Daily Business Report — July 12, 2011
Crowley Law Group Adds a Daughter and a Former Intern
After a more than a quarter century as a sole criminal defense attorney, Michael L. Crowley has brought two independent associates to his law office — his 31-year-old daughter, Emily M. Crowley, and a former intern, Andre L. Verdun, 29. The company name changes from the Law Offices of Michael L. Crowley to Crowley Law Group. The firm has a Downtown San Diego office on West A Street and an El Cajon office on East Douglas Avenue.
Emily Crowley received her law degree from California Western School of Law, her father’s alma mater. There, she earned the Academic Achievement Award in California Sentencing Law. Crowley holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara. While in law school, Crowley interned with Appellate Defenders Inc. and worked as a research assistant for Professor Laurence Benner, examining probable cause standards in search warrants issued in San Diego County.After graduation, she volunteered with the California Innocence Project investigating inmates’ claims of factual innocence. She currently volunteers for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, where she mediates disputes between juveniles in the County Probation Department’s Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility; the Girls Think Tank, a homeless advocacy group in San Diego; and the New Lawyer Division Continuing Legal Education committee.
Andre Verdun holds a master’s degree in Federal Criminal Trial Defense Advocacy from California Western Law School’s LL.M. program. In the process, Verdun graduated from the “Trial Skills Academy” put on by the offices of Federal Defenders in Washington, D.C. He received his law degree from Southern California Institute of Law in Ventura, where he interned with the County Public Defender’s Offic. He also assisted a private solo practice in the filing of Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy cases.
Luce Forward Managing Partner Joins EDC Board
Kurt L. Kicklighter, managing partner of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, has joined the board of directors of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. He replaces Luce Forward’s former managing partner, Robert J. Bell. Kicklighter’s experience in regional business development includes work with The Security Network. “So much of what we do at Luce Forward involves adding value and growth to the region’s business community,” said Kicklighter. “As a leader of this business community, the firm owes a duty of good stewardship with its managing partner continuously serving as an active EDC board member.” Kicklighter is also on the board of the Make a Wish Foundation of San Diego. He has been managing partner at Luce Forward since January 2009.
Sequenom Signs Supply Deal with Illumina
San Diego life science company Sequenom Inc. has signed a three-year supply agreement with Illumina Inc. for the development of its proprietary prenatal Trisomy 21 diagnostic test. The blood test, which Sequenom expects to launch in the fourth quarter or early next year, is designed to detect an overabundance of chromosome 21 in pregnant women, a result associated with fetal Down syndrome. Under the terms of the agreement, Sequenom and its subsidiaries will purchase Illumina’s sequencing equipment for use in the development of the test.
Charles Koll Jewellers Opens New Location
Charles Koll Jewellers will celebrate the opening of its new location at 7007 Friars Road in San Diego on July 19. The opening event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Architect Graham Downes designed the new space. “We are thrilled with the design of our new store,” said Malcolm Koll, partner of Charles Koll Jewellers. “This is the first of its kind where guests will have full exposure to the tools — giving total transparency.”
Union Bank V.P. Elected to GSDBA Board
Justin Knepper, a vice president and business banking support manager for Union Bank, has been elected to the board of directors of the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA), a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) chamber of commerce. Knepper also serves as the steering committee chair and San Diego region chair for UB PROUD, Union Bank’s LGBTA Employee Resource Group. Knepper is one of five new members elected for 2011. Board members are elected once a year and serve a two-year term. Since 2009, Knepper has served on the GSDBA’s advocacy committee. Knepper’s community involvement also includes serving as co-chair for the Young Professionals Council at the LGBT Center, and as a council member for the San Diego Chief of Police LGBT Advisory Council. Knepper earned his MBA from San Diego State University.
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 13 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Avenue, San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• July 15 – Women’s Networking Breakfast and Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club in Rancho Santa Fe (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; attendees: $30 by July 12, $40 after; exhibitors: $80 by July 12, $90 after).
• 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).
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.
