Daily Business Report-March 20, 2014
New Report: Cyber Security Business Has
$1.5 Billion Impact in the San Diego Region
The cyber security business in the San Diego region has an economic impact of $1.5 billion annually, according to a report released Thursday.
The report, compiled by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, Sentek Global and Bank of America, says the region is positioned to experience substantial job creation in the industry, outpacing other local business sectors.
In response, the launch of a public-private partnership called the Cyber Center of Excellence will be announced at a news conference that will include, among others, Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
The center will connect cyber-related companies with military leaders and academic partners to pursue a common strategy to promote the region’s cyber strengths.
Cyber security has emerged as a national priority as global retailers, medical providers, and critical infrastructure fall prey to significant data breaches and theft, according to the report.
In a recent, high-profile data breach, Target reported that 40 million credit and debit card accounts were compromised between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, and that hackers stole names, phone numbers, and email and mailing addresses from as many as 70 million customers.
The loss not only impacted the individual customers but tarnished the chain’s image. The company reported U.S. sales declined 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. — Reported by City News Service
San Diego Opera Shutting Down After 2014 Season
The curtain is coming down on the San Diego Opera. After almost five decades, the opera company will cease operations at the end of its 2014 season, says artistic director Ian Campbell.
“After nearly 50 years as a San Diego cultural cornerstone providing world-class performances, we saw we faced an insurmountable financial hurdle going forward,” Campbell said. “We had a choice of winding down with dignity and grace, making every effort to fulfill our financial obligations, or inevitably entering bankruptcy, as have several other opera companies.”
Campbell said the board voted Thursday to wind down the opera company’s operations after the final performance of “Don Quixote.”
The opera company, which is ranked among the top 10 in the nation by Opera America, says it will begin the shutdown April 13 and plans to have operations wrapped up by the end of its fiscal year, June 30.
Board chair Karen Cohen called the decision heart-wrenching and unavoidable. “After 28 years of consecutive balanced budgets, it was clear we could not continue,” Cohen said. “In spite of excellent financial management, the Opera faced increasingly higher ticket sale and fundraising hurdles.”
Richard Branson to Take Part in BIO International Convention
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, will be interviewed during the keynote lunch June 24 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the 2014 BIO International
Convention in San Diego. “The BIO International Convention brings together an industry which is working to solve some of our world’s most intractable problems,” said Banson. In his interview, Branson will share some of his greatest achievements over 40 years in business as well as the lessons he has learned from his setbacks.
Branson also is expected to describe the launches of his Virgin brands, including conquering new frontiers in space with Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline.
TriNet Challenge Set for April 2
The Triton Innovation Network Challenge sponsored by UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management will be staged April 2 in Wells Fargo Hall on campus. The TriNet Challenge spotlights commercially promising, environmentally-focused technologies generated by UC San Diego’s students, faculty and staff. Finalists from the three schools will pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of expert judges in an attempt to win $11,000 in cash prizes.
San Diego Musical Theatre Honors Susan Farese as Volunteer of the Year
San Diego Musical Theatre has presented its 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award to board member Susan Farese. Farese was honored at a surprise dinner, plaque presentation and floral bouquet and mariachi serenade last month at Cafe Coyote in Old Town.
Farese, president of SJF Communications and a veteran actor, has been an SDMT board member since 2012. She is responsible for SDMT’s public relations and marketing.
Erin and Gary Lewis, producers and executive directors of San Diego Musical Theatre, attended the award presentation. Also attending were production team members Jill Townsend and Neal Hyde, and board members Cinda Lucas, Delnora Janecek, Donnie Matsuda and Clarissa Palhegyi.
Poway Man to Head Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls
Longtime San Diego business leader and Poway resident Vincent Mudd was named Wednesday as the president of the 2014 Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls, City News Service reports. Mudd, who is chairman of an exploratory committee looking into a possible San Diego bid for the 2024 Olympics, succeeds retired Cox Cable chief Bill Geppert.
“This is an exciting year for both bowl games and I am honored to be a part of this San Diego tradition,” Mudd said. “I look forward to working with a committed group of people on this time-honored civic gem for our region.”
Mudd is principal and chief operating officer at Carrier Johnson + Culture, an architectural, urban design, interior design and brand strategy communications firms.
The Poway resident is also a director at the Metropolitan Water District and San Diego County Water Authority, is the immediate past chairman of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Faulconer Announces ‘Meet the Mayor’ Series
Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Wednesday that he will hold a series of public meetings with San Diegans in each of the nine City Council districts. The first “Meet the Mayor” session will be tonight at 5 p.m. in Clairemont, part of the 6th Council District represented by Lorie Zapf. Faulconer will speak about his vision for the city, listen to concerns and take questions from the audience. The inaugural meeting will be at the South Clairemont Recreation Center at 3605 Clairemont Drive. After all nine council districts are covered, the gatherings will continue to be held in various neighborhoods, according to the mayor’s office. — City News Service
UC San Diego Biomedical Research Facility Completed
Biomedical science students and faculty striving to solve the world’s most critical health problems now have access to one of the most sustainable laboratories in the country with the completion of the new Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility at UC San Diego.
Built by McCarthy Building Companies Inc., and designed by the Portland, Ore., office of ZGF Architects LLP, the new 196,000-square-foot facility is located on a 3.3-acre site on campus. It will accommodate new and expanded multi-departmental programs, including bioinformatics, genomic medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, childhood diseases, pathology, immunology, inflammation, psychiatry, cardiology, neurosciences, infectious diseases, and glycobiology.
The new Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility was designed to foster collaboration between scientists in the region and worldwide, allow them to share critical data, and enhance the university’s ability to attract the best and brightest researchers from around the globe.
Mark A. Rowland, principal architect and project manager for UC San Diego, heads the university’s Facilities Design and Construction office charged with implementing the $113 million project.
“We’re very proud to unveil this beautiful new facility,” said Rowland. “Researchers from many departments and programs will unite and collaborate here to produce new therapies that will save lives.”
San Diego Women’s Week
San Diego Women’s Week’s Friday conference is being offered free via livestream video by the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce, for those unable to attend in person.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
This Friday, March 21
Compliments of Cox Communications
Morning Speakers
(Not in order of appearance)
Kimberly Dozier
Elizabeth Smart
Tanya Brown
Kristen Kavanaugh
Tanya Brown
Panel-Coffee With The Corner Office
(Marianne Kushi, Bonnnie Dumanis, Melissa Hayden-Cook,
Janet Beronio, Susan Salkla and Daphne Hearn)
Lunchtime Speaker
Candy Cummings
Afternoon Speakers
(Not in order of appearance)
Kim Coles
Patricia McArdle
Piper Kerman
Suzanne Somers
Panel-High Heels Through The Glass Ceiling
(Karen Hewitt, Kathy Hutchens, Lori Ann Stevens,
Sue Zwinger, Wilma Owens and Cynthia Curiel)
