Daily Business Report — March 2, 2011

Palomar College Offers Big New Learning Space

The newest structure on the campus of Palomar College in San Marcos is the $37 million multidisciplinary building, a 111,000-square-foot, three-story building that was completed by C.W. Driver for the Palomar Community College District. The building will house instruction for a variety of subjects, including anthropology, behavioral science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, multicultural studies, graphic communications, economics, history, political science, accounting, business management, legal studies and computer information systems. LPA Inc. designed the steel-framed building, which sits in the center of the campus.

Darren Mann, vice president of operations for C.W. Driver, said four existing buildings had to be demolished to complete the structure and company crews had to coordinate with a separate construction firm building on another site adjacent to the multidisciplinary building. Besides Mann, other members of the C.W. Driver team were David Christensen, senior project manager; Kevin Bearie, senior project manager; Jim Wessel, senior superintendent; James Swan, superintendent; and Grant Sawyer, senior project engineer.

Salk Institute Names Technology Executive

Robert MacWright, an expert in academic technology transfer, has been appointed executive director of the Salk Institute Office of Technology Development. MacWright was executive director of the University of Virginia Patent Foundation for more than a decade. He previously led the creation and development of technology transfer programs at Rutgers University, and served as executive director of the Rutgers University Office of Corporate Liaison and Technology Transfer. MacWright has practiced law at Kenyon & Kenyon, at Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom and at Frommer Lawrence & Haug.  He holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rutgers University and the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey.  He holds a law degree from The Rutgers School of Law in Newark.

Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center to Open April 3

UCSD’s Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the region’s first state-of-the-art cardiovascular patient care and research facility, will welcome its first patients on April 3, six years after receiving a naming gift from the Sulpizio family. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the center at 9434 Medical Center Drive in La Jolla, adjacent to Thornton Hospital. Tours will follow. “We’ve aspired to this kind of center for 40 years,” said Kirk Peterson, director of the cardiovascular center and professor of clinical cardiology and a cardiology consultant for the Naval Regional Medical Center and the VA San Diego Healthcare System. The (center) represents the culmination of that effort — to have a facility in which all disciplines render cardiac care — housed where we can all work in close proximity.” The four-story, 128,000-square-foot building has four operating rooms, four catherization labs, 22 day beds, 27 acute care beds and an expanded emergency department, shared with Thornton Hospital.

Jones Lang LaSalle Takes Over Office Building Management

Jones Lang LaSalle has assumed the management of four Class A office buildings in San Diego County for the owner — TIAA-CREF, a financial services organization. It will manage Pacific Plaza, a three-building office complex at 10935, 10945 and 10955 Vista Sorrento Parkway, and Centerside I, an office building at 3111 Camino Del Rio North. The firm is also the primary leasing agent of Centerside I. Karen Christensen has joined Jones Lang LaSalle and will continue to serve as general manager for the properties. Assistant general manager Marie Thomas will continue in her management role for the TIAA-CREF properties.

City Council Approves Embarcadero Funding

The San Diego City Council has approved a $28.6 million funding plan that will allow the first phase of a project to improve the North Embarcadero area of San Diego Bay to move forward. The action allows the Redevelopment Agency of the city of San Diego, acting through the Centre City Development Corp., to advance its share of construction costs so that the project can commence as soon as possible. The first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan is estimated to cost $28.6 million. It will be shared equally by the Port of San Diego and the Redevelopment Agency. The next hurdle in the project is gaining the approval of the California Coastal Commission, which is expected to vote on it at its April 13-15 meeting in Santa Barbara.

Executive Women International Meeting

The San Diego chapter of Executive Women International will hold its monthly meeting March 15 at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, in La Jolla. Meeting topic: “The 2010 Tax Relief Act – How Will it Impact You and Your Business? Speakers: Besse M. Johannsen, Ferris & Britton, and Susan Steele, Deloitte & Touche.  Registration fee is $45 (includes dinner).  For more information, or to RSVP, e-mail reena@allaboutpromotions.net.

Interior Design Work Offered

The San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers will send a professional interior designer to your home or business to help you with design work as part of its “Spring Spruce Up” fundraising program. Appointments are available through the end of May for the price of $85 per hour for one or two hours. Harold Pell, chair of the event, said participating designers come from throughout the county and have expertise in a wide range of design specialties. “Spring Spruce Up gives consumers who may have never worked with a professional interior designer an easy, affordable, and stress-free introduction,” said Pell.  “Designers are experts at saving clients money by eliminating errors and making smart design choices that reflect the tastes and budget of the client.” For more information and to register, contact the ASID office at (858) 274-3345 or visit asidsandiego.org.

Luce Forward Announces Leadership Changes

Peter H. Klee has joined the executive committee of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP. The law firm also announced changes to the leadership of its real estate and environmental litigation practice group. Klee, a partner in Luce Forward’s San Diego office, will be the newest member of the executive committee and will serve for three years. He is the founder and former practice group leader of the firm’s insurance litigation group. That group will now be led by partner Marc J. Feldman, who also works out of the San Diego office. Firm partner Roger C. Haerr has been named practice leader of the real estate and environmental litigation group, with partner Antony D. Nash serving as that group’s assistant practice leader.  Partner Amy Giannamore is now the assistant practice leader of the firm’s real estate securities and finance group, which is currently led by partner Darryl Steinhause. Haerr, Nash, Giannamore and Steinhause all practice out of the firm’s San Diego office.

Scripps Mercy Receives $500,000 Gift

The Hervey Family Non-Endowment Fund at San Diego Foundation has awarded a $500,000 gift to support the Robotics program at Scripps Mercy. The gift has been designated for the Doug Barnhart Challenge to provide funds to expand and renovate current operating rooms at the Scripps Mercy San Diego campus into Robotic surgical suites. The suites will include state-of-the-art technology, lighting and design.

Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:

• 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.

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