Daily Business Report-June 13, 2018
Detect and Avoid system (Illustration courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.)
General Atomics system aids
FAA-approved flight
of NASA unmanned aircraft
A Detect and Avoid (DAA) avionics system developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. was the key technology that enabled an unmanned aircraft flight through the National Airspace System after taking off from Southern California on Tuesday.
The DAA system installed on Ikhana, a NASA-owned Predator B/MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System, enabled the
UAS to meet the FAA’s requirement to “see and avoid” other aircraft during Tuesday’s flight.
“Our goal of producing UAS that can be certified to fly in non-segregated airspace took a big step forward today,” said Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “Today’s successful flight is testament to the strong relationship that we have with the FAA, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center and Honeywell to produce the definitive standard for unmanned aircraft operation in congested airspaces.”
The DAA system combines automatic collision avoidance with the ability for the pilot to remain “well clear” of other airspace users.
General Atomics has been working with the FAA, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Honeywell, and other industry partners since 2013 to develop, flight test, and standardize an airborne DAA system.
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City and Port approve settlement
to secure land to expand and
modernize Convention Center
The San Diego City Council and the Board of Port Commissioners Tuesday each voted in support of a three-party settlement agreement to secure long-term control of the land needed to expand and modernize the San Diego Convention Center using voter-approved funding.
The agreement, which allows the city to gain control of the site if a measure to fund the Convention Center expansion is approved by voters in November, sets up San Diego to realize the long-standing goal of growing the regional economy with a modern convention facility that attracts more tourism spending, according to officials.
The settlement agreement between the city, Port of San Diego and Fifth Avenue Landing FAL), which has long held a lease on the property needed for the next phase of Convention Center expansion, calls for two alternatives to proceed. The scenarios are based on whether voters approve a citizens’ initiative to fund the expansion that is planned for the November ballot.
If the citizens’ initiative passes:
- The Port will purchase the existing leasehold from FAL for approximately $33 million (Ahead of the fall election, the Port will make an initial non-refundable payment of approximately $5 million toward that amount)
- The city will purchase a new leasehold from the Port with an 18-year extension through 2042 – with the ability to extend for a full 66 years if Convention Center expansion construction timelines are met – for a price of $28 million, funded with revenue from the citizens’ initiative
These transactions will be made in three concurrent installments over the course of 2019.
If the citizens’ initiative does not pass:
- The city does not make the $28 million payment to the Port, and the Port does not purchase the leasehold from FAL.
- The city reimburses the Port for its approximately $5 million down payment to FAL, paid with money set aside in the city’s public liability fund for resolving litigation.
- FAL can continue to seek Port approval of a hotel project at the site.
“We are pleased that all parties were able to come to agreement to avoid further litigation,” said Fifth Avenue Landing’s Ray Carpenter, who along with partner Art Engel has controlled the leasehold for decades. “Now our fellow citizens have the opportunity to decide if the Convention Center expansion should proceed; should they decide not to support the expansion, we will build a landmark hotel project that will make them proud.”
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All San Diego High School graduates
offered free community college tuition
The San Diego Community College District announced a major expansion of its tuition-free program that makes all recent high school graduates who are first-time, full-time students eligible to receive two free years of college.
Participating students in the program — known as San Diego Promise — may attend San Diego City, San Diego Mesa and/or San Diego Miramar colleges.
The expanded San Diego Promise program will cost an estimated $1.86 million in 2018-2019 and be paid for using a combination of state and non-state funds. Participating students’ first year will be funded through an allocation in the state budget called the California College Promise, which implements Assembly Bill 19 (Santiago). Students’ second year will be underwritten through a district-led fundraising campaign.
The district estimates 3,500 or more students may benefit from the San Diego Promise in the 2018-19 academic year. To qualify, students must be a California resident or have attended a California high school for three years, have earned a high school diploma in June 2017 or later, be a first-time college student, enroll in at least 12 units, and have completed a 2018-19 FAFSA or Dream Act application.
District officials stressed the importance of providing two years of free tuition which will allow full-time students to complete their program of study and enter the workforce or transfer to a university.
As part of the fundraising effort that is aimed at generating increased community involvement in the San Diego Promise, Oscar-nominated actress and Mesa College alumna Annette Bening — a San Diego Promise donor —will headline a Sept. 20 benefit gala at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.
Launched as a pilot program in 2016 with 186 students, the San Diego Promise included 661 students at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges during the just-completed 2017-18 academic year. Expanding the program means first-time, full-time students this fall will not have to pay tuition for two years as long as they complete at least 12 units and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
“Thousands of seniors are graduating this week from high schools in the San Diego Unified School District, and historically one-third will go on to enroll at City, Mesa, or Miramar colleges,” San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten said. “We are absolutely thrilled that the expanded San Diego Promise means all of these students who enroll full time will be eligible for two, tuition-free years at one of the finest community college systems in the country.”
Students can learn more about the San Diego Promise and begin the process to sign up by visiting sdccd.edu/Promise and clicking on the “Future Promise Students” tab. The district encourages students to complete a San Diego Promise Interest Form by Aug. 2.
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Farmer of the Year honors go to
Obra Verde Growers’ Julie Walker
The San Diego County Farm Bureau has named Julie Walker, co-owner of Obra Verda Growers nursery in Valley Center, as its 2017 Farmer of the Year.
Walker and her husband Joe founded Obra Verde Growers in 1974. The name, as translated in Spanish (green work), reflects their work ethic of green product grown with green virtue.
Specializing in Australian and Southern African cut flowers and plants, they are an exclusive distributer for several of these species in the United States, granted by the Department of Primary Industries out of Western Australia. The plants produced by Obra Verde Growers cover acres of San Diego farms producing perennial cut flower crops. In addition to the crop production, they are known as breeding station where breeders from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia submit varieties for trialing onsite to test for unique characteristics, hardiness, drought-tolerance, and marketability.
