Daily Business Report-Jan. 31, 2020
The pilot project at UC San Diego Health is in collaboration with UPS and Matternet, a drone systems developer. (Photos courtesy of UC San Diego)
UC San Diego Health Launches Drone
Transport Program with UPS, Matternet
UC San Diego Health will launch a pilot project in February to test the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to transport medical samples, supplies and documents between Jacobs Medical Center and Moores Cancer Center and the Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine (CALM), speeding delivery of services and patient care currently managed through ground transport.
The program is a collaboration with UPS, which received in September 2019 the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 135 Standard certification and authorization to use unmanned aircraft systems for a drone delivery program, and Matternet, a Mountain View, California-based drone systems developer for health care institutions. This latest effort builds upon the UPS and Matternet drone project already taking place at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, a private, nonprofit health care system based in Raleigh, N.C.
“Currently, medical samples that must be transported between health care sites are carried by courier cars, which are naturally subject to the variabilities of traffic
and other ground issues,” said Matthew Jenusaitis, chief administrative officer for innovation and transformation at UC San Diego Health. “With drones, we want to demonstrate proof-of-concept for getting vital samples where they need to be for testing or assessment more quickly and simply. It’s another way to leverage emerging technologies in a way that can tangibly benefit our patients.”
The project calls for medical professionals at Jacobs Medical Center, located on the east health campus of UC San Diego in La Jolla, to pack payloads, such as blood samples or documents, into a secure container that attaches to one of Matternet’s M2 rechargeable battery-powered drones.
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Cal State University trustees certify SDSU’s
final EIR for Mission Valley project
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees on Wednesday certified San Diego State University’s Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the university’s campus expansion in Mission Valley. Additionally, the board approved SDSU’s financing for the property acquisition and initial stage of construction including the site infrastructure and river park.
The certified FEIR is a product of more than a year of planning and research, dozens of public meetings and presentations to local planning groups, and productive convenings of the River Park Advisory Group. The FEIR identifies the environmental impacts of the project and ensures appropriate mitigation.
With these approvals, SDSU will now continue its work to negotiate and finalize the purchase and sale agreement with the city of San Diego. The board authorized the CSU chancellor to execute a purchase agreement that is consistent with SDSU’s written offer to the city.
Upon full build-out, the proposed Mission Valley campus will provide academic and research space in a modern Innovation District, supporting up to 15,000 full-time equivalent students over time. The site will also house other campus- and community-supporting facilities, a 35,000-capacity multi-purpose stadium, housing, retail, hotel and conference facilities, and 80 acres of community parks and open space, including an expansive 34-acre River Park.
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County to reduce greenhouse gases,
divert building debris from landfills
The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to reduce greenhouse gases in the county by keeping a lot more construction debris from unincorporated communities out of local landfills.
The vote would change the county’s ordinances related to diverting construction and demolition materials and supports the county’s Climate Action Plan and its Strategic Plan to Reduce Waste.
The ordinance changes would keep more organic waste like wood and cardboard from rotting in local landfills and creating greenhouse gases including methane. They would also maximize local landfill space by keeping out an estimated 11 times more debris that can be recycled; and allow more demolished concrete and asphalt to be used for new construction.
The changes would apply to construction and grading in the county’s unincorporated communities and take effect April 1 if approved in a “second read” of the ordinance by the Board Feb. 12.
The county’s existing ordinance applies to construction projects at least 40,000 square feet in size. The changed ordinance would apply to projects as large as 1,000 square feet. County public works officials estimate that the change would increase the amount of construction debris kept out of landfills from 4,000 tons a year to 44,000 tons a year.
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California housing bill fails again
Legislation to compel local government to allow denser housing near transit hubs failed on Wednesday, the third year running the measure has stalled, CalMatters Matt Levin reports.
Sen. Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 50 fell three votes short of a majority in the 40-seat Senate. Several Southern California Democrats opposed it.
Local officials and some affordable housing advocates argue it would strip local control over housing decisions and would not provide sufficient low-cost housing.
Developers, Realtors, and urbanist “YIMBY” groups argue it would increase housing supply and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, while not endorsing Wiener’s legislation, told reporters on Wednesday:
“We are going to get something big done on production this year and we’ve been working very hard to make sure that we can get the requisite votes. And if this falls short, we are not giving up. We are going to continue to work aggressively to address production in this state.”
— Dan Morain/CALmatters
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Zeek Magallanes joins McCullough Landscape
Architecture as associate landscape designer
McCullough Landscape Architecture welcomes Zeek Magallanes to its team as associate landscape designer.
In this position Magallanes will provide services as a landscape designer for large and small commercial landscape development projects in various market sectors.
Magallanes brings years of education and volunteerism to the team. He earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture and urbanism from USC, graduating with honors in Tau Sigma Delta for his academic achievements.
Prior to attending USC, he studied residential landscape design at Cuyamaca College and attended San Diego State University where he earned a degree in cultural anthropology.
Magallanes has been active as a volunteer in various club organizations. While at Cuyamaca College he served first as the media officer, then as the secretary of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) student chapter. He is active in the Cuyamaca College Botanical Society where he served first as an assistant to the board, then as its 36th president. While attending USC, Magallanes served as the ASLA student chapter president for an academic year.
Since 2013 he has completed over a dozen small- to medium-scale residential landscape designs for clients in Southern California through his side project, Integrifolia Landscape Design.
