Daily Business Report-June 6, 2018
Chassis Plans’ multi-display computers are so rugged, ‘You can drop them, kick them, blow them up,’ said a spokesman. (Photos courtesy of Chassis Plans)
San Diego’s Chassis Plans acquired by
leading Israeli defense tech company
San Diego-based Chassis Plans, manufacturer of computers, LCD displays and other products for military and industrial applications, has been acquired by Aeronautics Ltd, an Israel company involved in unmanned aerial systems.
Chassis Plans said its rugged and custom solutions for computer hardware and displays will provide Aeronautics with complete end to end solutions for its integrated products in the U.S. and throughout its global operations.“In return, this acquisition gives Chassis Plans access to Aeronautics’ global markets, investment in new products, infrastructure and to leverage their supply chain, so that Chassis Plans can provide better support and value to its customers,” said Michael McCormack, CEO and president of Chassis Plans in a statement. “Chassis Plans will be staying in our San Diego offices and plans on expanding its product offering and services on a global basis.”As one of the largest defense companies in Israel, Aeronautics sees its acquisition of Chassis Plans as a perfect fit to its portfolio of companies.
“The acquisition of Chassis Plans enables us to operate in the U.S. and get combined orders from both Israel and U.S. customers,” said CEO AmosMatan. “Aeronautics plans to utilize its global marketing and sales infrastructure for the acquired company’s products, and also to expand Chassis Plans’ activity.”
Chassis Plans’ products are ruggedized — hardened, multi-display computers
designed for military and defense applications. “You can drop them, kick them, blow them up,” said a spokesman. This means that military personnel (as well as industrial applications like oil fields, construction, etc.) can use these hardened systems in the field, on aircraft, on boats and that the computers will be able to resist dust, moisture, vibration, explosions, high and low pressures, radical changes in pressure. In other words, a bomb could go off nearby and they would still work.
They also make very cool hardened tablets perfect for use in the battlefield as well as in hazardous locations.
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Raken raises $10 million to boost
software for construction industry
Raken, a San Diego company that makes daily reporting software for the construction industry, has raised $10 million in Series A funding in a round led by venture capital firm U.S. Venture Partners (USVP). Participants included new investor Tao Capital Partners and existing investors Eniac Ventures, Rincon Venture Partners and Spider Capital.
“Our mission has always been to empower the construction field. We’ve helped construction companies on nearly 200,000 projects and the customer feedback has been incredible,” said Kyle Slager, CEO and founder of Raken.
“Our partnership with USVP will allow us to accelerate product improvements, new features and maintain world class customer service.”
The company said Raken boosts construction productivity, safety compliance and risk mitigation by providing a software platform that streamlines construction workflow processes such as daily reporting, time tracking and safety management. The company has more than 3,000 clients from all 50 states and 89 countries.
Raken was initially launched in 2014.
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New blood test rapidly detects
signs of pancreatic cancer
A new proof-of-concept diagnostic test developed by researchers at UC San Diego can rapidly screen a drop of blood for biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. The test can provide results in less than an hour, and shows promise for detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages. The technology for the chip-based system was initially developed by Jacobs School of Engineering alumnus Raj Krishnan during his bioengineering doctoral research on identifying cancer biomarkers from blood using alternating electric currents. Krishnan co-founded and is the CEO of San Diego-based Biological Dynamics.
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Rimrock Apartrments in La Mesa sells
for $14.1 million to Wyoming LLC
The 62-unit Rimrock Apartments at 8420 Buckland St. in La Mesa has sold for $14.1 million to Joehnk LLC, a Wyoming-based closed limited liability company. The seller, Rimrock LP and Partners LLC, a commercial real estate investment company, was represented by Kidder Mathews multifamily investment brokers.
Built in 1974, Rimrock Apartments consists of 48 one-bedroom/one-bath and 14 two-bedroom/two-bath floor plans with community amenities including a pool, a spa and a shared laundry room. The property is located near numerous big-box retail, services and restaurants. Grossmont Transit Center which is served by the San Diego Trolley system is half a mile away.
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Landscape architects group invites
nonprofits to apply for annual grant
The San Diego chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects invites local nonprofits to apply for this year’s annual grant of up to $5,000 to design or construct landscape architectural improvements in locations such as parks, schools and neighborhoods. The 2019 Community Grant application is available on SDASLA’s website, www.asla-sandiego.org, or by calling Jennifer Webster at 530-737-3207 or SDASLA at 619-283-8818 for information or a copy of the grant application. The application deadline is Aug. 17.
