Daily Business Report — May 22, 2012
11 County School Districts Report Perilous Financial Situations
Eleven school districts in San Diego County, including some of the region’s largest, were among 188 in California — an all time high — reporting perilous financial situations, the state Department of Education announced Monday. School districts are required by the state to report three times annually on their financial condition for the current and next two fiscal years. They must give certifications on their status — positive means they can meet their financial obligations; qualified means they might have problems paying their bills; or negative, meaning they will not be able to make their payments. No districts in San Diego County issued negative certifications in the second interim report to the state, but 11 gave a qualified certification, including Borrego Springs Unified, Carlsbad Unified, Fallbrook Union High, Grossmont Union High, Jamul-Dulzura Union Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Ramona City Unified, San Diego Unified, San Marcos Unified, San Ysidro Elementary and Vista Unified. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said 2.6 million children are educated by school districts around the state that are in financial difficulty. The total of 188 districts is 61 more than listed in the first interim report, he said. — City News Service.
Danziger To Leave CCDC for PR Post 
Derek Danziger, vice president of marketing and communications for the Centre City Development Corp. — an agency with an uncertain future — has taken a job as vice president of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, one of San Diego’s oldest public relations firm. He begins the new job on July 2. Danziger held his CCDC post since 2008 and has more than 17 years of experience in public relations, marketing and public affairs. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be involved with such a passionate organization, full of people dedicated to positively transforming our Downtown and bringing new life to our city. But, I’m also very excited by the chance to move on to an exciting new phase in my career,” Danziger said in an email. His previous work has included stints in the education and public relations departments at SeaWorld San Diego, and coordinating international media relations activities for the grand opening of Legoland California. CCDC’s future as the redevelopment arm of the city for Downtown was clouded after redevelopment agencies throughout the state were put out of business by Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature to help balance the state budget.
BBB Warns Businesses of Phony Emails
The San Diego Better Business Bureau is warning businesses about phony emails purporting to be from the agency that claim there is a consumer complaint against the business. The emails contain the BBB’s name and brand logo and redirects the user to a website infected with malware software intended to damage or disable computers and networks. The BBB said the emails are a scam because it does not send complaints to businesses as email attachments. The BBB said it believes the fraudulent emails are part of a nationwide phishing scam designed to extract financial data from computer networks for the purpose of identity theft, including stealing sensitive financial information from businesses that use online banking accounts. Copycat spammers also are reportedly sending multiple copies of the same spoofing email containing links to the malware or a virus. Some victims with infected computers after clicking the link have lost money transferred out of their bank accounts, the BBB said.
The Preuss School Tops Again in Newsweek Survey
The Preuss School, a charter middle and high school on the campus of UC San Diego, has again been named the top transformative school in the country by Newsweek magazine for its ability in getting low-income and first-generation students ready for college and beyond. The ranking is included in the “America’s Best High Schools” list. In addition to being named the No. 1 Transformative High School in the U.S., The Preuss School also is ranked at the top of all San Diego County high schools and is ranked 30th overall in the nation.
Reaction Design Relocates
Reaction Design, a developer of combustion simulation software, has relocated its corporate headquarters to the Pacific Corporate Park, 5930 Cornerstone Court West, Suite 230, in San Diego. Bernie Rosenthal, CEO of the company, said the new location offers significantly more useable square footage to allow for upgraded customer and employee facilities. It was represented in its new lease by Hughes Marino. An open house is scheduled for May 24 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
The New Children’s Museum Adds Staff
Three new staff members have been added to the management team of The New Children’s Museum, joining Executive Director and CEO Julianne Markow and Tomoko Kuta, director of education and exhibitions. The new hires are Hannah Berger, director of development; Kerri Fox, director of marketing and communications; and Wade Lindenberger, director of finance and administration. Berger, who has more than 10 years experience in the charitable sector, recently managed fundraising and grantmaking programs for the Herbalife Family Foundation in Los Angeles. Fox has more than 10 years experience in account management at agencies in Los Angeles and Chicago. Lindenberger, with more than 20 years of experience in finance, administration and senior management, previously was a CPA at Big Four accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. (Pictured: The management team: Tomoko Kuta, Wade Lindenberger, Kerri Fox, Julianne Markow and Hannah Berger. Photo by Paul Nestor.)
Architectural School Leader Wins
Construction Education Award
Linda Thomas-Mobley, chair of the construction management program at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, has been named winner of the 2012 Carol A. Kueker Construction Education Visionary Award by the National Association of Women in Construction Education Foundation. Thomas-Mobley’s role in leading the creation of the school’s online Master of Construction Management program was cited by the foundation. The Kueker award recognizes a U.S. educator or advocate who has a passion for and dedication to construction education. The National Association of Women in Construction’s San Diego chapter named Thomas-Mobley its Executive of the Year for 2012.
Second Chance Founder Speaks Today in La Jolla
Author and public speaker Scott H. Silverman will appear at the La Jolla Community Center today at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. Silverman, considered a leader in the field of workforce development, is the author of “Tell Me No, I Dare You: A Guide for Living a Heroic Life.” He was, for more than two decades, the founder and executive director of Second Chance, a human services agency that provided job readiness training, employment placement assistance, mental health counseling, case management, and affordable housing referrals to people in need. The community center is located at 6811 La Jolla Blvd.
PERSONNEL MOVES ____________________________________
San Diego — Edward J. Marr has been named senior vice president, investment officer for San Diego County Credit Union. Marr has more than 30 years of financial management experience. He is responsible for overseeing the credit union’s investment portfolio. Marr previously served for the past five years as investment officer and treasurer with The Golden 1 Credit Union of Sacramento. Marr also spent 12 years with ESL Federal Credit Union of Rochester, N.Y., as its treasurer. He has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
