Daily Business Report: March 24, 2022
OLP’s eighth annual Women’s Symposium:
‘Make Your Mark: In Pursuit of Passion & Progress’
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace will hold its eighth annual Women’s Symposium on Friday, under the theme “Make Your Mark: In Pursuit of Passion & Progress.” The event will take an extensive look at the impact that women have in the world today, through a series of workshops and panels featuring prominent women across several industries.
The event will be held at Academy of Our Lady of Peace at 4860 Oregon St., San Diego, and is open to the public starting at 9:05 a.m.
Attendees with hear from San Diego leaders Esther Rodriguez of Rodriguez Consulting Group and board member of VIDA Wellness and Beauty, Danitza Villanueva of Giving Back Magazine; and Beverly Magtanong and Jelynn Rodriguez, founders of Mostra Coffee.
Panel topics:
• Philanthropy is Female: How Women are Changing the Face of Giving
• The Grass is Greener…Where You Are
• Working the Civil Discourse Muscle: Our Role in Healing the Divide
• Transforming the Landscape for Women Entrepreneurs (hosted by Hei-ock Kim/ Kim Center for Social Balance)
• Illuminating Your Curiosity, Inventiveness, and Creativity
• Finding Peace in the Age of Noise—
San Diego’s Patricia Guerrero confirmed
as first Latina on California Supreme Court
Times of San Diego
A San Diego appellate justice was confirmed Tuesday to serve on the California Supreme Court, making her the first Latina to serve on the state’s highest court.
Patricia Guerrero’s appointment to the California Suprene Court was approved through a unanimous vote by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Guerrero last month, and the governor is scheduled to swear her in on Monday. Guerrero will replace Associate Justice Mariano- Florentino Cuéllar, who left the bench last October.
Guerrero is an Imperial Valley native who has served at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One in San Diego since 2017. Prior to her appointment to the appellate court, Guerrero was a San Diego Superior Court judge, as well as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of California.
Deadline looms for residents to apply
for state’s COVID rent relief program
CalMatters
A key deadline in California’s pandemic response is looming: Friday is the last day for residents to apply to the state’s COVID rent relief program.
Starting Monday, landlords can move to evict non-paying tenants in cities or counties without local eviction protections in place — even if they have rent relief applications pending before the state.
On Tuesday, advocates urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to “stop the eviction tsunami” by extending the rent relief program, citing a recent analysis that found only 16 percent of the nearly half a million renters who applied for state money had been paid as of early March.
“This is an emergency program designed to address the specific need that resulted from the pandemic,” said Nur Kausar, a communications manager for the state Housing and Community Development Department.
Kausar added that although the state’s rent relief application portal closes on March 31, the program “will continue to operate until all complete applications received are processed and all eligible applicants have been paid.” She said the state has paid more than $2.47 billion to more than 215,000 households, though that’s less than half of the nearly 490,000 that have applied for relief so far.
Odie Goward joints Endeavor Bank as senior vice president
Odie Goward has joined Endeavor Bank as senior vice president, as the bank opens a new office in East County, temporarily located at 9400 Grossmont Summit Drive, Suite 303, in La Mesa.
Goward will bring on a team and oversee business development in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee, as well as nearby unincorporated areas.
She will act as regional manager of the new East County Office.
Having worked in the banking industry in El Cajon and La Mesa since 1991, Goward’s involvement is continually recognized by her community.
She has been honored by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce as one of its Women in Leadership in 2014 and was named El Cajon Citizen of the Year in 2011.
Goward served as vice president of California Bank & Trust for over 13 years.
Prior to that, she served in the same capacity at other local banks, including 1st Pacific Bank, Temecula Valley Bank, Cuyamaca Bank, Valle de Oro Bank, and all the way back to American Valley Bank where she specialized in commercial lending.
Chelsey Kamen takes role as senior account
manager at Intesa Communications Group
Intesa Communications Group, a San Diego-based strategic communications and government relations firm, announced the hiring of Chelsey Kamen, who is joining the firm’s public relations team as a senior account manager.
Kamen brings a unique blend of creativity and business strategy experience with a colorful background in the arts and an MBA in innovation and entrepreneurship from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Prior to joining Intesa, Kamen was the marketing manager at the Salvador Dali Museum in Florida.