Julie has spent many years and countless hours devoted to the San Diego County Farm Bureau. For 10 years, she served on the executive committee in every position, including president from 2013-2015. As one of the founders of the San Diego chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA), she remains active within that organization today. “Her passion for all things agriculture is contagious,” said Jena Francis, president of CWA’s San Diego chaptter. “She epitomizes our group, dedicating time and resources to promote a strong agriculture industry and helping to develop the interest specifically of women in agriculture.”
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Construction completed on
3D Systems’ new San Diego offices
International design firm Ware Malcomb announced the completion of construction of the new San Diego offices of 3D Systems, a manufacturer of 3-D printers. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design and branding services for the offices, located at 16550 West Bernardo Drive.
The new facility serves multiple functions as an office, a research and development lab, and as a briefing center for customers to learn about the company’s products. The new 52,000-square-foot workplace includes office space, including a new mezzanine and amenity area, as well as electronic lab space. The amenity space includes a first-floor café with outdoor access and large glass sliding doors that open into the engineering space. The mezzanine addition provides a multi-use collaborative workspace overlooking the executive open plan area.
The design showcases the cutting-edge technology of the company, which was co-founded by the inventor of 3D printing, Charles Hull.
Open and collaborative office space is designed to maximize views and natural light. With a focus on employee health and wellness, the design includes sit/stand workstations and ample opportunities for employee mobility.
“In addition to meeting the company’s immediate space needs, 3D Systems’ new office was designed to reflect the innovative culture of the company and allow flexibility to accommodate future growth,” said Tiffany English, principal of Ware Malcomb’s San Diego offices.
The general contractor for the project was Burger Construction.
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VStar Systems opens new
corporate headquarters
VStar Systems, a privately held aerospace and defense systems company, has announced its new office located centrally in San Diego. The office officially opened in April and will serve as VStar Systems’ corporate headquarters as well as a lab and production space for ongoing projects.
“VStar Systems’ new office will allow us to greatly expand the VStar operations and provide a space for our engineers to think and collaborate on ongoing projects and future capabilities” said Andy von Stauffenberg, CEO. “It was the clear choice for our company because it’s centrally located in San Diego and nearby Miramar Air Station. It’s also a great space to integrate the administration and engineering sides of the business.”
The company’s areas of expertise encompass intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance; data/communications systems, command and control systems, ground stations, remote sensing, distributed systems and covert systems.
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House Minority Leader Pelosi
to Visit U.S.-Mexico Border
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will visit the U.S.-Mexico border early next week to see firsthand the impact of the administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. The California Democrat will accompany about 15 other Democrats on the trip Monday to San Diego, which is being organized by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to multiple House sources.
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Joan Lunden headlines
this year’s Aging Summit
For nearly two decades, millions of Americans invited Joan Lunden into their homes each morning when she was the co-host of Good Morning America. She reported from 26 countries, interviewed six U.S. presidents, and covered five Olympic Games and two royal weddings.
Lunden is headlining this year’s Aging Summit on Thursday, June 28 at the Town & Country Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. A second location at the California Center for the Arts, 240 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, will feature Lunden’s talk via satellite.
A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Lunden has also authored eight books, writing mostly about health and lifestyle issues, including her triumph over breast cancer. Drawing on her life experiences, Lunden, 67, will focus on caregiver issues, healthy aging and the importance of staying socially engaged.
Participants at both locations will be able to attend breakout sessions focusing on senior housing, preventing social isolation, community volunteering, senior transportation and using social media. There will also be a session focusing on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The free event is hosted by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and made possible by Sharp HealthCare.
A free lunch will be provided. To register, visit www.AISevents.org or call 800-827-427).
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It’s official: AT&T-Time Warner merger approved
A federal judge Tuesday approved AT&T’s $85 billion merger with Time Warner and imposed no conditions on the deal. AT&T applauded the decision in a statement. “We are pleased that, after conducting a full and fair trial on the merits, the court has categorically rejected the government’s lawsuit to block our merger with Time Warner…We look forward to closing the merger on or before June 20 so we can begin to give consumers video entertainment that is more affordable, mobile, and innovative,” AT&T General Counsel David McAtee said.
According to several reports, Judge Richard Leon ruled against all three potential antitrust harm theories put forth by the U.S. Justice Department.
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Personnel Announcements
NuVasive Inc. announces appointments and promotion
NuVasive Inc., a leader in spine technology innovation, announced the appointments of Lisa Pecora as vice president, global commercial finance, and Tristan Ribar as vice president, corporate finance and treasury. In addition, Marc Rosenbaum has been promoted to corporate controller.
Pecora manages the U.S. and international commercial finance functions with a focus on driving revenue growth and go-to-market strategy. Pecora is a seasoned finance professional who most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Carling Communications. In this role, she oversaw all financial and operational functions across the three companies that comprised the Carling Group of Companies. Prior to that, she served as director of financial planning and analysis at CareFusion.
Ribar oversees the NuVasive corporate finance and treasury functions, including FP&A, treasury operations, along with supporting investor relations. His strong finance and FP&A experience in the medtech industry includes his most recent position at Alere, where he led the budgeting, forecasting, reporting and business analysis for the company before it was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in October 2017.
Rosenbaum has been with NuVasive for more than four years and expands his senior accounting duties to now include serving as the corporate controller for the company. He began his accounting career at Deloitte, and has held a variety of senior accounting roles at Dura Pharmaceuticals, Elan Pharmaceuticals, Gen-Probe and Hologic overseeing both internal and external financial reporting.
