Daily Business Report — Sept. 4, 2012
San Diego Ranks High in Venture Capital Funding
The National Venture Capital Association ranks San Diego sixth among major U.S. cities in terms of venture capital dollars, with 329 start-ups and $915 million invested for 89 companies in 2011.
NAWBO San Diego Sponsors Branding Seminar
Personal branding is the topic of a Sept. 14 seminar sponsored by NAWBO San Diego. Featured speaker will be Katy Goshtasbi, founder of Puris Image. Her topics include: the difference between a personal brand and a business brand and why a personal brand is important to a business. The seminar will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Brandman University, 7460 Mission Valley Road, San Diego. NAWBO members have the option of attending this seminar for free (without lunch) or $10 (with a box lunch). The fee for visitors (which includes lunch) is $25. Registration is available through noon on Sept. 13 ay nawbo-sd.org.
Tijuana EDC and MEDevice San Diego
Sponsor Tour of Baja Medical Facilities
The Tijuana Economic Development Corp. and MEDevice San Diego will sponsor a free guided bus tour of two medical manufacturing facilities in Baja California on Sept. 18. The trip, which shows how medical manufacturers are taking advantage of cross-border manufacturing opportunities, includes tours of Greatbatch Medical and Fisher & Paykel. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The bus trip departs the San Diego Convention Center at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 18, arriving at the first facility at 11 a.m. The bus leaves Baja at 3:30 p.m., returning to San Diego at around 5:30 p.m. The tour is free for all registered attendees of MEDevice Forum San Diego. After registering for MEDevice, visit the Calibaja Manufacturing Facility Tour Page and sign up for the tour.
PERSONNEL
Kimberley Lynch 
Kimberley Lynch has joined the Wolf Wiese Magaña investment advisory firm in Carlsbad as a financial adviser. Lynch will focus on helping “women in transition,” such as women who are divorced, widowed or going through career changes, navigate through their financial challenges. Lynch previously was a financial adviser at Primerica. Before that, she worked for Global Crossing as its western regional sales manager. She holds a master’s degree in international business from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Morristown, N.J. and a bachelor’s in international studies, economics and German from Russell Sage College in New York.
Kevin Escoto 
Kevin Escoto, a five-year hospitality veteran, has been hired as director of operations at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Del Mar. He will oversee the front desk and the daily operations of the property and provide support to the Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. Originally from Claremont, Escoto previously was director of front office at the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont.
Billy Gasparino
The San Diego Padres have named Billy Gasparino director of scouting, promoting him from his position as national crosschecker. Gasparino, 35, first joined the Padres as a national crosschecker in the fall of 2010 after serving in the same capacity with the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007. He originally joined the Blue Jays as an area scout covering Southern California from 2004-06. Prior to his time with Toronto, he interned with the Cleveland Indians in 2003. An infielder during his playing career, Gasparino was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University.
Small Business Workshops-SCORE San Diego
For information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.
Sept. 6 — Use the Internet to Market Your Business
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Prepaid registration $69. $79 at the door.
Sept. 7 — Buying and Selling a Business
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Pre-paid registration $69. $79 at the door.
Sept. 11 — QuickBooks Advanced
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Pre-paid registration $69. $79 at the door.
Sept. 12 — How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Pre-paid registration $79. $89 at the door.
Sept. 13 — Financing Your Business
9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center, 550 West C St., #550, San Diego. Pre-paid registration $29. $39 at the door.
Sept. 14 — Governance for Nonprofits: Effective Performance
9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation,2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego. Pre-paid registration $39. $49 at the door.
Sept. 15 — Start-Up Essentials
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. Pre-paid registration $69. $79 at the door.
Sept. 17 — Business Basics – Are You Ready to Start Your Own Business?
9 to 11 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center, 550 West C St., #550, San Diego. Pre-paid registration $15. $20 at the door.
Sept. 18 — Increase Sales Through Pay-Per-Click
9 a.m. to noon at National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego. 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.
