Daily Business Report — July 18, 2014
Nokia’s San Diego headquarters
Report: Microsoft Layoffs Could
Hit San Diego Nokia Office Hard
Microsoft’s plans to reduce its workforce by 18,000 jobs over the next year could mean scores of engineering jobs at Nokia’s office in San Diego will be the chopping block, according to a report.
The software giant aims to downsize about 14 percent of its workers, which is set to include both factory and professional jobs, but about 12,500 of the layoffs are expected to come from the Nokia mobile phone unit that Microsoft acquired three months ago, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The mass layoff aimed at cutting management layers will be the broadest in Microsoft’s 39-year history, according to reports. The tech giant founded by Bill Gates employs 125,000.
Prior to the Nokia merger, which the company said would lead to $600 million in annual savings, Microsoft had about 99,000 workers.
The New York Times reported that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent a message to employees last week that strongly hinted at an upcoming reorganization.
According to Forbes.com, the layoff plan will help Nadella shift the company from former CEO Steve Ballmer’s production of devices and services to his vision of bolstering Microsoft’s focus on platforms and productivity.
Reports also indicate that the company will be forced to spend about $1 billion on severance and benefit costs for those let go.
The stock market responded well to speculation about the upcoming layoffs, according to Business Insider. Microsoft rose to a 14-year high Wednesday, nearing $45 a share. It had fallen below $28 late last year.
Microsoft’s last mass cutback of nearly 6,000 jobs five years ago was due to economic conditions, the reports said.
— Times of San Diego/City News Service
San Diego County Jobless Rate Rises to 6.1 Percent
Nonfarm employment up 9,700 jobs over the month and up 34,000 jobs over the year
The unemployment rate in San Diego County was 6.1 percent in June, an increase from the 5.8 percent rate in in May and below the year-ago estimate of 7.8 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported today.
This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 7.3 percent for California and 6.3 percent for the nation during the same period.
Between May and June, total nonfarm employment increased from 1,343,700 to 1,353,400, a gain of 9,700 jobs. Agricultural employment increased by 100 jobs, or one percent.
• Leisure and hospitality reported the greatest month-over gain, adding 3,000 jobs. Almost sixty percent of the increase was in arts, entertainment and recreation (up 1,700 jobs). Accommodation and food services followed with an addition of 1,300 jobs.
• Professional and business services increased by 2,400 jobs with sixty percent of the gain in professional, scientific and technical services (up 1,400 jobs). Seven other sectors also posted positive job growth. The most significant job gain came from trade, transportation and utilities (up 1,200 jobs).
• Mining and logging as well as educational and health services remained unchanged between May and June.
Between June 2013 and June 2014, total nonfarm employment increased by 34,600 jobs, or 2.6 percent. Agricultural employment reported no change.
• Professional and business services reported the greatest year-over gain, adding 6,900 jobs. Nearly all the increase was in professional, scientific and technical services (up 6,800 jobs)
• Eight other industries also posted increases. The most notable employment expansion was reported by educational and health services (up 6,700 jobs) with eighty five percent of the gain in health care and social assistance.
• The only year over job decline was reported in financial activities with a loss of 200 payroll jobs. Employment in mining and logging remained unchanged over the year.
Salk Scientists Discover New Gene
That Stops the Spread of Cancer
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered the gene responsible for stopping the spread of cancer from the lungs to other parts of the body. Identifying this pathway introduces a new way to fight one of the world’s deadliest strands of cancer. Knowing the cause of metastasis helps scientists better understand and explain why some tumors are more likely to spread than others. The newfound pathway may also help researchers understand and treat the spread of other cancers, such as melanoma and cervical.
Author Scott Turow to Speak in San Diego
Best-selling author Scott Turow will appear in San Diego on Aug. 5 to discuss his latest book, “Identical,” and to autograph copies. His appearance is sponsored by Warwick’s, the San Diego Law Library and Qualcomm. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. at Qualcomm, 5775 Morehouse Drive, San Diego.
Turow is the author of nine best-selling works of fiction including “Innocent,” “Presumed Innocent” and “The Burden of Proof,” and two non-fiction books including “One L,” about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than 40 languages, sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into a full length film and two television miniseries.
Ticket prices are $17.28 and include a copy of the book. Check-in and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Seating is first-come first-served. For more information, contact the Warwick’s Book Dept. (858) 454-0347.
“We like to celebrate local and national authors whose books have a legal twist,” said John Adkins, director of the San Diego Law Library.
Retired Marine Appointed to Hospital District Board
Randy Lenac of Campo has been appointed to the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors. He was selected by the GHD board from among a field of eight East County residents who applied to fill a seat vacated by Dr. Michael Long, who resigned in June. Long was up for re-election this year and Lenac will serve the remainder of Long’s term.
