Daily Business Report-May 18, 2015
Adam Day, chairman, and members of the Citizens’ Stadium Advisory Group at a recent press conference.
Stadium Advisory Group to Present Financing
Plan for Multi-Use Stadium in Mission Valley
The Citizens’ Stadium Advisory Group has staged a news conference for 1 p.m. today to announce a proposed financing plan for a new stadium and to unveil renderings and model of a proposed multi-use stadium in Mission Valley.
The announcement is to be held at the San Diego County Operations Center on Overland Avenue.
Advisory Group Chairman Adam Day will speak, along with Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; former Charger Nick Hardwick; Rafael Alvarez, head of Bolt Pride; and Dan Meis, founder and managing principal at MEIS, a New York-based stadium architecture and design firm.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced the formation of the Citizens’ Stadium Advisory Group on Jan. 30 to develop a workable path to building a new multi-use stadium in San Diego that protects taxpayers. The committee is composed of nine civic leaders with experience developing large-scale projects and financing plans.
CSAG completed its work in 108 days, or four months before its original deadline, and two days ahead of the accelerated deadline the committee agreed to early in the process.
Hera Fund Hosts San Diego’s
First Female-Only Startup Pitch
Ten local entrepreneurs seeking funding have been selected to pitch at Hera Fund’s inaugural “Hera Quick Pitch,” San Diego’s only all-female pitch event.
The finalists will pitch to a panel of judges in a room full of female angel investors on Thursday, May 21. The winners will receive cash prizes and in-kind services worth nearly $6,000, such as executive coaching and legal counsel.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Hera Hub in Sorrento Valley at 4010 Sorrento Valley Blvd., Suite 400.
“We’re working to bridge the gap between female founders and funders,” says Dr. Silvia Mah, co-founder of Hera Fund. “This event provides a platform for brilliant women to showcase their businesses and establish concrete connections with local investors who share their vision for growth.”
More than 55 women entered the contest, with these 10 earning a spot in this year’s pitch-off.
• Summer Rogers of South Doctors
• Frances Prado and Dr. Melinda Silva of Hanging Secrets
• Delara Fadavi of Meego Tech
• Jenny Wu of EatSafe
• Ana Bermudez of TAGit
• Whitney Mullen of Soft Chomp
• Karen Weiss Kart of Prodigi Kids: Adi, the Stay-Put Plate
• Danielle Rowley of Performa Learning Inc. / Business English PLACE
• Lana Feng, Ph.D. of Personalized Diagnostics
• Caroline McCandless of CaroSoul
During the pitch-off, the women will have three minutes to present their business concept and answer questions. They have received mentoring from prominent female innovation mentors as well as pitch training.
— Times of San Diego
New Free Lunchtime Trolley
Service Begins Today in Hillcrest
Today begins a new public service in Hillcrest, a free trolley that will loop through the community connecting major employment hubs and residents with the Hillcrest business core. It’s meant for all who live, work, visit and play in Hillcrest.
The Park Hillcrest Lunch Loop is being launched by the Uptown Community Parking District in partnership with the UC San Diego Health System, the Hillcrest Business Association and coordinated with Scripps Mercy along with Hillcrest restaurants.
The program aims to shift the demand for parking spaces during weekday lunch hours. Shuttles will operate from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sponsors of the program will officially launch it today at 11 a.m. at UC San Diego Medical Center, 200 West Arbor Drive.
“We are grateful for this community partnership that will provide new transportation options for our employees and visitors, as well as the broader Hillcrest community,” said Aaron Byzak, director of government and community affairs for UC San Diego Health System.
“We surveyed local employees and discovered that there are hundreds of drivers that bring their car into Hillcrest for lunch,” said Elizabeth Hannon, COO of the parking district. “With our free parking shuttle employees and residents can hop on the 10-minute Lunch Loop and be dropped off just steps from more than 50 restaurants. The Parking District is interested to see if we can decrease the number of cars circling the business core looking for parking and make having lunch in Hillcrest an easy choice.”
The Uptown Community Parking District currently operates a parking shuttle on weekend evenings connecting riders with free parking at the DMV lot on Normal Street with stops along University Avenue and Sunday service to the Hillcrest Farmers Market with a stop on Fifth Avenue. There’s also a $5 communitywide valet service on Fifth and a free mobile app.
Fisher House Gives Military Families
A ‘Home’ While Loved One Gets Treatment
Military families who have a loved one receiving medical treatment at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton have a new “home away from home” at which to stay at no cost with the opening of the first Fisher House at the military installation. Military members, families and community leaders celebrated the new facility with a ribbon cutting and tour on Friday.
