Daily Business Report: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
Multiple Cal State San Marcos citizen
councilmembers resign
over building name removal
By Jakob McWhinney | Voice of San Diego
Four members of CSU San Marcos’ 40-person University Council have resigned in response to the decision to remove former state Sen. Bill Craven’s name from the university’s first building.
Craven, whose years of advocacy played an instrumental role in the founding of the university, angered many during his time in office with demeaning remarks about Latino immigrants. He passed away in 1999.
In 2021, San Marcos’ President Ellen Neufeldt created a task force to investigate Craven’s legacy and to determine whether his name should be removed. In December, the task force released a report recommending Craven’s name come down. While the recommendation wasn’t unanimous, they wrote that “the overwhelming majority of Taskforce members endorsed the removal.”
Key factors in the decision included Craven’s support of identification cards for migrants and the controversial Proposition 187 – which passed but was never implemented. Prop. 187 would have prohibited immigrants who lack permanent legal status from accessing non-emergency public health care, K-12 education and public higher education.
Craven Hall on the campus of Cal State San Marcos. (Courtesy CSUSM)
Lamination Depot signs $6 million
lease for Oceanside industrial building
Lamination Depot Inc. has secured a $6 million long-term lease for a 34,375-square-foot industrial building at 3977 Ocean Ranch Blvd. in Oceanside. Lamination Depot will use the building for its corporate offices, warehousing and distribution, and third-party logistics.
The property, owned by Innovative Development Enterprises Inc., is located in the Ocean Ranch Corporate Center, a master-planned business park.
Marko Dragovic, Isaac Little and Tim Moore of Lee & Associates-North San Diego County, representdd Lamination Depot in the lease negotiations.
Versum Materials US LLC acquires property
in Paloma Oaks Tech Park for $5.7 million
Versum Materials US LLC has acquired a property in Carlsbad’s Palomar Oaks Tech Park for $5.7 million. The property was formerly owned by Bember USA LLC and spans an area of 19,601 square feet.
The acquisition will enable Versum Materials US to expand its footprint in the Palomar Oaks Tech Park and leverage its prime location to facilitate business growth and expansion. The company is a leading global provider of high-purity process chemicals, gases, and equipment, and its cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions are well-positioned to drive growth and innovation in the region’s high-tech sector.
Jeff Abramson from Lee & Associates NC San Diego, represented the seller, while Casey Sterk from JLL and Greg Bisconti represented the buyer in the transaction.
Versum Materials US LLC said it aims to strengthen its presence in the park and continue to provide advanced solutions to the semiconductor and other cutting-edge technology industries with this acquisition.
Alex Villafuerte named executive
director of Pacific Arts Movement
Alex Villafuerte has been named the new executive director of Pacific Arts Movement, presenters of the San Diego Asian Film Festival.
As a local community leader, and longtime supporter of the organization, Villafuerte comes to Pac Arts with almost a decade of experience as an advocate for LGBTQ and Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and stories.
Villafuerte brings years of experience in event and community organizing for San Diego’s largest civic event, the San Diego Pride parade where he formerly served as San Diego Pride’s director of marketing and communications.
Villafuerte is excited to continue his work uplifting underrepresented voices through Pac Art’s mission to present unique, culturally-enriching programs that would otherwise be inaccessible to the public through the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival and the upcoming San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase slated for April 20-27, 2023.
Optical Fiber Communications Conference
and Exhibition coming to San Diego in March
The 2023 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals, is being held March 5-9 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Hundreds of companies from 70 countries worldwide will use OFC as the platform to unveil innovations, including AC Photonics; Abalone Optical Technology Co. Ltd.; Amphenol; CIENA Corporation; Cisco Systems Inc.; Corning Incorporated; Infinera; LIGENTEC; Marvell; Optical Internetworking Frum; Samtec Inc.; Synopsys Inc.; and VPIphotonics.
Exhibitors with a local California presence include AC Photonics Inc., Advanced Test Equipment, Aehr Test Systems, Cambridge Industries USA Inc., and Fabrinet, among others. A complete list of exhibiting companies and floorplan can be found here.
Aztec Recreation Center achieves
top sustainability certification
Designed with a variety of sustainability features to conserve water and function with green energy, the expansion and renovation of San Diego State University’s Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) has received LEED Platinum status for New Construction. The first phase of the project, the expansion, began in spring 2020 and was completed in fall 2021. The renovation portion of the project was completed last summer.
A proposed fee to expand and renovate the Associated Students-managed facility was approved in a spring 2018 referendum. Throughout each step of the project, students were heavily involved in decision-making to not only meet current and future recreation needs but to ensure the building met the highest sustainability standards.
