Daily Business Report — Jan. 24, 2013

USD Ranks in Top 25 for Best Online Business Programs

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of San Diego’s master’s degree program in supply chain management as one of the top 25 online graduate business programs in the country. USD was ranked 23rd out of 148 programs. The master’s in supply chain management was ranked fourth in the area of student engagement, the list’s most heavily weighted component measured by student satisfaction and instructor’s responsiveness. The rankings were also based on admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, and student services and  technology.

Demographic Shift Could Lead to
Shakeup in S.D. Council District 4

Voters in San Diego’s District 4 will soon weigh in on whom their next city councilmember will be. An African American has represented the district since 1969. But a new study out from the National University System Institute for Policy Research said the makeup of the district is changing, KPBS reports. The institute’s Vince Vasquez said that could impact future elections. “Latinos and Asians are not only increasing in population and are now in greater numbers than African Americans and caucasian,” he said. “But, in just the last five years, Asian and Latino voter registration has increased dramatically.” Additionally, the city’s African American population dropped 15 percent between 2000 and 2010. Vasquez said many historical African American communities are losing members as the economic situations of blacks improve and they move to different neighborhoods. The report projects less than a quarter of District 4’s registered voters are expected to actually vote in the special election.

Airport Authority Bonds Get High
Ratings From Major Credit Agencies

SDnews.com — Three major credit rating agencies have given high marks to bonds to be issued by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for continued funding of The Green Build Terminal 2 expansion program and a variety of programs in the capital improvement program for San Diego International Airport. The ratings came from Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s.

On Jan. 8, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services assigned its A+ long-term rating to the Airport Authority’s anticipated series 2013 senior airport revenue bonds of about $411 million. In addition, the agency affirmed its A rating on the Airport Authority’s subordinate airport revenue bonds and assigned a stable rating outlook on all bonds.

On Jan. 7, Fitch Ratings assigned an A+ rating to San Diego County Regional Airport Authority’s $411 million series 2013 senior airport revenue bonds. Fitch also affirmed its A rating on outstanding subordinate revenue bonds. The rating outlook on all bonds is stable. Also on Jan. 7, Moody’s Investors Services assigned an A1 rating to the airport’s anticipated series 2013 senior airport revenue bonds, affirmed its A2 rating on the Airport Authority’s subordinate airport revenue bonds and assigned a rating outlook of stable. These ratings are above the median for U.S. airports.

San Diego Venture Groups Elects 2013 Board

San Diego Venture Group has elected its board of directors for 2013, adding eight new members and acknowledging more than 20 years of service from five retiring board members. The new board members hail from the venture capital, technology, law, and banking industries and will join 26 returning board members in leading the volunteer organization.

The newly elected board members are:

• Buzz Kreppel, senior relationship manager, Silicon Valley Bank.

• Bob Baltera, former CEO, Amira Pharmaceuticals.

• Lee Barken, information technology practice leader, Haskell & White.

• David Coats, managing director, Correlation Ventures.

• Bruce Hansen, former CEO, ID Analytics.

• Nimesh Shah, principal, Domain Associates LLC.

• Randy Socol, partner, DLA Piper.

• Dennis Kim, vice president, Wells Fargo Bank.

Retiring from the board are Craig Knox, Andy Pelletier, Steve Stuckey, Raquel Cunningham and Mike Krenn. David Titus is president of the organization.

Scripps Research Institute Names VP for External Affairs

The Scripps Research Institute has appointed David Blinder as senior vice president for external affairs. Blinder begins his new position, which oversees external affairs on both the Scripps California and Scripps Florida campuses, on March 1. Blinder joins TSRI from UC Berkeley, where he has been associate vice chancellor of university relations and vice president of the UC Berkeley Foundation. In that capacity, Blinder was senior manager of a fundraising effort that raised $2.7 billion toward a $3 billion goal. Blinder was an assistant professor at Yale University and was a member of the philanthropy staff at Princeton University, becoming director of development there in 1992. He later worked at Wellesley College and joined UC Berkeley in 2007.

Shea Homes Takes Top Prize and 4 Other
Awards at International Builder’s Show

Shea Homes San Diego emerged with five gold medal first place awards for its contemporary new urban community, Origen at Civita in Mission Valley, at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas. Origen took home the marquee award as Neighborhood of the Year, the category that singles out an individual new home community for innovation, originality and marketing flair.

Other gold medal first place honors were presented to Origen for:

• Best Sales Center (Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors).

• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Under 1,500 Square Feet for Origen socialGarden plan 1 (Shea Homes San Diego and CDC Interiors).

• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model from 1,500-2,000 Square Feet for Origen skyLoft plan 1 (Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors).

• Best Architectural Design of an Attached Home Plan for Origen socialGarden plan 1 (Shea Homes San Diego and Woodley Architectural Group).

Last fall, Origen was honored as the Best New Home Community in San Diego by the Building Industry Association of San Diego, and as Community of the Year in attached housing by its affiliated chapter, the BIA of Southern California.

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The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO.

Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.