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*** More than 400 computer science and engineering freshmen at UCSD are sporting wireless-enabled Hewlett-Packard Jornada PDAs as part of a social and educational experiment. HP donated the machines and money to buy wireless cards. As part of the Active Campus program, the students can suggest questions to professors and then vote on which ones the teacher should answer. Working with CDMA 3G and 802.11b wireless technology, the PDAs also serve as locator devices, telling the students when fellow PDA-users are near. That triangulation program, called Campus Explorer, was developed by a 15-year-old undergraduate who spent the summer perfecting the algorithms. The ultimate goal is to improve the location technology to the point where, for example, not only will a student know a friend is in the library, but what floor she is on and where on that floor. Sociologists will study how the devices are used and whether they improve learning or the university experience. The students keep them when they graduate. *** In a perfect world of nice things that come around and go around, San Diego Opera stands to be an unsung beneficiary of the $200 million San Diego Symphony endowment campaign funded 50 percent by Joan and Irwin Jacobs. Opera uses symphony musicians for its performances, and it seems reasonable to expect the orchestra’s talent to be kicked up a notch or two with the fresh funds. But six years ago, when the symphony was in bankruptcy and unable to pay its musicians, San Diego Opera remained a dependable source of income for the players. *** Interviews with Dick Capen, Carol LeBeau, Dr. Richard Farson and Dave Stutz are featured this month on “Heart of San Diego,” the Fred Lewis-hosted television show that airs in prime time on ITV. The full schedule is on Page 29 of San Diego Metropolitan magazine. ***
*** Urban planning visionary Sherm Harmer is starting his own development company following his departure last month as vice chair of The Olson Co. and president of the San Diego division. Olson is the developer of CityWalk and VillageWalk in Little Italy, and OrangeWalk in East San Diego, as well as other projects in the county. Harmer says his three-year contract was up and the decision to part ways was mutual. Michael diNicola, Olson’s executive v.p., did not return a call seeking comment. Harmer says his travels between four Olson offices across the state helped him focus on his work here. “San Diego is the only real Downtown south of San Francisco,” he says. “It has the only core. A core is an area where people can live, work, shop, play and learn, all without a car. I call it the circle of life. The five functions that all Californians want.” Harmer’s relations with Olson remain close. He plans to buy a unit in CityWalk; his daughter is the marketing director for Olson’s Orange and L.A. county operations and his son works in the San Diego sales office. “I see this as a great new opportunity to focus all of my energy in San Diego,” he says. *** The Gaslamp Quarter will be transformed from 5 p.m. to midnight Feb. 12 for a Mardi Gras celebration complete with colorful beads, hurricanes, parade, music and Cajun cuisine. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call the Gaslamp Quarter Association at (619) 233-5227 for information. *** The San Diego Republican Businesswomen are honoring Jeanette Roache as Republican Sweetheart of the Year. The luncheon is set for Feb. 14 aboard the William D. Evans at the Bahia Hotel. *** A supplemental EIR is under way on plans to build a 344-room Marriott Renaissance Hotel on J Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues in the Gaslamp Quarter. The 40,000 square foot project will include 3,000 square feet of retail space and 180 parking spaces. CCDC may have to get involved in acquiring one parcel on the project site. The report is needed because facades of two historical buildings will be incorporated into the project. Construction should start in fall 2003 and take 18-24 months to complete. The property is one of a few in the Gaslamp where heights can, with certain conditions, hit 125 feet. *** On Feb. 26, the San Diego City Council will be asked to switch the redevelopment of the long-shuttered 100,000-square-foot First National Bank Building at Broadway and Fifth Avenue from office to lofts. The CCDC board, which earlier bought the building, gave its blessings last month. If it seems somewhat ironic to make the request in San Diego’s tightest commercial market (Downtown), where residential is booming, the developer, Watt Commercial Properties, tells CCDC the financing market is driving the change. Lenders are eager to fund the live/work lofts, not the office. CCDC says the issue is a lack of full-floor office tenants who will commit to the space. The proposed $17 million project will produce ground floor retail and 73 lofts that would range in size from 760 square feet to 1,500 square feet and rent for about $1,400 to $3,500 per month. A May 2003 completion is planned. *** Congress has awarded Alliant International University $400,000 toward construction of a new state-of-the-art clinic and research center as part of a general academic building on the Scripps Ranch campus. “The need for innovation and advances in behavioral, mental health, and alcohol and substance abuse treatment and prevention is widely acknowledged to be critical and growing,” says Judith E.N. Albino, the school’s president. The $4 million Center for Behavioral Health will offer expanded community services. The building will include space for faculty, classrooms and laboratories for student instruction and a series of treatment rooms for traditional and innovative clinical approaches, including 12-step programs; biofeedback for chronic pain and other medical conditions; virtual