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Judge Desirée A. Bruce-Lyle elected
to Law Library Board of Trustees
San Diego Superior Court Judge Desirée A. Bruce-Lyle has been elected to the Law Library Board of Trustees. She replaces Judge David Berry, who received the Outstanding Service Award for his dedication to the law library at the 2019 Witkin Awards dinner.
Bruce-Lyle was born in Ghana, where her father served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, as well as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Zambia. Bruce-Lyle attended the University of Zambia where she received a Bachelor of Laws before attending University of California Berkeley School of Law for her Juris Doctor.
Her career started in the San Diego Office of County Counsel as deputy county counsel. Ten years later she joined the Office of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, where she served as a workers’ compensation referee before becoming a workers’ compensation administrative law judge.
Gov. Gray Davis appointed Judge Bruce-Lyle to the San Diego Superior Court in April 2001. Her assignments have included Criminal Court, Drug Court, Juvenile Delinquency, Prop 36 Court, Superior Court Appellate Panel, AB 109 Post Judgment Courts, and Veterans Treatment Court. After joining the San Diego Superior Court, Judge Bruce-Lyle was instrumental in implementing Reentry Court, AB 109 Post Judgment Courts, and Veteran’s Treatment Court. Her judicial leadership has been vital to managing San Diego’s AB 109 population.
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Dr. Seuss Enterprises adds new team
members Tami Thosath and Nicol Hodges
Dr. Seuss Enterprisesannounced the hiring of two additional new team members. Tami Thosath has joined the organization as senior manager, global licensing, reporting to Julie Dill, vice president global licensing, marketing and communications. Nicol Hodges has joined as global creative manager reporting to Shannon Spisak, director of global marketing and creative.
In her new role, Thosath will be responsible for securing new licensed product partnerships growing Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s global consumer products portfolio. Prior to joining Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Thosath served as a senior sales manager at Equity Management Inc. where she was responsible for securing new partners and leading new brand development. She has also held senior roles at Big Tent Entertainment, Endemol USA, and MGA Entertainment. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University.
Hodges, in her new role, is responsible for interpreting Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ global strategic plan and key initiatives into relevant and commercial creative strategies and assets that can be leveraged by licensees and partners in product development, retail merchandising, marketing materials, and digital outreach.
Prior to joining Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Hodges served as product development manager at Equity Management Inc. where she worked collaboratively with internal teams, licensors and licensees to define product strategy and drive the product development process for a wide range of consumer brands. She also held senior positions at Mattel, D&R Women’s Athletic Wear and AB Pro Sports, Inc. Hodges is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia.
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Erin Spiewak named chief financial and
operations officer of S.D. Museum of Man
The San Diego Museum of Man has selected Erin Spiewak as its new chief financial and operations officer. Spiewak assumed the role on Jan. 13 and will oversee finance, accounting, operations, and human resources on behalf of the museum.
An established leader in San Diego’s nonprofit sector, Spiewak most recently served as the chief executive officer of Monarch School, a unique K-12 institution serving youth experiencing homelessness. While at Monarch School, Spiewak oversaw an instrumental capital campaign, renovating and opening the school’s new Nat & Flora Bosa campus; grew the student body from 150 to 300 students, while expanding the staff from 19 to 40 team members; developed a state-of-the-art high school college career lab; and launched an annual fundraiser, which has raised over $4 million since 2015.
Spiewak replaces Tabitha McMahon, who left the museum in June 2019 after nearly six years in the role. Previously, Spiewak worked with several foundations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation, WebMD Health Foundation, and the Rose Foundation. Spiewak received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Diego State University and her master’s degree from Webster University. She currently serves as a member of Women Give, San Diego and San Diego Rotary. Spiewak is a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Sector Skills Academy and a graduate of the LEAD San Diego INFLUENCE leadership program.
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San Diego Museum Month
returns Saturday for its 31st year
San Diego Museum Month, one of Southern California’s most anticipated events of the winter season, will return in February 2020 for its 31st year. The San Diego Museum Council presents the annual program to encourage visitors and locals alike to experience San Diego’s vibrant museum scene with special half-off admission at over 40 museums and cultural institutions throughout the county.
For the third year, Hilton is supporting the San Diego Museum Council by offering Museum Month visitors their best deals at 40 participating Hilton properties across San Diego County, with locations in close proximity to all participating museums, from Downtown San Diego (and nearby cultural hub, Balboa Park), to popular coastal communities, to North County. Hilton guests can pick up their pass when they check-in to any of the participating hotels.
Local residents can pick up Museum Month passes at over 75 public libraries located throughout San Diego County. This library partnership helps ensure that the Museum Month pass is accessible to all San Diego County residents. The program is made possible with additional support from the Serra Cooperative Library System.
The Museum Month discount pass can also be picked up a participating Macy’s stores in San Diego and Imperial County.
With 42 cultural institutions in 44 locations countywide, San Diego Museum Month offers something for every interest, including visual art and design, children, science and nature, history, wildlife, military, transportation, music, culture and heritage.
Each Museum Month pass can be used for up to four half-priced admissions at any of the participating museums. Additional fees may apply for special exhibitions and events at some museums. Guests can use their Museum Month pass to visit as many museums as they would like from Feb. 1-29, 2020.
More information about Museum Month, including a full list of participating museums and upcoming exhibitions, can be found at www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org.
