Daily Business Report — Feb. 17, 2012

Humane Society Selects New President and CEO

Gary L. Weitzman, president and CEO of the Washington Animal Rescue League, has been selected as the new president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. Weitzman, who has more than 20 years of experience as an animal welfare professional, will begin his new job in mid-May. Weitzman currently chairs the DC Board of Veterinary Medicine. He was appointed director of the Washington Animal Rescue League’s Medical Center in 2004 and became president and CEO in 2008. During Weitzman’s tenure, the Rescue League has become a national resource for disaster and puppy mill rescues and a recognized leader in animal physical and behavioral rehabilitation. Since 2008, he has co-hosted “The Animal House,” National Public Radio’s nationally distributed program that explores the latest in animal science, pet health and behavior, and wildlife conservation. Weitzman’s prior experience includes serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1993 to 1997. He owned and operated a community-based small animal hospital in Burlingame from 1997 to 2003.

KMA to Design Marine Corps Base Warehouse

KMA Architecture & Engineering (KMA) has been selected as the architect for a new warehouse for the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton, in a design/build partnership with Balfour Beatty Construction. Construction on the warehouse is expected to begin in April and will be complete in mid 2013. KMA will begin designs for the 30,000-square-foot, $6.5 million project to meet LEED Gold certification. In addition to energy efficient features, the single-story structure will include high bay doors, a full-length loading dock along the north side, CMU bearing walls and a steel roof. Designs will allow the option to expand the building to 90,000 square feet in the future. “The new warehouses are being built to replace existing buildings that were constructed before World War II,” said KMA principal Robb Walker. David Purtee of Balfour Beatty Construction is the project manager. 



SR Commercial Purchases Vista Industrial Building

SR Commercial, a commercial real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Cardiff by the Sea, has purchased a 39,672-square-foot vacant freestanding industrial building at 2390 Oak Ridge Way in Vista. The company is acquiring distressed industrial and retail properties throughout Southern California. Built in 2000, the Vista building is being upgraded and renovated by SR Commercial. The firm plans to lease the building as a corporate headquarters. In addition to the Vista acquisition, SR Commercial has acquired a contract to manage a 45,000-square-foot multi-tenant industrial building at 1780, 1784 and 1788 La Costa Meadows Drive in San Marcos.