Daily Business Report — July 25, 2012
UC San Diego Professor Wins $2.5 Million
Award for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention
Davey Smith, associate professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, is one of three recipients of the 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS research. Smith will receive $500,000 a year for the next five years to support a project for HIV prevention for drug users and other high-risk groups. The award was announced by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The award is intended to stimulate high-impact research that may lead to groundbreaking opportunities for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in drug abusers. Smith’s research group will work to develop a system that integrates patient demographics, geographic location, drug use and HIV strain in order to map patterns of new HIV infections as they occur. Smith was a 2008 winner of a 40 Under 40 Award from SD METRO.
San Diego Reader to Get New Home
The family trust that owns the San Diego Reader has purchased the Art Union Building at 2323 Broadway in Golden Hill for $1.96 million and intends to use it to operate the Reader. The purchase of the 17,297-square-foot property was made by the Holman Family Trust. The sellers were Harmon Nelson and Cynthia Weiber. The two-story office property features loft-like spaces, period details and high ceilings. Brokers from Colliers International and Walsh Property Group represented the parties in the transaction. The Reader’s current address is at 1703 India St. in Little Italy.
Qualcomm and Renault Team Up
For Wireless Electric Car Charging
Qualcomm said it has found a partner in Renault for its field trial of wireless electric car charging in London, a project that Qualcomm hopes will lead to the licensing of a technology it bought only last year, Forbes reports. Qualcomm signed a memorandum of understanding with Renault to work on the field trial and to figure out how to integrate the wireless charging technology into Renault’s cars. Qualcomm also announced that Delta Motorsports, an automotive engineering company in the UK, plans to put Qualcomm’s wireless technology into its electric cars, which will then be used for the same field trial in London later this year, according to the Forbes report.
San Diego County Taps Reno for 7.3 Million
Square Feet of Efficiency Improvements
The county of San Diego has selected Reno Efficient Sustainable Practices to provide energy and water conservation services to over 1,100 facilities totaling 7.3 million square feet. In conjunction with the county Department of General Services, Reno ESP, a division of Reno Contracting, will employ various services including LEED consulting, whole building energy assessments, building energy/water usage analysis, among others. The program’s efforts encompass the county’s entire portfolio, with over 1,100 facilities such as offices, community centers, health service centers, libraries, jails, parks and fleet garages.
Construction Starts on Luxury
Apartments in Carlsbad
Construction has started on 58 three-story luxury apartments at Costa Pointe in Carlsbad. The developer, Lighthouse Homes Inc., said the development is scheduled to open in December. Amenities will include a pool and spa, fitness center, covered barbeque area, circuit camera system surveillance and a tot lot.
PERSONNEL
Charles Montgomery
Xpera Group, a San Diego-based construction consulting services firm, has hired Charles Montgomery to head its business development. Montgomery was instrumental in Xpera’s recent acquisition of Roel Consulting Services Inc., which created the largest group of construction consulting experts in San Diego County. He has more than 30 years of construction management experience.
Juan Velasco
Juan Velasco has been named general manager of ARS San Diego, a heating and air conditioning services company. Velasco developed his expertise in the heating and air conditioning industry while working at Breckenridge Mechanical Inc., where he served as the operations manager for seven years, managing both administrative and technical operations for the company. He was then promoted to general manager. Velasco earned his bachelor’s degree in technical management from DeVry University and his master’s in business administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Bill Rose of Marcus & Millichap has been appointed Western division operation chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers. The one-year term began in April. Rose will represent the interests of owners, developers, investors, marketers and other retail specialists across the West. Rose previously served as California state director for the council. He has been with Marcus & Millichap since 2003. Before joining CleanTECH San Diego in 2007, Smithson worked in public policy for 10 years in Washington, D.C., in both the executive and legislative branches, as well as non- government organizations.
Holly Smithson has been appointed president and chief operating officer for CleanTECH San Diego. Smithson replaces Jim Waring, who resumes his role as executive chairman of the board. Before joining CleanTECH San Diego in 2007, Smithson worked in public policy for 10 years in Washington, D.C., in both the executive and legislative branches, as well as non- government organizations. In 2003, she was selected as a presidential appointee and worked in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Office of Congressional Relations and then leading its public affairs division.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
