Daily Business Report: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022
General Atomics completes design
of a DRACO Nuclear Propulsion System
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has completed major milestones for the Track A, Phase 1 Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program. Under contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the company delivered a baseline design of a DRACO Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) reactor and engine and successfully tested key components of the nuclear reactor, including the vitally important high-temperature fuel elements in prototypic conditions at the NASA Nuclear Thermal Element Environmental Simulator. The Nuclear Thermal Propulsion system is intended to allow a nuclear thermal rocket to operate in cislunar space, the region between the Earth and the Moon.
“The cislunar space domain is essential to our national defense, modern commerce, and scientific discovery. As opportunities in cislunar space continue to expand, more innovative propulsion technologies to access space are increasingly necessary,” said Christina Back, vice president of nuclear technologies and materials at General Atomics.
Illustration courtesy of General Atomics
Sanford Burnham Prebys partners with top cancer
organizations to increase screening in the U.S.
Sanford Burnham Prebys has partnered with more than 50 cancer organizations to issue a call to action urging individuals, providers and insurers to increase access to and utilization of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans for those at high risk for lung cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for people ages 50-80 who have smoked for at least 20 years. However, only 5.7 percent of eligible Americans were screened for lung cancer before the COVID-19 pandemic — compared to screening rates for breast, cervical and colon cancers that hover between 60 percent and 80 percent. Screening rates have decreased for all cancers due to the pandemic.
The new effort also aligns with and supports the national Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50 percent over the next 25 years. Lung cancer screening is one easy way to help reach that goal. This call to action provides guidance for national support, including public funding and health policy changes needed to significantly improve lung cancer screening participation.
Parasites associated with eating fish
showing up in SoCal fishing locales
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography discovered that a snail species carrying human-infecting flatworms known as trematodes is widespread in California. The scientists also found three species of human-infecting flatworms in the snails in Southern California lakes and reservoirs. At a certain stage of development, the flatworms send swimming stages from the bodies of the snails. Some of them then embed in the tissue of fishes. If the fishes are caught and eaten either raw or undercooked, people risk infections with symptoms ranging from abdominal pain to possibly even brain hemorrhage.
USD report shows vital role nonprofits play
in San Diego, and need for increased support
The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego (USD) has released its 2022 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report, which tracks the health and vitality of our region’s nonprofit sector and philanthropy that supports it. This year’s report found the issues that San Diegans care about most are those where nonprofit organizations play a vital role in addressing (i.e., housing, climate change, wildfires, jobs that provide a livable wage and mental health). Yet, when it comes to the health of our nonprofit sector itself, San Diegans rank it last in their list of priorities.
This year’s State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report also found San Diego County nonprofits are well positioned to innovate to meet challenging community needs and advance the quality of life in our region. However, the sector’s ability to realize its full potential is most immediately threatened by the impacts of inflation and competition for qualified workers.
Ofra Paz joins Gary and Mary West PACE
as strategic development director
Gary and Mary West PACE has named Ofra Paz as its new strategic development director, a newly created position. Paz brings with her a passion for developing and managing quality and innovative programs coupled with a degree in social work.
Paz has devoted her entire professional career—spanning over two decades—to helping people, from serving as a rape crisis center counselor, to founding a nonprofit organization benefiting marginalized communities, to leading a nonprofit supporting older adults and their family caregivers.
Dedicated to sharing her knowledge, Paz has presented at the national level at multiple conferences including the National Association of Adult Day Services Conference, USAging Conference and the American Society on Aging Conference.
Paz holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel, and currently resides in San Francisco.
12 new faculty to be hired at UC San Diego
whose work centers on designing just futures
Design and social justice—two concepts that are not typically paired yet have the potential to change futures. These intersections will be explored at UC San Diego with the addition of up to 12 new faculty members whose work centers on designing just futures, particularly for Indigenous, Black and migrant communities.
To help spur this work, UC San Diego has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the University of California’s Advancing Faculty Diversity program to support the cluster hire. With the addition of dedicated scholars, the university will continue to envision new systems that promote equitable opportunity and success for those who have been systematically marginalized.
New Southern California billionaire
By Debbie L. Sklar
A single winning ticket for Monday night’s delayed Powerball lottery drawing was sold in the Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, with the jackpot worth a record-setting $2.04 billion, lottery officials confirmed Tuesday. California Lottery officials said the winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center on Woodbury Road in Altadena. The ticket matched all six numbers — 10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and Powerball number 10. The overall jackpot was $2.04 billion, the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. The single winning ticket will earn a prize of $1.9 billion, according to the California Lottery.
PCI Pharma Services leases Otay Mesa building
PCI Pharma Services has leased a 105,457-square-foot building at Brown Field Tech Park I at 7255 Otay Mesa Road in Otay Mesa. The company is a provider of integrated pharmaceutical development services to the global health care market. Vice Chairman Brant Aberg with Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord, Hines, in the transaction. Hines acquired the property earlier this year.
Local Roots Kombucha opens tasting room in Solana Beach
Local Roots Hard Kombucha has opened its second tasting room, in Solana Beach. It’s located on Cedros Avenue in the Design District, next to Carruth Cellars, adjacent to the Belly Up. The taproom will have close to 20 draft options, including favorites such as Cali Mule, Strawberry Mojito, and Purple Haze. Local Roots is brewed, and operated by cousins — Ryan White and Joe Carmichael, who live in Encinitas and Carlsbad, respectively.
Spin electric scooter workers join Teamsters Local 542
Operation specialists, maintenance specialists, shift leads and team leads working for Spin electric scooters in San Diego voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 542. It is the third city where Spin workers have unionized and the first outside of the Bay Area. Spin workers in Berkeley and San Francisco both joined Local 665 within the past two years, and the local union played an active role with the organizing drive in San Diego. Teamsters Local 542 represents workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties, and Yuma, Ariz.
Danna Murphy resigns as CFO of Endeavor Bank
Danna M. Murphy has resigned as chief financial officer of Bancorp and its wholly‐owned subsidiary, Endeavor Bank, effective Nov. 15, 2022. “We would like to thank Danna for her dedicated service as chief financial officer since May 13, 2019, and her strong contributions to the bank,” said Dan Yates, CEO.
Murphy will continue to be available after Nov.15 for transition services and consultation. The bank has initiated a search for the CFO position, which it expects to fill following Murphy’s departure.
Manscaped announces Series B funding round
Manscaped, a male grooming company founded in San Diego, announced a Series B funding round co-led by Banner Ventures and Smash Ventures, who also led the Series A round in 2020. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “This new capital allows us to continue our trajectory and to accelerate our global omnichannel expansion and product development as we strengthen our position as the leading men’s gromming and lifestyle brand,” said founder and CEO Paul Tran.
SDCCU President and CEO Teresa Campbell
awarded Distinguished Service Award
Teresa Campbell, president and CEO of San Diego County Credit Union, has been selected to receive the 2022 California Nevaca Credit Union League Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes exemplary credit union leaders for their contributions to the credit union community. Since she joined the credit union in 2010, SDCCU’s member base has more than doubled, reaching over 434,000 members, with assets that have grown from just under $5 billion to $11.5 billion.
North Island Credit Union launches holiday toy drive
North Island Credit Union, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, invites you to make a difference in a child’s life this holiday season by participating in its 2022 Holiday Toy Drive. Through Dec. 17, North Island Credit Union encourages community members to drop off a new, unwrapped toy to any of its branch locations in San Diego. Donations needed include toys or gifts appropriate for elementary and middle school ages. All gifts will be distributed during the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego holiday celebrations in December. A complete list of North Island Credit Union locations is available here.
