Daily Business Report-Aug. 17, 2018
Through the partnership, SDSU students will learn, write and execute new film and television concepts. (Photo courtesy of SDSU)
SDSU and alumnus launch partnership
to help student filmmakers
By La Monica Everett-Haynes | SDSU NewsCenter
In a first-of-its-kind partnership in the television and film industry, Emmy Award-winning television producer Scott Sternberg is working with San Diego State University and the student-created Real Khool Productions (RKP) to provide students with more dedicated training and greater opportunities to get their films and shows aired.
It is not typical for a production company to work with a college or university. According to Sternberg, it illustrates the commitment Scott Sternberg Productions (SSP) has to develop and mentor new talent in television.
“This is an incredible opportunity to give back to and partner with my school, which gave me the education to go out and be successful in our business,” said Sternberg, who has created popular shows “Exposed” with Deborah Norville, “On The Case” with Paula Zahn and “Rehab Crazy.” “We will be helping develop a new generation of talent.”
Through the partnership, SDSU students learn, write and execute new concepts on both linear and digital platforms, often utilizing existing university sites and resources. Once developed and agreed upon by students and SSP, concepts move forward into full presentations and sizzle reels, produced by the students and funded by SSP.
When ready, SSP takes the projects to market. Any sale of the product will give both SDSU and Real Khool Productions, established at the end of 2017, creative and financial participation in the format as well as credits.
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San Ysidro Land Port of Entry
pedestrian processing facility opens
TheSan Ysidro Land Port of Entry (LPOE)—the busiest international border crossing in the western hemisphere, with 70,000 northbound vehicle passengers and 20,000 northbound pedestrians crossing daily—officially opened on Wednesday, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the U.S. General Services Administration. The Main Pedestrian Processing Building is part of the $741 million, three-phase expansion project to accommodate growing cross-border traffic and reduce congestion. The San Ysidro LPOE expansion project is directed by GSA with U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the primary tenant.
During the Phase 2 expansion project, the design-build team of Hensel Phelps and Stantec delivered a complete reconstruction of the port’s pedestrian and bus-inspection facilities, which included inspection booths for 18 northbound pedestrian processing lanes and four northbound bus-processing lanes.
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Best Buy acquiring San Diego’s
GreatCall for $800 million
Best Buy Co. has agreed to buy San Diego’s GreatCall Inc., the maker of senior-focused Jitterbug mobile phones, for $800 million as part of an effort to increase investments in technology that addresses the needs of older people. Best Buy reached the deal with private-equity firm GTCR, which acquired GreatCall last year.
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San Diego Chamber board votes
to support SDSU West initiative
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted Thursday to support the SDSU West initiative over the competing SoccerCity initiative. The endorsement came after representatives from both SDSU and SoccerCity presented their plans.
“The redevelopment of the Mission Valley site will have a long-term impact on the entire San Diego region and we want to ensure that the plan that moves forward is in the best interest of businesses and the San Diego community as a whole,” said Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the chamber. “After thorough review of both proposals our board of directors determined that SDSU West represents the greatest economic benefit for the future growth and development of the region. The plan allows the university to expand and significantly enhance its capabilities as a world class education institution and one of our region’s leading economic drivers.”
The proposals went through a review process that included the chamber’s Infrastructure, Housing and Land Use Sub-Committee, a special ad-hoc committee, Public Policy Committee, and the board of directors.
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Illumina launches $650 million
senior notes offering
GenomeWeb
Illumina said after the close of the market on Wednesday that it intends to offer approximately $650 million of convertible senior notes due 2023.
Illumina also intends to grant the initial purchasers a 30-day option to purchase up to an addition $100 million of the notes for a potential offering size of $750 million.
Upon conversion of the notes, holders will receive, at Illumina’s election, cash, shares of the company’s common stock, or a combination thereof. Interest rate, conversion rate, and other terms of the notes will be determined by negotiations between Illumina and the initial purchasers.
Illumina plans to use net proceeds of the offering to repurchase up to $150 million of its common stock concurrently with the offering in privately negotiated transactions. It said it will use the remainder of the proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of its 0.0 percent convertible senior notes due 2019.
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Southeast San Diego organizations
collaborate on getting youth jobs
San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District, and the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation plan to double the number of “disconnected youth” participating in the San Diego Gateway to College and Career program at SDCE to complete education and prepare to join the workforce.
Jacobs Center, with support from the James Irvine Foundation, will provide $300,000 in funding to the SDCE Foundation for a contract to extend programming to serve an additional 45 students who reside in Southeastern San Diego, on top of the 60 students already in the program.
Students will be guaranteed a San Diego Promise scholarship, which provides two-year tuition/fees for community college, plus $500 per year for books, thanks to the generosity of the Jacobs Center.
Opportunity youth, formerly referred to as disconnected young adults, are ages 16-24 and are neither in school nor working; therefore, are disconnected from education and career. These youth contribute to lost productivity in a region’s workforce and place increased need on social services in a community.
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Personnel Announcements
Nicole Capretz appointed to state Strategic Growth Council
Nicole Capretz of San Diego, an attorney and executive director of Climate Action Campaign and the primary author of the city’s clean energy Climate Action Plan, has been appointed to the state Strategic Growth Council.
The appointment was announced by Sen. President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, chair of the Senate Rules Committee.
Capretz has played a pivotal role in helping other cities in the region adopt 100 percent clean energy climate plans and is a prominent advocate for Community Choice Energy in Southern California. She is a board member of Trees 100 and Mid-City Community Advocacy Network, and is a member of the Sierra Club.
Capretz received a Bachelor of Arts in in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts in Environmental Law, and a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.
The Strategic Growth Council was created to take action with regard to coordinating programs of member state agencies to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, amd improve transportation.
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Jeffrey Davies joins
Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills
Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills in El Cajon has hired Jeffrey Davies as managing director of KW Commercial. Davies, who has 15 years of real estate and commercial property investment experience, will be responsible for growing and leading the commercial division, including assisting investor and developer clients with acquisition and sales transactions involving industrial, office, retail and hospitality properties, as well as raw land.
Davies, an El Cajon resident, began his real estate career in 2003 working in commercial sales, leasing and loans. He has worked with properties located throughout Southern California, including Imperial Valley, and in Phoenix. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University. He also is a graduate of East County Leadership, a program offered by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.
