Daily Business Report-July 27, 2016
Qualcomm headquarters. (Photo/Coolcaesar via Wikimedia Commons)
Qualcomm on Hook to Pay 3,300
Women $19.5 Million to Settle Lawsuit
By City News Service
Qualcomm agreed to pay $19.5 million and take other steps to settle a federal gender discrimination class-action lawsuit involving around 3,300 women, a law firm announced Tuesday.
The mobile technology company will retain two independent consultants who will assess Qualcomm’s policies and practices and issue recommendations designed to make it a more equitable workplace for women, according to the Sanford Heisler law firm.
Qualcomm also agreed to appoint an internal compliance official who, following the recommendations of the independent consultants, will ensure the company implements and sticks to the terms of the settlement agreement.
The deal, which still requires court approval, also calls for Qualcomm to invest in leadership development initiatives, educate employees on non-discrimination policies and revamp complaint procedures.
A Qualcomm statement acknowledges the settlement and says the company is committed to treating its employees fairly and equitably.
“While we have strong defenses to the claims, we elected to focus on continuing to make meaningful enhancements to our internal programs and processes that drive equity and a diverse and inclusive workforce which are values that we share and embrace,” the 850-word statement said.
David Sanford, chairman of Sanford Heisler and lead plaintiff’s counsel, said it’s common knowledge that women in so-called STEM fields like engineering face “persistent discrimination” in pay and promotions.
“This settlement represents a giant leap forward toward leveling the playing field and can serve as a model of best practices for other technology companies,” Sanford said.
“The fact that the settlement has produced such an excellent result without litigation is a tribute to the good faith Qualcomm and the plaintiffs exemplified throughout the settlement process,” he said. “Qualcomm is a great company that has now become even greater.”
The settlement was reached during mediation sessions, following analysis of employment and payroll data, and many months of negotiations, the lawyer said.
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Council OKs Ballot Measure to Raise
Affordable Housing Unit Numbers
By City News Service
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to have San Diegans decide whether to raise a lid on the number of affordable housing units in which public agencies can be involved.
If approved by voters in November, a limit on the number of affordable housing units the city and other public entities are allowed to help develop, construct or acquire would increase by 10,000 units to a total of 38,680. A 2011 study by the San Diego Association of Governments estimated that was the number of low-cost housing units that would be needed in the city by 2020.
According to city staff, only 3,247 more affordable housing units can be constructed under the current limit.
A second proposed ballot measure that was to be considered at the council meeting — it would establish a business tax on marijuana outlets if recreational use is legalized in the state — was returned to staff for additional language review. The proposal by Mark Kersey is scheduled to come back before the council next week.
The expanding November ballot will also include a pair of citywide initiatives, one of which would raise hotel room taxes to fund part of a stadium-convention center annex project for the Chargers. The other would direct the future of tourism funding and bar an expansion of the current convention center.
Also, voters countywide will vote on a San Diego Association of Governments measure that would raise sales taxes by a half-cent to pay for infrastructure projects.
Next week, several other city measures in addition to the marijuana business tax could be placed on the ballot, which already includes at least 17 statewide propositions.
Renovation of The Grille
At the Lodge at Torrey Pines is Complete
Dempsey Construction has completed an extensive renovation of the iconic Grille at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, 11480 N Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla.
The project consisted of the expansion of The Grille, and complete interior and exterior renovation.
New improvements feature an expanded kitchen area, new flooring and wall finishes, new HVAC system, as well as new high-end finishes throughout the restaurant.
The exterior patio was completely re-constructed to include an expanded seating area with heavy timber trellises outfitted with heaters, light fixtures and fans, a 24-foot tall custom wood-burning clinker brick fireplace with built-in rotisserie oven and grill, clinker brick walls, and new hardscape throughout.
Dempsey Construction completed the project while the Lodge at Torrey Pines remained open and operating.
Stos Partners Acquires Carlsbad
Mixed-Use Property for $6 Million
San Diego-based Stos Partners, a privately held commercial real estate investment and management firm, has acquired a 22,000 square-foot mixed-use property comprised of retail, restaurant, office and residential space in Carlsbad for $6 million.