Fleet Science Center to take part in San Diego
Festival of Science and Engineering Expo Day
SAN DIEGO — The Fleet Science Center is taking part in the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering’s signature event, Expo Day, on Saturday March 4 at Petco Park. Expo Day is a full day of STEAM, free and open to the public, provided by hundreds of San Diego area businesses, educational institutions, libraries and museums, including the Fleet.As in past years, the Fleet will host a booth at Expo Day, featuring hands-on, interactive activities.The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Abilita Bio secures $ 7.5 million in
equity financing from Two Bear Capital
SAN DIEGO — Abilita Bio, a leader in discovering and developing membrane protein-targeted therapeutics, has raised $7.5 million in equity financing from Two Bear Capital. The funds will help propel the company’s existing preclinical therapeutic programs, initiate efforts on additional targets, grow the team, and expand operations in San Diego. Mike Goguen, managing partner at Two Bear Capital, has joined Abilita Bio’s board.
Mindgruve unveils new website for First Horizon Bank
SAN DIEGO — Mindgruve, one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies in the U.S., announced the successful launch of a new website for First Horizon Bank. The bank’s new website features a revamped user interface, mobile-first layout, and an elevated design. “First Horizon has gone through several growth spurts this year, and with that our team has focused on streamlining customer experience across the board,” said Erin Pryor, chief marketing officer of First Horizon Bank. “We turned to Mindgruve to refresh our website and make valuable changes that will improve the overall experience and ultimately increase leads.”
Speakeasy Co. and DRINKS announce partnership
SAN Diego — Speakeasy Co., a leading ecommerce and fulfillment solution for alcohol brands, announces its partnership with online alcohol technology leader DRINKS.
DRINKS developed a real-time tax and compliance solution integrated directly within Shopify checkout that gives Speakeasy and its partners the tools to help manage complex direct-to-consumer rules, eliminating the burden of manual processes while introducing the ability for Speakeasy to create additional efficiencies and automation.
Realty Income and Plenty
announce strategic alliance
SAN DIEGO — Realty Income Corporation has entered into a strategic real estate alliance to support the development of Plenty’s indoor vertical farms. Under the terms of the agreement, Realty Income will acquire and provide development funding for properties that will house Plenty’s indoor farms. These properties will be leased to Plenty under long-term net leases. The agreement provides for up to $1 billion of development opportunities. As the initial transaction of the alliance, Realty Income has agreed to acquire the land and provide development funding for the first farm of Plenty’s indoor vertical farm campus near Richmond, Va, which was announced last year
Shoreline Biosciences appoints
Mauro Avanzi as chief medical officer
SAN DIEGO — Shoreline Biosciences Inc. announced the appointment of Mauro P. Avanzi, M.D., as chief medical officer. Avanzi is an experienced physician-scientist and hematologist/oncologist with over fifteen years of clinical experience, including over ten years of experience advancing cellular therapies through early and late-stage of development. In his new role, Dr. Avanzi will be responsible for leading and expanding Shoreline’s clinical portfolio and will serve as a key member of its Executive team.
NuVasive receives FDA clearance for use
of Modulus Cervical interbody implant
SAN DIEGO — NuVasive Inc., a leader in spine technology innovation, focused on transforming spine surgery with minimally disruptive, procedurally integrated solutions, announced that it received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of its Modulus Cervical interbody implant with a bone void filler, further enhancing the company’s C360 portfolio. The expanded indications deliver new value in the cervical segment to surgeons and hospitals. The company’s less-invasive, procedurally integrated surgical solutions are designed to deliver reproducible and clinically proven outcomes.
Sempra Foundation helps bring cleaner
cookstoves to communities across Mexico
SAN DIEGO — Sempra Foundation, founded and funded by Sempra, is helping to advance energy access and emissions reductions for environmental justice and indigenous communities in Mexico through a $1.1 million donation to Tijuana, Baja California-based nonprofit Fundación Mozcalti to provide these communities with cleaner cookstoves and other clean energy assets. Once all installations are completed, the projects are anticipated to benefit over 40,000 people in more than 60 communities in the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora, Michoacan, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Morelos.
Ascent named ‘Best Private Student Loan Overall’
SAN DIEGO — Ascent, a leader in outcomes-based lending and student success, has been recognized as the “Best Private Student Loan Overall” from NerdWallet’s annual 2023 Best-Of Awards. In addition to “Best Private Student Loan Overall,” Ascent received awards for “Best Student Loan for Independent Students” and “Best Student Loan for FlexibleRepayment Options,” giving it the top ranking in three of eight student loan categories rated by NerdWallet, a platform that provides financial guidance to consumers and small mid-sized businesses.
SolidProfessor announces
partnership with TriMech
SAN DIEGO — SolidProfessor, the largest online training platform for design engineers, has announced its strategic partnership with TriMech, one of the largest providers of Dassault Systèmes solutions. This venture follows SolidProfessor’s recent strategic partnerships with Hawk Ridge Systems and CADimensions Inc., Dassault Systèmes value-added resellers and engineering solutions providers. As a result of the partnership, TriMech clients will gain access to over 15,000 video tutorials and exclusive business features within SolidProfessor. Engineers can pair instructor-led courses with on-demand training to make the most of their company’s software, hardware, and services investments.
