Daily Business Report — July 15, 2011
William Geppert Takes Interim CEO Post at EDC
William Geppert, recently retired from Cox Communications, has been appointed interim CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. while the agency searches for a person to fill the position. Geppert agreed to the appointment but will not be a candidate for the permanent position. The appointment was made after Barry Broome, head of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, changed his mind after the board announced his selection for the job. “Bill served two terms as EDC’s chairman and is very familiar with the organization’s current structure,” said EDC Chair Debbie Reed, CEO, Sempra Energy. EDC’s executive search committee reconvened following the decision by Broome to remain in Phoenix. “I am pleased to be in a position to lead EDC during the next six months,” Geppert said. “Since recently retiring from Cox Communications my focus has been to give back to the San Diego community. I look forward to working with EDC’s board of directors to improve the business climate to foster job growth and to help EDC find a permanent CEO to lead the region’s economic development strategy.”
Landfill Power Plant to Benefit Marine Corps Base
Miramar Energy LLC, a subsidiary of New York-based Fortistar Methane Group, has been awarded a contract by the Navy to build a methane gas-powered power plant that will supply Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) with up to half of its daily power over a 15-year period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded a $42.7 million contract to purchase the renewable energy. Construction of the plant will be at city of San Diego’s Miramar landfill, which is on leased land from the Navy and is adjacent to the base. Minnesota Methane, a subsidiary of Fortistar Methane Group, currently manages a power plant that collects methane gas at the landfill to generate electricity for landfill operations. The plan’’s renewable energy is also sold to the city of San Diego. Capt. Keith Hamilton, commanding officer of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, said the project is one of several the Navy is pursuing in the Southwest. RQ-Berg JV of Carlsbad was awarded a $5.4 million contract in February to construct an electrical distribution system to supply renewable energy from the landfill power plant site to MCAS Miramar.
Northrop Grumman Receives &65 Million Air Force Contract
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $65 million contract to provide enhanced communications equipment for aircraft cockpits. The company will provide the Air Force Air Mobility Command with 58 systems to be installed in 28 C-130J aircraft and 24 C-17 aircraft. The contract also includes two years of training and payload support at four sites in the United States and three overseas locations. The contract was awarded by the Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. The Northrop Grumman effort for the Air Mobility Command is related to its work on the Real Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC) program. Under a contract awarded in September 2010, the company is providing a RTIC capability for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command C-130H aircraft.
Scripps Health Acquires Del Mar Family Practice
Scripps Health has acquired Del Mar Family Practice to add primary care to its existing Scripps Clinic Del Mar location at 12395 El Camino Real. The location also includes Scripps Clinic Center for Weight Management and the Scripps Clinic Division of Plastic Surgery. Physicians of Del Mar Family Practice will join Scripps Clinic Medical Group, which includes more than 400 physicians practicing in more than 50 areas of medicine and surgery. Scripps Health contracts for the exclusive services of the Scripps Clinic Medical Group physicians through the Scripps Medical Foundation. Providers of Del Mar Family Practice include founder Lawrence J. Schlitt and Christen M. Benke, who are both board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. The Del Mar Family Practice physicians have a long-standing relationship with Scripps Health and both currently practice at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Scripps will acquire the assets of the two-physician practice, which is located in Carmel Valley and also serves the communities of Del Mar, La Jolla and Encinitas.
Program to Help Adults Return to School
The Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Recreate Yourself,” a free orientation meeting for adults interested in returning to school to learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade workplace skills for a job promotion. It will be held Aug. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Building 34, Room 107, on the college campus in El Cajon. Speakers will include current and former students who successfully returned to the classroom. Counselors will be on hand to answer questions. Information will be available on admission procedures, transfer programs and financial aid. For more information, phone Nancy Davis at (619) 644-7615 or Susan Esparza at (619) 644-7697, or visit grossmont.edu/adultreentry.
Small Business Workshops
SCORE San Diego continues its series of low-cost workshops. Fees range from $29 to $109, depending on the program. To register online, visit score-sandiego.org. For more information, call (619) 557-7272.
• July 16 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Avenue, San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• July 16 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 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).
• July 18 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Avenue, San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• July 19 – Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Avenue, San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• July 20 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
• July 21 – Hot to Start a Non-Profit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation in Point Loma (2508 Historic Decatur Rd., #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• July 22 – Intellectual Property: Promise and Practicalities – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Avenue, San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• July 25 – Customer Service: The Key to Business Success – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $39, $49 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. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865.