Daily Business Report-June 16, 2015
The green roof atop the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union reduces heat and promotes a natural habitat.
San Diego State Closer to Achieving Green
Certification on All Associated Students Facilities
The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union and the Aztec Recreation Center at San Diego State University are now LEED Certified, pushing the university closer to its goal of making all Associated Students facilities LEED Certified by 2020.
When plans for the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union began, “the students made a commitment that the building would be certified to the highest level of recognition — LEED Platinum,” said Director of Facilities and Sustainability Glen Brandenburg.
After more than a year of evaluations and approvals, the building has earned LEED Platinum for New Construction.
“The passion that came from previous student leaders is invigorating, and to see this building, our campus living room, reach our LEED Platinum goal is a monumental moment to be an Aztec,” said A.S. Sustainability Commissioner Megan Goodman.
The ARC, which has roof-top photovoltaic panels that save annually an estimated 300 tons of greenhouse gas, achieved LEED Gold Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance certification. The facility also replaced all inefficient overhead incandescent light fixtures with highly efficient fluorescent light fixtures.
In order to be certified, each project requires specific implementations and must follow strict LEED guidelines.
One example, which can be found in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, is Forest Stewardship Council certified doors. The mahogany doors are made from sustainable wood that came from a well-managed forest allowing them to be tracked back to its origin.
Sustainable elements in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union also include a “green roof” that reduces heat and promotes a natural habitat; natural daylighting, which reduces dependence on artificial lighting and saves energy; solar panels to produce energy from the sun; and underground tanks to store captured rain water for irrigation.
The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, which opened in March 2014, offers a variety of programs and services that complement the academic experience and enhance the campus community.
Rancho Santa Fe Property Once Slated
For Homes is Sold for Open Space
A 242-acre parcel in Rancho Santa Fe once slated for residential development was sold to the Escondido Creek Conservancy for $13 million to be used as public open space.
The sale was announced Monday by Colliers International’s San Diego office,which represented both parties in the transaction.
“This property will remain in pristine condition as open space in perpetuity. It is truly an honor to be a part of conserving beautiful sites like Cielo De Norte in their natural state,” said Ciara Trujillo, vice president at Colliers International.
The property , located southeast of Elfin Forest Road and Harmony Grove Road, was originally approved for a 77-lot residential development. It is located just north of Cielo, a 1,740-acre private community with more than 528 luxury homes and 60 percent open space.
The mission of the Escondido Creek Conservancy is to protect and restore the Escondido Creek watershed, a 26-mile creek that forms at Lake Wohlford and meets the Pacific Ocean at the San Elijo Lagoon.
— Times of San Diego
California Supreme Court Upholds
Inclusionary Zoning Ordinances
The California Supreme Court on Monday upheld the City of San Jose’s inclusionary ordinance that requires developers of new residential projects with more than 20 units to make 15 percent of on-site units available for purchase to lower-income households or provide in-lieu fees or dedicate land to create affordable homes. The decision comes against a legal challenge brought by the California Building Industry Association.
“Inclusionary ordinances are one of the most critical tools to promote affordable housing and ensure vibrant, mixed-income communities,” said San Diego Housing Federation’s Executive Director Bruce Reznik. “We welcome the California Supreme Court’s resolution of this important issue affirming the authority of cities to adopt inclusionary ordinances to address the state’s critical housing crisis.”
In San Diego County, 10 cities have some type of inclusionary ordinance, though they vary in scope and specific requirements. Reznick said inclusionary ordinances have resulted in the development of thousands of affordable homes throughout the region, either directly or through the payment of in-lieu fees that support the financing of affordable housing development. Many local jurisdictions have been waiting for the resolution of this case as they consider whether to update existing or adopt new inclusionary ordinances.
Civic San Diego Receives $25 Million
From Federal Tax Credit Program
Civic San Diego, the city agency that succeeded the Centre City Development Corp., has received an award of $25 million from a federal tax credit program that will be used to fund new projects that are currently under review.