Lenac, 61, with executive management experience in administration, finance and program development and strategy, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1975 to 2002, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He has lived in Campo since 2002.
During his military career, he served as director of personnel overseeing about 100,000 troops stationed oversees during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, known as “Operation Desert Shield.” He also assisting in drafting war plans that were implemented with the 2003 Iraq War, also referred to as “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
After retiring from active military service, Lenac worked as executive director of the Southern Indian Health Council in Alpine.
Susan Davis Hosts Neighborhood Day
Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) will host a Neighborhood Day July 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Garfield Elementary School, 4487 Oregon St., San Diego. Residents are encouraged to come share their ideas, ask a question, and get an update about what’s happening in Congress.
Attendees are asked to RSVP here.
Tech Coast Angels Seek Quick Pitch Applicants
Tech Coast Angels is seeking applications from technology startups for its September John G. Watson Quick Pitch event. The deadline is July 31. About 30 candidates will be put through a detailed process beginning in August, with the final 10 competing.
Quick Pitch will be held Sept. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall, 5775 Morehouse Drive, San Diego.
“The finalists will have one of their executive team members give a two-minute pitch on their products and technology in front of 500 attendees as well as an all-star panel of judges,” said Jeff Draa, president of the Tech Coast Angels San Diego network. “Each pitch will be judged based upon investment potential and presentation quality. Competition winners will be announced at the conclusion of the evening.”
For instruction on how to apply, email Linda Wells at linda@techcoastangels.com.
Morrison & Forester Lawyer Named to Cybersecurity Board
Andrew Serwin, a privacy and data security lawyer at Morrison & Forester, has been appointed to the board of directors of the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, a U.S.-based organization that works with government, private industry, academia, and law enforcement to study, counteract, and prevent cybercrime. Serwin works in the Morrison & Foerster’s Washington D.C. and San Diego offices, and will begin his term on the board in September.
Jassim & Associates Adds Attorney
Nathan G. Batterman has joined the San Diego law office of Jassim & Associates. A licensed attorney since 2011, Batterman graduated from California Western School of Law in San Diego, in 2011, and received his undergraduate degree in legal studies from The University of Wisconsin- Madison, in 2006.
Prior to joining Jassim & Associates, Batterman worked for the Levinson Law Group and Campbell Law Offices, and clerked for San Diego firm Gallagher Krich. In his new position, Batterman expands his practice areas to include family law, contract law, legal malpractice and medical malpractice.
Sundt Hires Project Administrator
Sundt Construction Inc. has hired Vicky Trebian as senior project administrator in its San Diego office. Trebian’s clerical experience spans more than 16 years, including many in the construction industry. As senior project administrator, she will take the lead in preparing, reporting and analyzing assigned projects under the supervision of a project manager.
Trebian is among a large list of Sundt team members who recently joined the general contractor’s expanding California District. The company has offices in Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine and San Jose.
San Diego’s LGBT Activism
Celebrated on Pride Weekend
Generations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender San Franciscans have sacrificed their liberty, their livelihoods, and occasionally even their lives to make a more just society for sexual and gender minorities. As a result, San Francisco has earned an enduring reputation as America’s home of LGBT activism.
But one prominent activist and co-founder of San Diego’s annual Pride festival and parade, which marks its 40th anniversary this weekend, said it’s time to recognize California’s second-largest city for its LGBT activism.
“Think about it. The first street in America to be named for a gay civil-rights leader is not in San Francisco,” said Nicole Murray Ramirez, a longtime San Diego LGBT activist. “The first Harvey Milk Street is in San Diego.”
Harvey Milk, whose life story was told in the 2008 film “Milk,” became America’s first openly gay man to be elected to public office when he won a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1978. It took three hard-fought campaigns before Milk was elected, and then less than a year later he and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by a former supervisor.
But hundreds of LGBT people have since followed Milk’s political path and been elected to public office, including many in San Diego County.
That would include Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, a former San Diego councilwoman; former Sen. Christine Kehoe, a former San Diego councilwoman; former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio, now a congressional candidate; San Diego Unified school board President Kevin Beiser; county District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a former judge; San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria; and San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts.
Saturday: Pride Parade, 11 a.m. Begins at University Avenue and Normal Street, proceeds west on University Avenue to Sixth Avenue, turns south on Sixth Avenue, and ends at Balboa Drive and Upas Street. Free.
Saturday and Sunday: Music festival at Balboa Park, Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $20 for weekend pass, children 15 and under free.
For information on other events, go to sdpride.org.
But one prominent activist and co-founder of San Diego’s annual Pride festival and parade, which marks its 40th anniversary this weekend, said it’s time to recognize California’s second-largest city for its LGBT activism.