“Landscape Architects possess diverse skill sets that add environmental and cultural depth to improvement projects of all scales. The ASLA Community Grant extends our resources and expertise to nonprofit organizations while expanding public understanding and awareness of our discipline,” said Jennifer Webster, vice president of community outreach for the chapter and landscape designer and consultant at JW Botanica.
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Institute for Palliative Care
announces seed grant funding
The California State University Institute for Palliative Care has received support for seed grant awards for a third year from the Gary and Mary West Foundation. This year’s funding provides $50,000 for projects that advance palliative care education and research, particularly proposals that focus on improving care for seniors or family caregivers of seniors. Applications for seed grant funding will be accepted through Aug. 27. The seed grants are offered in conjunction with the National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research, to be held Oct. 11-12 at the San Diego Hyatt Regency Mission Bay hotel.
Grants of $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded to selected applicants who have registered and are attending the symposium.
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Francis Parker School junior named
recipient of volunteerism award
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans has named local student Adam Nussbaum of the Francis Parker School as a 2018 Billy Michal Student Leadership Award recipient. The national honor is awarded annually to one student in every state who has maintained a strong record of volunteerism, demonstrates school and community activism, and helps implement creative solutions to recognized problems. Each honoree will be flown to New Orleans to participate in the Museum’s American Spirit Awards program taking place June 7 and 8.
The leadership award, which the Museum first presented in 2017, was created in honor of Billy Michal, who was a child living in Louisiana during World War II. At only six years old, Michal helped his one-room school win a statewide scrap paper-collection contest during the war, proving that every citizen could contribute to victory.
A junior at Francis Parker High School, Adam is president of the Hiking Club and director of education and outreach for History Day Club. Outside of school, he interviews WWII veterans about their experiences, recording oral histories for The National WWII Museum’s archive as part of his role as a 2018 WWII Student Ambassador for the institution. He also volunteers at a pediatric dental clinic in Ensenada, Mexico, every three months.
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Personnel Announcements
Romy Brown joins Beta Wealth Group
Romy M. Brown has joined Beta Wealth Group as chief operations and compliance officer. Brown has over 20 years of experience in the financial advisory and planning industry, specializing in operations, finance, compliance and technology.
Brown has a background, in running and providing executive level support for Registered Investment Advisor practices. Most recently, she was the chief operations and compliance officer of Pacific Wealth Management LLC, an independent investment management, consulting, and financial planning company.
Between 2005 to 2017, Brown was an OSJ (office of supervisory jurisdiction) supervisor and branch manager, assuring that all advisers and administrative staff in the branch office of Girard Securities Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Advisor, were following all federal, state and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations.
Brown earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in Colorado.
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ELECTION RETURNS
It’s Newsom vs. Cox in November
as Villaraigosa tumbles in governor’s race
With a devastating recession behind them and politicians offering upbeat visions of what lies ahead, California voters streaming to the polls today will narrow the 2018 governor’s race down to two candidates in a race likely to affect their well-being and bank account.
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DA race: Stephan has commanding
lead against challenger Jones-Wright
Early returns in the race for district attorney showed Summer Stephan with a substantial lead over her challenger, Genevieve Jones-Wright, in a race that featured candidates that were polar opposites and that was awash in spending by outside groups.
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Diane Harkey, Mike Levin lead in 49th Congressional;
Duncan Hunter with big lead in 50th
With results from Orange County vote-by-mail ballots counted, Republican Diane Harkey and Democrat Mike Levin lead in the race for the 49th Congressional District.
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U.S. and partner nations conclude
Pacific Partnership 2018 in Vietnam
After a completing a successful two-week Pacific Partnership 2018 mission in Nha Trang, Vietnam, personnel departed June 2 aboard the U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy. The mission in Nha Trang included personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. service members assigned to the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick.
During the mission in Nha Trang, the mission’s medical professionals worked alongside Vietnamese medical personnel engaging in patient care activities, community health and surgical exchanges and seminars.
Mission civil engineers built and repaired schools and medical clinic facilities alongside their Vietnamese counterparts and held workshops to discuss methods to build resilient facilities that can withstand inclement weather and tropical storms.
Additionally, subject matter experts from the mission conducted workshops highlighting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief topics including swimmer safety, urban search and rescue and a six-day beach course for lifeguard teachers. Mission personnel also set up training scenarios covering response to severe flooding and other natural disasters.
When not participating in training, mission members attended community outreach events such as concerts put on by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band at various locations, as well as sporting events, arts and crafts for children with disabilities and beach cleanup events.