“These tax credits will allow us to invest in transformative projects like the Copley-Price YMCA and the Family Health Centers Health, Information Technology, and Education Center that bring much needed jobs and services to our targeted neighborhoods,” said CivicSD president Reese A. Jarrett.
The award is from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury tasked with administering the New Markets Tax Credit program.
Civic San Diego previously received $58 million from the program.
California’s Pollution Strains Economy With
$250 Million in Preventable Health Care Costs
Certain sources of pollution — including lead paint and toxic air — cost the state of California and families up to a combined $254 million per year in child health care costs, according to a study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Environmental Health Coalition, an organization fighting toxic pollution in San Diego, has worked for 35 years to educate residents in low-income neighborhoods on in-home lead pollution and the hazards of breathing polluted air. According to EHC, today’s report validates its work fighting toxic pollution and building healthy communities.
“We know that healthy communities, both inside and out of the home, support a thriving local economy,” said Diane Takvorian, executive director of Environmental Health Coalition. “These sources of pollution can be reduced so that children don’t become sick just because of where they live. We hope this study encourages community decision makers and leaders to take responsibility for better planning that protects our health and each other.”
In San Diego alone, nearly 1,700 children suffer from lead poisoning each year. Lead poisoning can lead to permanent cognitive and health complications and burden families with increased healthcare costs.
San Diego Business Chamber Presents
Achievement Awards for the Region
The North San Diego Business Chamber honored businesses and individuals from San Diego’s business community with awards for how they do business in the region.
Honorees were selected by an independent panel of local media representatives. Proceeds from a live and silent auction benefit the chamber’s Operation Connect program for transitioning military personnel.
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Donald Balfour of Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers and Janet Beronio, general managerof Harrah’s Resort Southern California.
Emerging Leaders Award:
Giordin Perlman of Northrop Grumman, Jason Cestaro of Mercedes-Benz of Escondido and Ron Zuccaro of BAE Systems.
Business Leaders of the Year Awards: Pablo Gonzalez of Northrop Grumman, Ric Militi of InnoVision LLC and Stacey Hrountas of Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers.
Think Local First Champions: Active Digital Signage and Unicorn Jewelry and Watch Boutique.
Community Champions of the Year: Millennium Health, San Diego County Credit Union and Bill Loeber of Hewlett-Packard.
Sustainability Champions of the Year Awards:
Cox Communications, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and Linda Strand of Independent Energy Solutions.
Collaborators of the Year: Burn Institute and Patricia Reily of California State University San Marcos.
Healthiest Business: Cooking 4 Life for its strides in workplace wellness.
General Atomics and Cobham Announce Partnership
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and Cobham Aviation Services announced a partnership to provide support of General Atomics’ products in the UK and Australia, focusing on the Predator B MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft system in operation with the Royal Air Force and future opportunities in Australia.
“Cobham and GA-ASI have been working in partnership for more than 10 years to cover UAV whole life support requirements. This Teaming Agreement enables us to apply our specialist capabilities in supporting sophisticated, fit-for-purpose aerial platforms that perform special missions. We look forward to continuing working with our US partner to deliver such support services,” said Peter Nottage, president of Cobham Aviation Services.
3 Local Scientists Named Pew
Scholars In the Biomedical Sciences
Two researchers from UC San Diego and one from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are among 22 chosen as Pew scholars in the biomedical sciences by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The recipients are Brenda Bloodgood, biological studies and neurobiology, UC San Diego; Kimberly Cooper, cell and development biology, UC San Diego; and Nicola J. Allen, molecular neurobiology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
The recipients join the ranks of more than 600 outstanding scientists who have been selected as Pew scholars in the 30 years since the program’s inception and whose careers have been dedicated to bold scientific discoveries.
The program provides four years of flexible funding to scholars at the assistant professor level.
Scholars in the 2015 class will investigate a range of topics from examining the role the microbiome, the naturally occurring microorganisms in the human body, plays in combating autoimmune disease to exploring the molecules and neural circuits that dictate a mosquitos preference for humans over other animals, which has implications in preventing the spread of dengue fever.
Peter Kaye, longtime U-T Writer, Has Died
Peter Kaye, an aide to Richard Nixon and longtime local newspaper writer and editor, has died at the age of 87.
