Daily Business Report: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022
Oracle cloud infrastructure helps
satellites connect with Viasat real-time
Viasat’s Real-Time Earth network is helping all kinds of satellite operators get their data back from space more quickly, and part of the equation is using the latest cloud software from Oracle.
Viasat partnered with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) for a high-performance, low-cost and increased security solution to process satellite data. In a recent blog post, Oracle’s Arun Poonia and James Ronneberg detail some of the ways the Viasat and Oracle technologies work together to maximize the benefits of the Real-Time Earth network for our customers.
Photo: Viasat’s Real-Time Earth network has antenna installations like this one in place around the globe.
Illumina intends to appeal European Commission’s
decision in its acquision of GRAIL
Illumina, Inc. received a decision from the European Commission prohibiting the company’s acquisition of GRAIL. The company is reviewing the Commission’s order and intends to appeal the decision. The EC decision follows last week’s ruling by U..S Federal Trade Commission judge in favor of Illumina’s acquisition of GRAIL.
“We are disappointed with the European Commission’s decision prohibiting us from acquiring GRAIL back to Illumina,” said Charles Dadswell, general counsel of Illumina. “Illumina can make GRAIL’s life-saving multi-cancer early detection test more available, more affordable, and more accessible – saving lives and lowering health care costs. As we continue to believe, this merger is pro-competitive and will accelerate innovation. Last week the chief judge of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a decision supporting Illumina acquiring GRAIL.”
In addition, to prepare for the anticipated divestment order from the European Commission in the coming months, the company will begin reviewing strategic alternatives for GRAIL in the event the divestiture is not stayed pending Illumina’s appeal.
Governor signs legislation to improve working
conditions and wages for fast-food workers
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed landmark legislation to empower fast-food workers with new wage and workplace protections to support their health, safety and welfare. AB 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), authorizes the creation of the Fast Food Council comprised of representatives from labor and management to set minimum standards for workers in the industry, including for wages, conditions related to health and safety, security in the workplace, the right to take time off from work for protected purposes and protection from discrimination and harassment.
“Today’s action gives hardworking fast-food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table to set fair wages and critical health and safety standards across the industry,” said Newsom.
Members of the Fast Food Council at the Department of Industrial Relations will include fast food workers and their advocates, franchisees, franchisors and representatives from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the Department of Industrial Relations.
Former SDSU All-American now leads
Snapdragon Stadium’s hospitality
The only thing Susan Hawke enjoys more than a great party is hosting a great party. As executive general manager for food and beverage at San Diego State University’s new
Snapdragon Stadium, she is utterly in her element.
Hawke is head of hospitality at the newest large-scale entertainment venue in the region. Her job is to make sure guests have a good time.
The position is the latest in a series of similar jobs Hawke has held at other venues including the San Diego Convention Center, Qualcomm Stadium and, most recently, Petco Park where Hawke was general manager of food and beverage operations. The Snapdragon job, though, is different; the work is more personal.
A San Diego native, Hawke was an All-American tennis player at SDSU. She remains a true competitor on behalf of her alma mater.
Although she is a fan of Aztecs football, Hawke has little time to watch games while working. She is too busy checking in with vendors and guests making sure everything is running smoothly. “We want the Snapdragon food and beverage experience to be top notch,” Hawke said. “We’re not perfect all the time, but we are always trying to be perfect.”
$150 million gift takes stem cell research to new heights
Noted businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford has committed $150 million in new funding to expand and, in some ways, quite literally launch stem cell research and regenerative medicine at University of California San Diego into new spaces and endeavors.
The gift will fund the new UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute and builds upon a $100 million gift in 2013 from Sanford that boldly established UC San Diego as a leader in developing and delivering the therapeutic promise of human stem cells — special cells with the ability to develop into many different cell types and which, when modified and repurposed, have the potential to treat, remedy or cure a vast array of conditions and diseases.
Sanford’s gift to establish the Sanford Stem Cell Institute is the largest single gift to UC San Diego. “This investment enables the team to dream beyond what is possible,” said Sanford. “The sky is no longer the limit.”
House of Panama opens in Balboa Park
sdnews.com
After more than 10 years of planning, the House of Panama opened its doors in Balboa Park on Aug. 14, 2022. The House of Panama is a member of the House of Pacific Relations. The cottage and museum officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cultural festival.
This new cottage will provide San Diegans with a window into the traditions and customs of the Panamanian community living in San Diego. Numerous community leaders, elected officials and international dignitaries including State Senate President Pro tem Toni G. Atkins, Assembly member Chris Ward and Gilda Garcia, Consul General of Panama to the U.S. attended this community event.