United Health Foundation provided a $2.65 million grant to fully fund the construction of the Pendleton Fisher House, the first to be funded through the support of a single donor. The new, eight-suite, 8,000-plus square-foot home is expected to serve more than 280 families and provide nearly 3,000 nights of lodging annually, saving families more than $360,000 a year in lodging expenses. The Pendleton Fisher House stands adjacent to the Naval Hospital and has a view overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
“We are grateful for the work of Fisher House and United Health foundations, and their commitment to our military members and their families,” said Brig. Gen. Edward D. Banta, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “This home is a symbol of hope and will be an important resource for military families while their loved ones receive medical care.”
In addition to the $2.65 million grant, United Health Foundation, through its Caregiver Support Program, will make child care available to military families staying at the Camp Pendleton Fisher House through a special grant to the Zach and Elizabeth Fisher Child Development Center located on Camp Pendleton.
The new Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton serves more than 70,000 active-duty and veteran members of the military and their families. The new Fisher House will allow loved ones to be close to a hospitalized service member at Camp Pendleton, and will augment the lodging needs of the Fisher Houses located at the nearby Naval Medical Center San Diego where many critically wounded service members receive treatment and rehabilitate.
Pathway Genomics CEO Appointed
To Presidential Advisory Committee
Jim Plante, founder and CEO of San Diego-based Pathway Genomics Corp., has been appointed to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health and Science Products by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.
As a member, Plante will provide the president, through the Commerce Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative, with detailed policy and technical advice.
ITAC advisers provide industry expertise in developing trade policy for the United States and offer input as the Obama Administration advances its international trade agenda to improve economic opportunities for America’s businesses, workers, and consumers.
Plante gained his experience in areas of international business by starting several successful companies relating to advanced technologies, biotechnology, and manufacturing. Pathway Genomics Corp. is an advanced molecular testing laboratory that provides personalized genetic health information to physicians in the United States and over 30 countries worldwide.
Timken Museum to Get EPA Award for
Reducing Energy Use by More than 50 Percent
U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer will award the Timken Museum of Art with the 2014 EPA Battle of the Buildings Energy Star award. The museum in Balboa Park, is being recognized for reducing its energy use by more than 50 percent, preventing more than 80 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the environment.
As part of its effort to reduce energy use, the museum converted 50-year-old light fixtures to advanced LED lighting and installed new timers, dimmers, and sensors. More than 5,500 buildings across the United States competed in the fifth annual Energy Star Battle of the Buildings: Team Challenge. Together, the competitors saved more than $50 million, cut their energy use by more than two billion kBtus, and prevented more than 250,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equal to the annual energy use of more than 37,000 homes.
The museum’s efforts support the city of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), which identifies measures to effectively meet greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 and 2035. Energy and water efficient buildings are one of five strategies listed under the City’s CAP to achieve the targets. Other strategies include increasing clean and renewable energy, zero waste and climate resiliency.
SDSU’s Top 10 Degrees for 2015
San Diego State University offers bachelor’s degrees in 91 areas, master’s degrees in 78 areas and doctorates in 22 areas.
The most popular degrees among this year’s nearly 9,600 graduates range from engineering to business. Here are the top 10 degrees of SDSU’s 2015 graduating class:
No. 10: B.A. Liberal Studies
A total of 179 students will graduate with this a degree designed for future educators and administrators
No. 9: B.A., Communication (Liberal Arts)
As students, these 182 graduates studied either communication studies or health communication.
No. 8: B.S., Mechanical Engineering
These 189 graduates likely had a curiosity about how things worked.
No. 7: B.S., Business Administration — Marketing
These 190 graduates know it is so much more than the promotional efforts that goes into selling a product.
No. 6: B.A., Economics
These 202 graduates will go on to a wide array of careers in government, law, business, journalism, education and nonprofits.
No. 5: B.S., Business Administration — Accounting
The Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy will graduate 207 students into the world of accountancy.
No. 4: B.S., Business Administration — Management
The 239 graduates in this major are student leaders and entrepreneurs.
No. 3: B.S., Business Administration — Finance
These 258 graduates have learned to hone in on specific calculations using the resources of the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate, the Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning and the Wells Fargo Financial Markets Laboratory.
No. 2: B.S., Criminal Justice
These 401 graduates may work in probation, parole, corrections and other social service agencies.
The most popular degree for the class of 2015 is …
No. 1: B.A., Psychology
This year, 589 graduates studied how human beings develop, learn, think and feel through SDSU’s Department of Psychology, which is in the top 10 in the U.S., and second in California, for National Institutes of Health grants.
Personnel Announcements
Cubic Executive Reappointed to
San Diego County Fair Board
Stephen Shewmaker, 65, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors, by Gov. Jerry Brown. He has servedon the board since 2012. Shewmaker has been president at Cubic Transportation Systems since 2006, where he was senior vice president of business development from 1982 to 2003. He was senior vice president at Thales Transportation Business from 2003 to 2006 and a marketing representative at Honeywell Training and Control Systems from 1972 to 1982.
Shewmaker is a member of the American Public Transportation Association and the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is treasurer at the Don Diego Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Shewmaker is a Democrat.
