 12 – 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).

• March 12 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 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).

• March 14 – 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 preregister).

• March 15 – 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).

• March 17 – California Sales and Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 18 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; Attendees: $30 by March 15, $40 thereafter; Exhibitors: $80 by March 15, $90 thereafter).

• March 19 – 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).

• March 19 – 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).

• March 22 – Marketing & Contracting with Federal Government – 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).

• March 24 – 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).

• March 25 – 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).

• March 30 – 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 preregister).

• March 30 – How to Start a Nonprofit – 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).

For more information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.

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:

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.