Daily Business Report-Oct. 3, 2018
The ‘Unfolding Humanity’ sculpture. (Photo courtesy of the University of San Diego)
USD to Present ‘Unfolding Humanity’
sculpture at Maker Faire on weekend
Fresh from participating in the Burning Man event in Nevada, the University of San Diego will present an interactive sculpture, “Unfolding Humanity,” at the Maker Faire in Balboa Park this weekend.
“Unfolding Humanity,” is a 12-foot by 30-foot metal sculpture calling attention to the connection and contrast between humanity and technology. It is on display next to the Old Globe Theatre through Oct. 12. The sculpture features 17,000 LED lights that will be on display on the evenings of Oct. 5 and 6 until 10 p.m.
When closed, the reflective interior of the sculpture makes visitors feel as though they are at the center of the universe. Influenced by revolutionary satellite data, the closed sculpture with reflective mirrors gives visitors an opportunity to be at the center of a small universe where light folds back upon itself.
Led by USD Math Professors Satyan Devadoss and Diane Hoffoss, a group of USD professors, students, alums, and numerous members of the San Diego art community joined together to design, build, and showcase the artwork.
“An artwork such as this, dealing with complicated issues of mathematics, cosmology, and engineering, and wrestling with the foundational question of what it means to be fully human, can only be birthed with wisdom from the full spectrum of the arts, humanities, and sciences,” says Devadoss.
The dodecahedron structure also alludes to mathematician Albrect Dürer’s 500-year-old unsolved problem on unfolding polyhedra.
The USD interactive sculpture project has received support from the community (including San Diego Collaborative Arts Project and COLAB), and students and alumni from USD. Having received $35,000 of support from grants and donations, the organizers are looking to raise an additional $5,000 for the artwork.
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Salk researcher Janelle Ayres
awarded NIH Pioneer Award
Salk Institute Associate Professor Janelle Ayres has been awarded a 2018 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award by the National Institutes of Health for her innovative research into host-pathogen interactions that promote the health of the host. The highly sought-after grant, which awards $3.5 million in direct costs over five years, “supports scientists with outstanding records of creativity pursuing new research directions to develop pioneering approaches to major challenges in biomedical and behavioral research,” according to the NIH.
As a member of Salk’s NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Ayres uses an approach grounded in mathematical and evolutionary predictions to understand how bacteria have evolved ways to promote our health. She has published pivotal studies showing that in addition to the immune system, which kills pathogens, animals have what she calls the cooperative defense system, which protects them from infectious diseases by alleviating physiological damage without killing pathogens. By understanding the underlying mechanisms behind this cooperative defense system, her work points to a new way to treat infectious and non-infectious diseases (such as pathologies associated with cancer and aging) without killing microbes—and therefore without relying on antibiotics, which drive dangerous microbial resistance.
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National Funding acquires QuickBridge
San Diego-based National Funding, one of the largest private fintech lenders of small and medium-sized business loans, has purchased QuickBridge, a leading alternative financial services firm offering working capital to small businesses nationwide. Both companies will continue to operate independently.
National Funding said its acquisition of QuickBridge will help fuel the company’s growth. Collectively, the companies have provided more than $3 billion in financing to small and mid-sized businesses, and overall loan volume will exceed $600 million in 2018.
QuickBridge, which has been recognized in recent years for its rapid rise, including year-over-year double or triple digit percentage growth, remains one of the top alternative lenders in the nation, having deployed more than $500 million in working capital to small and mid-size businesses.
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Tower 16 Capital Partners
acquires Las Vegas property
San Diego-based Tower 16 Capital Partners, in a joint venture with Henley USA, has acquired Cornerstone Crossing Apartments, a 540-unit multifamily project in northwest Las Vegas, for $49.75 million. Tower 16 will oversee $6.5 million in renovations and upgrades to the project, located at 6666 West Washington Ave., Las Vegas. Cornerstone Crossing was built in 1984.
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General Atomics’ 2nd MQ-9B
drone completes its first flight
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the first flight of its second MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) on Sept. 26. The flight of the company-owned aircraft was conducted at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Grounds.
The second MQ-9B SkyGuardian gives the GA-ASI program team another aircraft to perform important development testing and demonstrations. New capabilities that weren’t available when the first prototype was completed in 2016, such as lightning protection, an upgraded avionics and software suite, and a de-icing system, have been included as part of MQ-9B’s roadmap to become the first RPA to be certified to fly in civil airspace.
The upcoming test schedule for YBC02 includes further flight envelope expansion testing, testing of the Certified Redundant Control Module, flight controller updates, and testing of the Certifiable Ground Control Station.
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Personnel Announcements
Domenico D’Ambrosio joins Airport Authority
Domenico D’Ambrosio has been hired for the newly created position of vice president of marketing, innovation and chief revenue officer for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. He starts today.
D’Ambrosio comes to the Airport Authority from Verizon, where he most recently held the position of market president, overseeing sales and operations in a market comprising 14 states. D’Ambrosio started working at Verizon in 1997 as a call center representative and was steadily promoted through the organization, holding positions in sales, marketing and sales operations throughout his career.
In his new role, D’Ambrosio will be responsible for leading a new Airport Authority division focused on air service and business development, marketing and public art, innovation and revenue creation. He will play a key role in Airport Authority efforts to identify and implement new revenue enhancement strategies and initiatives aimed at elevating the customer experience.
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Sean Hancock joins Grossmont-Cuyamaca
Community College District
Sean Hancock has been named the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s first vice chancellor of student and institutional success.
Hancock is responsible for coordinating districtwide educational services to promote student success and overseeing the District Services departments of Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness; Information Technology Services; and Community and Workforce Development.
Before coming to the college district, Hancock was vice president of instruction and student services at Palo Verde College. When he arrived at the college, it was at risk of losing its accreditation status, and he led efforts that increased student enrollment and outcomes, stabilized the budget, built new programs and community partnerships, and launched new technology systems, regaining full accreditation status in the process.
“I am inspired by the district’s commitment to championing equity-mindedness, inclusivity, civility, and social justice,” Hancock said. “Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is known for innovation, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of reinventing the way we deliver programs and services to today’s learners.”
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Wright Management promotes Aitken
and Christiansen; hires Peters
Wright Management, a project and facility management firm in San Diego, has promoted Debra Aitken to director of project strategy and Flemming Christiansen to senior project manager. Wright also hired Don Peters as project manager.
In her elevated role, Aitken will lead the firm’s project strategy efforts and business development as well as serving as project lead on large commercial design and construction projects. Aitken’s 30-plus years of expertise includes workplace relocations, facility management, design and construction management, along with a background in the commercial real estate industry, spanning three decades in the U.S and Canada. An active member of CREW San Diego since 1999, Aitken has been instrumental in the organization’s growth and development, holding multiple board positions.
Christiansen will lead commercial design and construction management projects. He has been with the firm for four years and has managed over 200,000 square feet of various types of commercial real estate projects. He is also a member of the International Facility Management Association.
Peters, who has an extensive background in public and private project management, is a licensed civil engineer and registered Professional Engineer; a Certified Energy Manager; and a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional. He has 17 years of experience in business management, design and construction management, plan preparation, technical specifications, calculations and engineering evaluations.
