Daily Business Report — June 26, 2012

Cubic Corp. Founder Walter J. Zable
Dead at 97 — Led Company to Prominence

Walter J. Zable, founder of the San Diego-based defense contractor Cubic Corp., has died at 97, the company announced. .Zable founded the firm in 1951 and led it to prominence in providing defense training products, mission support and transportation systems. The company’s annual sales now total $1.28 billion. For all the military gear it produces, Cubic’s most visible products to the public are fare collection equipment for mass transportation agencies. Zable’s son, Walter C. Zable, was appointed chairman by the board of directors, which also named William Boyle to be the company’s interim president and CEO. The elder Zable had not been involved in managing his company for a few years, but he kept track of its major business units and went to the office every day until recently. “Walter J. Zable has been a wonderful inspiration to Cubic Corporation and its family of companies and its more than 7,800 employees,” Boyle said. “He was also a generous and caring person who did a great deal for the community. He will be missed, but we remain resolved to maintain and expand Cubic’s global presence as a tribute to our remarkable founder.” — City News Service

CCDC and SEDC Merger
Will Be Called ‘Civic San Diego

The San Diego City Council approved a proposed merger between two quasi-independent agencies that had been in the redevelopment business until the state shut down the practice. The combined Centre City Development Corp. and its cousin, the Southeastern Development Corp., will become known as “Civic San Diego” on a 7-1 vote. Councilwoman Marti Emerald dissented. Redevelopment agencies throughout California were ordered to dissolve under legislation signed into law last year and later upheld by the state Supreme Court. By closing redevelopment agencies, their funding becomes available for other public projects. The new Civic San Diego organization will wind down current redevelopment activities, help with land-use permitting and planning, manage Downtown parking meter income, and support economic development, according to city documents. Civic San Diego’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is set for $5.9 million and primarily will be funded through permit application fees, parking meter revenues, and administrative and project management fees. — City News Service

Advanced BioHealing Inc. to Build Large
Office, Lab and Manufacturing Facility

BioMed Realty Trust Inc. has purchased two parcels of land totaling 15.7 acres in Sorrento Mesa for $20 million and will lease it to Advanced BioHealing Inc., a regenerative medicine company, which intends to build office, laboratory, warehouse and manufacturing facilities of more than 150,000 square feet. Construction is to start this year. The property is locatedat the intersection of Camino Santa Fe and Summers Ridge Road.

General Atomics Deploys Gray Eagle F/227 UAV

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has announced the recent deployment of the first full company of Gray Eagle F/227 unmanned aircraft. Following training and internal Army evaluation exercises, F/227 is now deployed with 12 aircraft, the company said.  Gray Eagle aircraft logged over 1,700 flight hours during a total of 238 flights over the initial seven-month training and evaluation period. In the meantime, a second Gray Eagle company is currently staging its equipment in conjunction with readiness level operator and maintainer training.

Rural/Metro Ambulance Hires 20 Emergency
Medical Technicians and Plans to Add More

Rural/Metro Ambulance announced the hiring of 20 emergency medical technicians to serve San Diego’s emergency medical services needs. The new hire class underwent a one-week orientation, and received badges at a ceremony on June 22.  Rural/Metro serves the city of San Diego with more than 400 paramedics and EMTs on a daily basis. Rural/Metro will be hiring again for emergency medical technicians before the end of the year. It currently employs more than 550 employees, serves San Diego with a fleet of 80 ambulances and responds to more than 100,000 emergency calls per year.

PERSONNEL MOVES

San Diego — Daniel Paramo, 51, of San Diego, has been appointed warden at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. He has served as acting warden since 2011. Paramo was chief deputy warden from 2008 to 2011 and associate warden from 2006 to 2008 at Centinela State Prison. He served in multiple positions at Calipatria State Prison from 1991 to 2006, including facility captain, classification and parole representative, correctional counselor and community resource manager. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,668. Paramo is a Democrat.