Daily Business Report — May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Men Who Rock — July’s issue of SD METRO will identify 20 men who are making an impact in San Diego in their chosen fields. You are invited to submit nominations, describing your candidate’s qualifications. Send your nominations to rebecapage@sandiegometro.com.
CCDC Votes to Approve Hotels Project
On the Site of the Old Fat City Property
The board of the Centre City Development Corp. voted Wednesday in favor of Jonathan Segal and partners’ plan to develop the old Fat City Restaurant property into two hotels. CCDC Chairman Kim Kilkenny denied a permit to Segal for construction of apartments on the site in February, a plan that drew objections from the nearby Solar plant. The two-hotel project, however, was supported by Solar, whose president, James Umpleby, told the board that the company stands “in full support” of the hotel complex.
Pet Grooming Measure Approved by State Senate
A measure that would create a voluntary certification program for the pet grooming industry has been approved by the state Senate and heads to the Assembly. SB 969, so-called “Lucy’s Law,” was authored by Sen. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego) to prevent injuries to animals being groomed. “Owners of pets put the health and safety of their animals in the hands of groomers without realizing there are currently no standards in place for the pet groomers. With this bill, I hope to aid pet owners in avoiding appalling incidences at the grooming salon.” SB 969 would create the California Pet Grooming Council and would allow for voluntary certification by pet groomers and pet bathers and brushers. The council would be authorized to impose administrative penalties for violation of the law.
Older Buildings at San Diego State to Get Renovations
The Storm and Nasatir Halls, two of the older buildings at San Diego State University, are slated for renovation beginning this week to bring the 1957 buildings up to modern standards. After the $73 million renovations are completed in 2015, the two-building complex will offer upgraded program space for eight academic departments from the College of Arts and Letters. The renovations will include new and upgraded classroom technologies, academic and research laboratories and faculty offices. Renovations will also include two new lecture halls with 275 and 475 seats, and a small food service facility/convenience store. “The design will increase energy efficiency, make the buildings more modern with technological improvements, and, most importantly, make the buildings more comfortable and useful for our students,” said Bob Schulz, associate vice president of operations. LPA Inc. is the project architect and CW Driver is the general contractor.
Northrop Grumman’s Unmanned Aircraft System
to Patrol Skies Over Canada’s Arctic Territories
Northrop Grumman Corp. and L-3 MAS announced plans to join forces on a variant of Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system for Canada to maintain surveillance of its Arctic territories. Dubbed “Polar Hawk,” the system will be designed to stay aloft for long periods of time in harsh weather conditions over vast expanses of the earth’s surface monitoring land, ice, littoral and open water environments throughout the Arctic. “Polar Hawk’s operational features are uniquely suited to augment Canada’s existing surveillance capabilities and extend its reach to patrol large geographical areas, keeping constant vigil over the nation’s vast Arctic region from coast-to-coast in a single mission,” said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s unmanned systems business. Flying at 60,000 feet, well above all commercial air traffic, Polar Hawk can range over 22,000 kilometres and stay airborne for more than 33 hours, day or night in all weather conditions.
Construction Completed of Boys & Girls Club
PCL Construction Services Inc. has completed the construction of the James A. Bronner branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego at the Valley Center Upper Elementary School campus in Valley Center. The project included the renovation and modernization of an existing 5,700-square foot single-story multipurpose building into a joint-use facility for the club and elementary school. The project architect was OBR Architecture. PCL’s construction team included Project Manager Eric Gradyan and Superintendent Rod Callahan.
PERSONNEL MOVES ____________________________________
San Diego — Donna O. Perdue has joined the law firm of Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne as of counsel in the intellectual property practice group. Previously, Perdue was in private practice at Perdue IP Law in San Diego. She has worked as an attorney at large law firms throughout the U.S. including Pillsbury Winthrop and Knobbe Martens. Perdue sits on the International Advisory Committee for Public Interest Intellectual Property Advisors. She received her J.D. from University of Washington School of Law, her Ph.D. from Cornell University and her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College.
San Diego — Scott Hall has been named managing director of the San Diego office of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler (HFF). He specializes in hotel investment sales as well as hotel and resort equity and debt placement transactions. Hall previously worked for Lowe Enterprises as a vice president in the hospitality group and the real estate services group, and for Watt Commercial Properties as an acquisition, finance and development associate.
SCORE San Diego Small Business Workshops
June 1 – QuickBooks Advanced – 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).
June 5 – Financing Your Business – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
u June 6 – 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).
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
