Daily Business Report-Sept. 15, 2016
San Diego voting booth (Courtesy Rep. Scott Peters)
C-3 and Voice of San Diego to Hold
Crash Course in Local Ballot Measures
Need a crash course on some of the city’s most pressing ballot measures?
On Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7 to 9 a.m., Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) and Voice of San Diego (VOSD) will host an interactive discussion on everything San Diegans need to know about important local ballot measures. The Breakfast Dialogue will cover new stadium and convention center proposals, the proposed Lilac Hills, SANDAG tax and more.
“San Diegans will go to the polls more perplexed by ballot measures than ever before,” said C-3 President Roger Lewis. “We want this discussion to help sort through the confusion and help local voters make the most informed decisions possible.”
“Everything You Need to Know about Key Measures on the Upcoming Ballot,” will be moderated by Scott Lewis, CEO and editor-in-chief of VOSD. The panel includes:
Andrew Keatts, assistant editor, Voice of San Diego
Michael Smolens, government editor, San Diego Union-Tribune
Maya Srikrishnan, reporter, Voice of San Diego
Claire Trageser, enterprise reporter, KPBS News
C-3’s monthly Breakfast Dialogues are held the fourth Thursday morning of every month at The Prado, 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for C-3 and VOSD members, $40 for nonmembers and $25 for students. For reservations or more information, visit www.c3sandiego.org or call 858-277-0900.
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SDSU Moves Up in Rankings
San Diego State University continues its ascent as a leading national university. U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of America’s Best Colleges lists SDSU at No. 74 among public universities, and No. 146 overall among national universities.
SDSU has been gaining ground over the last five years, moving up 37 spots from No. 183 overall in 2011.
“The recognition from U.S. News and World Report is a testament to the hard work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community supporters,” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman. “Their dedication to this university helps create the high quality educational experiences and outstanding academic programs these rankings recognize.”
The university’s International Business program ranks No. 14, and the overall undergraduate business program ranks No. 77.
U.S. News & World Report also named SDSU one of the top 20 national universities for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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Construction Starts on Parking Plaza
At San Diego International Airport
Construction has started on the three-level Terminal 2 Parking Plaza at San Diego International Airport. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Wednesday.
Parking Plaza construction will take about 20 months to complete and will be open for summer travel in 2018.
“San Diego International Airport travelers spoke and we listened,” said Thella F. Bowens, president/CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “There is great demand for more close-in parking at the airport. Kicking off the Parking Plaza construction today is an important milestone to help improve the short-term parking customer experience.”
The Parking Plaza will be located in front of Terminal 2 and will have three floors with approximately 3,000 parking stalls. It will replace the existing surface parking lot for Terminal 2.
The Parking Plaza is expected to enhance customer service by integrating state-of-the-art parking technology that will allow motorists to reserve spaces in advance, find available parking spaces, and streamline payment.
It is also expected to have environmental benefits by reducing air emissions caused by vehicles that are circulating and idling while searching for an available parking space. And it will have an aesthetically pleasing design with open light wells, glass-front elevators and public art.
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UC San Diego Nanoengineer Makes
Popular Science’s ‘Brilliant 10’ List
UC San Diego News Center
Popular Science magazine has named Liangfang Zhang, a nanoengineering professor at the University of California San Diego, in its 15th annual “Brilliant 10” list, a lineup of “the 10 most innovative young minds in science and engineering.” Zhang was recognized for his revolutionary work in the field of nanomedicine, which focuses on nanomaterials for medical applications.
Zhang invented a way to make nanoparticles perform therapeutic tasks in the body, like treat injuries and deliver drugs to specific sites, without being rejected by the immune system. By coating nanoparticles with natural cell membranes from the body, like red blood cell membranes and platelet cell membranes, researchers can disguise nanoparticles as the body’s own cells.
“We’re essentially camouflaging nanoparticles to look and act like they belong in the body. We want to mimic the natural interaction of the body’s cells with the immune system in order to make new biomimetic nanoparticles that can safely function and survive in the body for long periods of time,” Zhang said.
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Public Invited to NASSCO Shipyard
For Tanker’s Christening on Saturday
Times of San Diego
General Dynamics NASSCO is inviting the public to the christening ceremony Saturday morning for its latest giant tanker, the 610-foot Bay State. The new ship, which has already completed its sea trials, is the fourth vessel in a five-ship contract for American Petroleum Tankers.
Rep. Juan Vargas will be the keynote speaker, and Melissa DeVeau will break a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull to officially christen the new vessel. DeVeau is the wife of David DeVeau, vice president and general counsel for Kinder Morgan, the parent company of American Petroleum Tankers.
Gates to the shipyard at 2798 East Harbor Drive in Barrio Logan open at 9 a.m., and the free ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Guests will be treated to tanker-shaped donuts crafted by the popular Donut Bar.
The Bay State can carry up to 330,000 barrels of oil or other petroleum products, and can be converted to run on clean liquefied natural gas. NASSCO says it will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly tankers in the world.
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Center for Community Cohesion
Formally Opened in Southeast San Diego
The National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) has formally opened its first Center for Community Cohesion in Southeast San Diego, described as “a community space helping bring cohesiveness, strength, resiliency and support for San Diegans of all backgrounds and cultures.”