The property, which is 90 percent leased, is occupied by restaurant and wine bar Paon, as well as a variety of retail and office tenants. It was completed in 2008.
The property’s office space tenants include HighJump, a national tech company, as well as an alternative health company which Stos Partners brought to the project during escrow.
The three-story mixed-use asset also includes two residential penthouses with coastal views.
The property fronts two streets in Carlsbad Village, and is located at 560 Carlsbad Village Drive and at 2975 Roosevelt St.
Cushman & Wakefield represented Stos Partners and the seller, a private company.
Cal State San Marcos Master of Social
Work Program Granted Accreditation
The Master of Social Work program at Cal State San Marcos has been granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work higher education.
Blake Beecher, chair of CSUSM’s Department of Social Work, said accreditation is a recognition of the outstanding work of the faculty and staff and a reflection of the quality of the program.
Under the umbrella of the College of Education, Health and Human Services, the Master of Social Work program helps to develop culturally competent, ethical and effective professionals for direct social work practice with diverse populations. The program prepares students for practice in a variety of settings, including public, private and nonprofit.
The Master of Social Work degree requires completion of 60 graduate units and may be completed in two or three years, depending on full- or part-time status.
Jury Selected for 2016
Orchids & Onions Awards
The San Diego Architectural Foundation has announced the jury for the 2016 Orchids & Onions awards program.
the 10-member jury reviews the award submittals and selects Orchids and Onions in five categories: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, and Miscellaneous (public art, lighting, graphics, etc.).
The 2016 jury panel representing different industries is:
• Ben Dalton, Miller Hull (Public Member of the Jury)
• Carmen Vann,Turner Construction Company (Builder)
• Darren Bradley, Darren Bradley Photography (Art)
• David Marshall, Heritage Architecture ( Architecture)
• Kristi Byers, Kristi Byers, Architect APC (Architecture)
• Laura Warner, Architect, City Works (Urban Planning)
• Marvin Malecha, NewSchool of Architecture + Design (Educator)
• Nathan Elliott, The Office of James Burnett (Landscape Architecture)
• Susanna Samaniego, 4 Corners International Design Concepts Interior Design)
• Nolan Delgado, ACE Mentors San Diego (Student Member of the Jury)
“We are excited to have a student juror for the very first time this year. Nolan represents the next generation of designers and the future of our city’s built environment,” said Lauren Kim, Orchids & Onions program co-chair and architect with Studio E Architects.
SDAF is now accepting nominations for Orchids & Onions until July 31. Nominations can be submitted online at orchidsandonions.org.
The awardees will be announced at a reception and awards ceremony on Oct. 13 at Horton Plaza Park and Spreckels Theatre. SDAF will publish a book documenting selected awardees from the past 40 years.
U.K. Strengthens Economic Ties to San Diego
By City News Service
The United Kingdom might be exiting the European Union, but it’s strengthening economic ties to San Diego and two other U.S. cities, the UK Department for International Trade announced Tuesday.
The British government announced that it will open offices in San Diego, Minneapolis and Raleigh to promote U.K. business, economic and political ties.
“Our ambitious vision for an open and outward-looking U.K. economy includes growing our footprint in the most important markets around the world, and these three cities offer exciting opportunities to boost trade and investment,” said Liam Fox, international trade secretary.
Fox said the cities were chosen because of their economic productivity and well-established research and development institutions.
San Diego officials have been building ties with the U.K. over the past year or so through a Brookings Institution program and have been trying to boost the city’s international business profile, building on the thriving life sciences industry, tourism and defense.
“As San Diego’s reputation as a global hub for trade and innovation continues to grow, we are excited to welcome a consulate office of the United Kingdom to our region,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “I look forward to working with British representatives to strengthen San Diego’s relationship with the U.K.”
According to the British trade department, each of the new offices will be staffed by one employee who will be recruited in the U.S., a model used successfully at similar locations in Denver and Seattle.