The San Diego Union-Tribune, where he worked, describes him as an “independent, often cantankerous” and sometimes-profane character who dismissed questions about his trademark mix of political advocacy and mainstream journalism.
“You can’t be unbiased or nonpartisan,” he said in 1993. “All you can be is fair.”
Rady Children’s Hospital CFO
Fatally Injured in Bicycle Collision
A bicyclist killed over the weekend in a collision on a Black Mountain Ranch roadway was a top-level executive for Rady Children’s Hospital, officials reported Monday.
Roger Roux, 64, was riding in a bike lane in the 14200 block of Camino del Sur, near State Route 56, when a car struck him shortly before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to police and the county Medical Examiner’s Office.
Medics took him to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead.
The motorist, a 40-year-old woman whose name was withheld, was not immediately cited or arrested. An investigation is ongoing, SDPD spokesman Humberto Hernandez said.
Roux was a senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Serra Mesa-area medical center for children, responsible for all facets of the institution’s financial operations, including accounting, budgeting and patient financial services, Rady spokesman Ben Metcalf said.
During his 12-year tenure with the hospital, Roux, a Boston native, “helped bring Rady Children’s to its strongest financial performance in its 60- year history,” according to Metcalf.
“His contributions to Rady Children’s and the San Diego community are simply too many to enumerate,” the spokesman said. “Roger was a dedicated, trusted and collegial member of the Rady Children’s family and will be missed dearly.”
Roux is survived by his wife, Diane, son, Matthew, and grandchildren, Emerson and Xavier.
— City News Service
Personnel Announcements
Byron Casper Named Corporate Golf Director
Byron Casper, son of legendary golfer Billy Casper, has been named the corporate golf director of Pacific Hospitality Group, which includes the newly renovated Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club, due to open this summer, and the Salt Creek Golf Club.
Casper, an International PGA member, will also be the head golf professional for Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club and its sister club, Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista, near the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Casper started his career in San Diego in the early ’90s at the San Diego Golf Academy. His career spans nearly two decades working with top golf courses and companies across the globe, including Scotland, where he relocated in the mid-’90s to continue his professional golf career.
While in Scotland, Casper played golf professionally, worked for the International PGA and became a teaching professional and club fitter for Heritage Golf of St. Andrews and later, the St. Andrews Golf Company.
Theresa Loftsgard Joins Gerson Law Firm
Theresa Johnson Loftsgard has joined the San Diego-based Gerson Law Firm as an associate. Her practice focuses on commercial real estate finance, commercial real estate and business transactions.
Loftsgard has special expertise in hotel acquisitions and financings as well as experience in commercial, multifamily, retail and industrial properties.
Before attending law school, Loftsgard worked as a financial adviser at American Express.
Loftsgard received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2006 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from California State University, Long Beach in 2002.
Pamela Naughton Named Partner at DLA Piper
Pamela Naughton has joined the San Diego office of DLA Piper law firm as a partner. Naughton focuses her practice on white-collar defense, internal investigations, complex business litigation and government investigations. She has experience in civil, criminal and administrative cases.
Earlier in her career, Naughton served as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. She then became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California, serving as a federal prosecutor in the fraud unit.
She was selected to serve as associate counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Iran/Contra Committee and later as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in charge of the impeachment of a federal judge.
Erin Stephens Joins San Diego Bike Coalition
The San Diego Bike Coalition has named Erin Stephens as its new membership and marketing coordinator. Stephens will be responsible for growing the Bike Coalition’s membership and donor base as well as supporting communications and event coordination.
Prior to joining the Bike Coalition, Stephens worked in community relations, development and event coordination roles for Habitat for Humanity in Hawaii. Stephens studied hospitality administration at Boston University and earned a certificate in health and wellness coaching from Georgetown University.
Stephens’ enthusiasm for bicycling and athleticism becomes evident through her completion of 17 triathlons, 15 half-marathons and four marathons. She remains a sponsored triathlete and plans to compete in the 2015 USA Triathlon Olympic-Distance National Championships.