The center is the result of a public/private partnership between the San
Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, several local foundations and the NCRC.
The 1,300-square-foot nonprofit center will provide a forum for diverse community building, individual and collective learning opportunities, and educational trainings. Some of the goals in its first year include: helping Lincoln High School become a model for restorative schools in San Diego, improving communication between at-risk youth and law enforcement, and providing opportunities for the formerly incarcerated to transition successfully back into the community.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to further serve the community through the Center for Community Cohesion,” said Steven P. Dinkin, president, of NCRC. “The center is a response to community needs, an outlook for a brighter future, and a strategy for a stronger community. NCRC is grateful for the generosity of our partners and funders who have helped bring the center to fruition.”
The building officially opened to the public on June 1, 2016 and is located at 222 Euclid. Ave, Suite 110, in San Diego.
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Personnel Announcements
Paige Bradley Joins Women’s Empowerment
International as its First Executive Director
Women’s Empowerment International (WE), a San Diego-based nonprofit, announced the appointment of Paige Bradley as its first executive director.
Bradley brings two decades of experience in the nonprofit, political and communications arenas to the role, where she will oversee efforts to double the organization’s funding of poverty alleviation programs by 2020.
Bradley most recently worked in Paris, France, as a fundraising director for Sport dans la Ville, France’s leading nonprofit serving at-risk youth and families
Bradley will oversee WE’s microloan and other poverty-alleviation projects for impoverished women in Uganda, Honduras, Haiti and Mexico. WE also supports the STAR Center, a City Heights business incubator through which poor San Diego women have launched 282 local businesses.
A Los Angeles native and UCLA graduate, Bradley worked as a political consultant, fundraiser and campaign strategist in San Francisco and Silicon Valley for leading figures such as Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), former Rep. Lynn Schenk (D-Calif.), the California Democratic Party’s Clinton/Gore re-election campaign, and the Women’s Technology Cluster.
In Boston, she served as development director at NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, a 20,000-member grassroots nonprofit; and at Grub Street Writers, one of the nation’s leading literary arts centers.
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McCullough Landscape Architecture
Names Associate Landscape Designer
Priyanka Malik has joined McCullough Landscape Architecture as associate landscape designer.
Malik holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and is the recipient of the Excellence Award in Design Implementation and Technology from the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at LSU.
She has extensive experience in designing for large hospitality projects.
“We are excited to have Priyanka join our family. Her joy and passion for creating aesthetic landscapes will complement our collaborative approach to design,” said Catherine McCullough, president and CEO of the firm.
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Mike Riss Joins Cavignac & Associates
As Junior Account Executive
Cavignac & Associates has hired Mike Riis as junior account executive.
In this position, Riis initially will be trained by senior management to service existing clients, educate them on risk preventative measures, and recommend appropriate insurance coverage.
Riis previously was employed as marketing assistant for Palomar Specialty Insurance in La Jolla, where he assisted agents with online quotes and binding, developed marketing strategies, and worked to ensure client satisfaction. Prior to that, he did an internship with The Mohr Group Financial & Insurance Services in the North San Diego County community of Carmel Valley.
Riis was a four-year starter for the University of Denver Division 1 Varsity Lacrosse Team, winner of the 2015 NCAA D1 Men’s Lacrosse National Championships. He is the founder of No Stick Left Behind, a Carlsbad-based nonprofit organization that teaches underprivileged children the sport of lacrosse. He coordinated the collection and distribution of approximately $10,000 worth of equipment, and conducted instruction clinics for new players.
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Finch, Thornton & Blaird Law Firm
Hires 2 New Post Bar Law Clerks
The San Diego-based construction industry law firm of Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP has added two new Post Bar Law Clerks — Dillon D. Jones and Brittany S. Slack. If they pass the California Bar exam in November, they will be sworn in as attorneys of the firm in December.
Dillon D. Jones is a graduate of the firm’s 2015 summer associate program and will be working primarily in the areas of government contracts, construction law, and business litigation. Jones received her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Executive Board.
Brittney S. Slack is also a graduate of the firm’s 2015 summer associate program and will be working in the areas of government contracts, construction law, and business litigation. Slack received her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, she was a legal intern for Judge Ronald Prager of the San Diego Superior Court.
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North Park’s Alternative Strategies Adds
Paige Nordeen and Casey Sorrell to Staff
Alternative Strategies has added two new team members to its staff — Paige Nordeen and Casey Sorrell, media relations managers.
Paige Nordeen brings more than four years of experience in public and media relations to the table with Alternative Strategies’ clients, which include The Verant Group, Bracero Cocina and The Ranch at Bandy Canyon, among others. A graduate of San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media relations, she has worked with clients in hospitality, food and beverage, consumer goods, and the financial and technology industries.
Casey Sorrell comes from a background of agency public relations work, most recently in the hospitality industry. Her past work includes regional and national media placements for cosmetic clients and consumer technology brands. Her new client base includes the Rise+Shine Restaurant Group, the OMG Hospitality Group, and the Barrio Logan College Institute. She is a University of San Diego graduate, with a degree in communication studies.