The U.K. also has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
SDSU Has Highest Funding in 5 Years
By City News Service
Faculty and staff at San Diego State University won more than 700 private and public grants totaling $130 million in the recently completed fiscal year, over $9 million more than last year, school officials announced Tuesday.
The total is the highest for SDSU in five years, and helped fund faculty and student research, department projects and other university initiatives.
Some of the notable awards from last year include $10 million over 20 years to support updated infrastructure for research into health disparities research in San Diego neighborhoods; $2 million over five years to look for early developmental signatures of autism in the brain; and $2 million over five years to explore how the molecular properties of RNA could lead to new antibiotics.
“Funding for research and creative endeavors provides our community with opportunities to address pressing societal challenges, deepen scholarly inquiry and enrich our students’ educational and professional experiences,” SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said. “I am extraordinarily proud of the successes of our faculty, staff and students who are competing nationally to bring essential resources to our campus and our region.”
Major funders included the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and California Department of Health Services. Organizations such as the Price Family Charitable Fund, the Institute of International Education and the Family Resource Center Network of California also funded SDSU research.
“This rise in funding is a reflection of the tremendous efforts of our faculty who are making important discoveries and developing real-world applications for these research advancements,” said Stephen Welter, vice president for research and dean of graduate affairs. “SDSU continues to make investments in research and creative activities so that our students are challenged and society is served.”
The funding is a key step in the aspirations of campus leaders to boost SDSU into becoming a top 50 research institution, school officials said.
Personnel Announcements
Cox Communications Names
California Region Manager
Cox Communications has named Sam Attisha senior vice president and region manager for California. In his new role, Attisha will be responsible for leading employees and overseeing day-to-day operations in San Diego, Orange County, Palos Verdes and Santa Barbara.
Attisha has been serving as the interim SVP and region manager since July 2015 while also continuing in his role as vice president of business development and public affairs for California. He joined Cox in 2007 as the vice president of business development and public affairs for San Diego, facilitating new business development partnerships and providing leadership and strategic direction to the government, community, media, and public relations functions in San Diego. In 2011, he became vice president of business development and public affairs for California, assuming statewide responsibilities.
Attisha currently serves as vice chair of the board of directors fo
r the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he is also part of the management council and chairs the public policy committee. He is also on the board of directors and executive committee for the USS Midway Museum and California Cable & Telecommunications Association.
Jon Luskin Joins Define Financial
Define Financial, a San Diego-based fee-only financial planning firm, has added Jon Luskin as a financial planner, responsible for the development and analysis of financial plans, investment management modeling, and business development.
Prior to joining the firm, Luskin worked as a financial planner at Wealth Analytics, where he was responsible for developing comprehensive financial plans, managing client relationships, and blogging on the firm’s website. His other work experience includes financial planning at Source Financial Advisors, and financial writing at Advisys where he wrote industry-facing articles. Luskin is also a member of the San Diego chapter of the Financial Planning Association’s NexGen group, a venue for younger financial planning professionals to share best practices.
Luskin received his MBA from the American Jewish University and a Certificate of Personal Financial Planning from University of California, Los Angeles Extension.
Sunrise Management Adds 2 New Members to its San Diego Team
San Diego-based Sunrise Management has added two new members to its San Diego team: Peyton C. Hoban as regional real estate manager, and Daniel J. Demitro as senior regional real estate manager.
Demitro and Hoban are multifamily professionals with a strong background in managing residential portfolios. Demitro was most recently senior regional manager for Alliance Residential in San Diego and Hoban as property manager with San Diego-based Capital Growth Properties Inc.
A graduate of San Diego State University, Hoban also worked for Prime Asset Management. She is involved with the San Diego County Apartment Association and will be co-chair of the organization in 2017.
As a senior regional manager for Alliance Residential, Demitro oversaw 13 properties in the San Diego, Los Angeles and Inland Empire markets. He also served as an area manager and later regional manager with Irvine-based Carmel Partners after 12 years with The Irvine Company Apartment Communities. He has a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University and holds a certificate from the University of Southern California’s executive management program.