In 2015, the City of San Diego celebrated the 100th anniversary of the CaliforniaPanama Exposition that was hosted in Balboa Park in 1915 celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal. Balboa Park was built for the occasion.
Mag VanOosten named chief
clinical officer for Mission Healthcare
Mission Healthcare, one of the largest home health, hospice, and palliative care providers on the West Coast, announced the hiring of Mag VanOosten as the company’s new chief clinical officer.
As part of Mission Healthcare’s executive team, VanOosten will lead clinical operations and direct the clinical practice of Mission Healthcare’s programs and services.
VanOosten comes to Mission Healthcare with decades of experience in the home health and hospice industry, holding multiple roles in clinical operations, strategic planning, quality improvement and nursing. Most recently, she was the president and chief clinical officer at UnityPoint at Home. In that role, VanOosten oversaw the operations and strategic direction for all service lines. She also managed a $280 million annual budget for 26 locations, achieving significant clinical, operational, and performance improvement.
VanOosten is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Clarke College.
National Programs announces promotions
at Orchid Underwriters Agency
Kathy Cody has been named chief executive officer of Orchid Underwriters Agency, and Ross Bowie has been named its president and chief underwriting officer. In addition, Steven Carlsen will transfer his current responsibilities to Kathy and Ross and take on a new role as an executive vice president in ational programs.
Orchid Underwriters was acquired by National Programs, a Brown & Brown Company, earlier in 2022 to round out the segment’s personal lines coastal wind underwriting capabilities and expand its presence in the high-net-worth homeowners space. National Programs is composed of over 30 brands in the MGA/MGU/PA space covering over 60 specialty niches, including commercial lines, personal lines, earthquake, wind, special events, professional liability, municipalities and educational institutions.
Heritage Global Parners awarded new
global vendor contract with Pfizer
San Diego-based Heritage Global Partners (HGP), a worldwide leader in asset advisory and auction services, and a subsidiary of Heritage Global Inc., announced that it has been re-selected as Pfizer’s global vendor for asset disposition services relating to laboratory equipment. Securing the contract award is a product of a comprehensive and competitive bid process among multiple potential vendors. The new multi-year contract will begin on Jan. 1, 2023.
HGP will be responsible for the sales and redeployment of Pfizer’s surplus lab assets worldwide which constitutes lab equipment, machine shop and carpentry shop equipment, farm equipment, vehicles, artwork, consumables, MRO, small scale manufacturing equipment, and Clinical Trial hospital equipment globally. Pfizer has utilized HGP in this capacity since 2013 and since then, HGP has conducted more than 100 auctions from various locations, including sites in the United States, Australia, India, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Outreach events connect over 1,700 unhoused
San Diegans to homes and serviced
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced that 1,731 unhoused San Diegans have been connected to housing, shelter and social services at a dozen different focused outreach events across San Diego since last fall. A fifteenth event was recently held over three days in Northeast San Diego.
“What ends homelessness is housing, and these coordinated outreach events provide opportunities to meet people where they are with the purpose of connecting them with services and putting them on a path to permanent housing,” said Gloria said. “Allowing people to live on the streets is inhumane, and we will continue to hold these events as long as there are people who need our help.”
Since October 2021, the city’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department, in partnership with dozens of other government agencies and social-service organizations, has led coordinated street outreach events in City Heights, Midway, Barrio Logan, Balboa Park, Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Ridgeview-Webster, Rolando Village, Hillcrest, North Park, Ocean Beach, Mission Bay and Mission Beach.
EcoFest Encinitas to be staged
Oct. 9 at Cottonwood Creek Park
EcoFest Encinitas, an annual one-day event dedicated to spreading awareness of eco-sustainability and inspiring green action, will takes place on Oct 9, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cottonwood Creek Park at 95 N Vulcan Ave. in Encinitas. EcoFest is inviting green businesses or organizations, to exhibit their products, services, or systems at this year’s fair.
As part of EcoFest, BCycle Encinitas will offer free day access passes for e-bikes all day within Encinitas.
EcoFest expects to attract about 1,900 attendees and host 80 exhibitors and vendors, including local businesses, government agencies, and environmental NGOs, including the local Rotary and EcoRotary clubs, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club, 101 Mainstreet Associations, the SD Library system, and others. Green businesses in North County that wish to become an exhibitor can go online to register at: www.EcoFestEncinitas.net or email Encinitas.environmentday@gmail.com for more information.
Hosted by the City of Encinitas, EcoFest is sponsored by San Diego Community Power, San Diego Gas & Electric, EDCO Waste and Recycling Services, BCycle Encinitas, BCK Programs, Ting, and the Leichtag Foundation.