In her role at the museum, she led key marketing, brand and communication strategies, and developed full-funnel advertising campaigns for the museum’s frequent special exhibitions curated from top worldwide collections.
Founder of Chelsey Kamen Art, she currently works from a studio in Mission Hills.
Her artwork has been featured in galleries, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and other retailers and designer showcases.
Kamen looks forward to painting narratives for Intesa’s clients and transforming their stories into communication masterpieces.
Petco becomes first pet retailer to be awarded
coveted American Humane Certified seal of approval
American Humane, the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, protecting more than 1 billion animals around the globe with the most recognized, credible and respected humane programs, has awarded Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc. the American Humane Certified seal of approval. The seal was awarded after an assessment of the welfare, well-being and overall condition of all small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and aquatic life at Petco pet care centers.
Further advancing Petco’s own long-standing, industry-leading standards for animal care, the health and wellness company proactively invited American Humane to conduct independent on-site audits and observations of the behavior of, as well as the veterinary care, habitats, nutrition and safety provided to, the pets in their care. Following core principles, American Humane developed a thorough independent evaluation process that ultimately revealed pets at Petco pet care centers and animal supplier facilities are not only in good physical condition but enjoy excellent overall welfare.
“Petco is to be commended for proactively taking the next step to help ensure animals in their care are treated humanely and ethically,” said Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane.
Gas prices shoot up to an average price of $6.01
The average price of a regular gallon of gas shot to $6.01 in the Los Angeles-Long Beach metro area on Tuesday — making it the first in the country to surpass the $6 milestone,
according to the American Automobile Association. Statewide, the average price for a gallon of gas hit $5.866, up from $5.855 on Monday — even as the national average continues to decline.
The troubling trend will likely increase pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to quickly settle on a plan for sending financial relief to residents. But in the meantime, Republicans aren’t wasting the opportunity to accuse Democrats of dragging their feet. The GOP Assembly Caucus on Tuesday released a “Truth vs. Lies” infographic about their proposed gas tax holiday, a day after unveiling a timer tracking how long it takes Democrats to put money back in Californians’ pockets.
County of San Diego launches Microgrant Program
The County of San Diego is providing Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grants.
This program will provide grants of $2,500 to County of San Diego microbusiness owners who were in operation in 2019, still in operation today, and were impacted by the Covid-19 public health restrictions.
To be eligible you need to have:
• Been in business on or before December 1, 2019 and still in business in 2022.
• Have gross revenue under $50,000 (as reported for 2019).
Demonstrated decline in revenue or service demand due to COVID-19 in 2020 or 2021 as compared to 2019.
• Operating within the County of San Diego.
• The business was the primary source of revenue for the business owner.
• Not have received other sources of COVID relief such as a grant from a city, the state, or a forgiven PPP loan.
Many sole proprietors in industries such as hair styling, auto repair, consulting or similar service-based businesses may meet these criteria.
To learn more about this program and apply here. Should you need assistance in filling out the application SDNEDC will be holding office hours to assist business owners. Call W. Erik Bruvold at 760-510-5919 to arrange an appointment.
The Ken Blanchard Companies recognized
as top leadership training company
For the seventh year in a row, The Ken Blanchard Companies, a global leader in management training, consulting, and coaching, has been named a Top Leadership Training Company by Training Industry Inc.
Training Industry, the leading research and information resource for corporate learning leaders, prepares the Training Industry Top 20 report on critical sectors of the training marketplace to help professionals select the best and most innovative providers of training services and technologies.
“Being recognized by Training Industry is an honor,” said Scott Blanchard, president of The Ken Blanchard Companies. “Our mission is to help our clients create positive workplaces and develop inspiring leaders. It is deeply gratifying to be recognized for this important work.”
Mindpath Health acquires Psychiatric Centers in San Diego
Mindpath Health, a leading independent US provider of high-quality outpatient mental health services, today announced its further expansion in its flagship state of California with the acquisition of Psychiatric Centers at San Diego, San Diego’s largest mental health practice. The strategic acquisition adds another eight locations and 124 providers in the greater San Diego area to the Mindpath Health family, increasing access to care in San Diego proper, as well as Chula Vista, Escondido, La Mesa, and San Marcos.
The purchase of Psychiatric Centers expands Mindpath’s California offerings of autism therapy (such as applied behavioral analysis), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, along with adding other key behavioral health services including a Child & Adolescent Center.