reality treatment for fears and phobias; and telemedicine equipment. This is the first new building on the former U.S. International University 60-acre campus since 1998 and only the second new building since 1978. ***
*** The Corky McMillin Cos. has purchased the assets of the Imperial Valley division of Allen Homes. The purchase includes four neighborhoods now selling in Calexico, Imperial and Brawley, and three more to open within two years. The division is headquartered in El Centro and has a staff of 16. *** Western Pacific Housing’s San Diego division has dominated the region as the home builder with the most “best selling” new-home neighborhoods, reports the Meyers Group Inc. The report breaks the San Diego area into four groups: San Diego Coastal, San Diego Inland North, San Diego Central County and San Diego South County. Western Pacific Housing neighborhoods led the market by either dominating the top and second positions or coming in as a close second in three of the four submarkets. *** Acculaser Inc. of San Diego has been awarded a $100,000 contract by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to further investigate the therapeutic use of infrared lasers. The contract enables Acculaser to continue researching the effects of infrared light sources on tissue regeneration. Acculaser is at the forefront of technology using infrared light to heal and regenerate tissue. “We are pleased to receive support from the DARPA organization for our ongoing efforts to enhance the benefits of laser therapy in tissue regeneration,” says Jackson Streeter, founder and CEO of Acculaser. “In light of the current events, now more than ever we hope that down the road we will be able to provide information and equipment to assist in optimal treatment for soldiers injured on the battlefield.” *** With PM Realty Group expanding its presence in San Diego, the real estate company has named Terry W. Thompson as v.p. of the San Diego and Orange County offices. A 17-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, Thompson last was regional v.p. at Legacy Partners Commercial Inc. In 1999, he oversaw a portfolio of more than 11 million square feet of office and industrial projects throughout Southern California. In San Diego, PM Realty manages the Executive Complex, Hazard Center, La Jolla Executive Tower and Sorrento Towers. *** After 18 months of operation, San Diego-based Bank of Internet USA is reporting assets of $200 million and, in the most recent quarter, its first profit. In the quarter, the bank had earnings of $170,000 vs. a loss of $232,000 a year earlier. For the six months ended Dec. 31, it had a profit of $87,000 compared with a loss of $488,000 a year earlier. Gary Lewis Evans, the bank’s president, reports a single loan delinquency on the balance sheet. ***
*** Small businesses interested in getting in the San Diego County Water Authority pipeline of contracted work can now tap the agency for insurance as well. To make it easier for contractors to meet insurance requirements, the water authority has joined several other local public entities that offer contract-specific insurance. R.F. Driver Insurance Brokers is administering the water authority insurance. *** Construction has started on Costa Brava Trade Center, a 52,000-square-foot distribution complex at Siempre Viva Road and Avenida Costa Brava in Otay Mesa. Ware Malcomb is the project architect. Lister Construction is the general contractor. International Real Estate is handling project leasing and management. *** Bosa Development of California has topped off its 22-story, 199-unit residential tower in Cortez Hill and anticipates a June completion. As of late January, 132 units have been sold. *** Jim and Carla Bassi open Che Bella this month on Fir Street near India in Little Italy, and will become walk-to-work neighbors as soon as their new condo is finished at Porto Siena. Che Bella sells hard-to-find flowers. She's been a floral design since age 14, a bit before she became Mrs. Bassi. He's been representing Puritan Bennett's ventilators. *** UCSD logged record research revenues, and SDSU tabbed its highest level of philanthropic support, in highlights from the universities’ new annual financial reports. UCSD was awarded $510 million in research last year, compared to $462 million in 2000 and $325 million in 1995. Total revenue was $1.6 billion, including $417 million from UCSD hospitals and clinics, $347 million from the state, $122 million from tuition and fees, and $111 million in private gifts, contracts and grants. SDSU’s private donations totaled $42 million, led by the San Diego Chapter of the Associated General Contractors, which has given pledges to date of $870,000 toward a $4.5 million campaign to launch a construction engineering and management bachelor’s program at SDSU in the fall. The UCSD report estimates its economic impact at $2.6 billion, including 68,000 jobs locally and 78,000 nationally, monthly payroll of $64 million and a total of $587 million in spending on goods and services. The report also projects UCSD’s capital spending will increase to $792 million over the next five years. ***
*** What grade would you give the county of San Diego on how well it manages the government systems that deliver public services? The Maxwell School at Syracuse University in a study funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts gives the county a B+. Only Fairfax County (Md.) and Maricopa County (Ariz.) scored the top grade, A-. Among California counties, Orange merited a B, Riverside a C+, Los Angeles a C and San Bernardino a C-. (Nassau, N.Y. was last, charting a D-.) The report examined five aspects of governance. Its authors were particularly impressed by San Diego’s management ethos. San Diego scored an A- in financial management, capital management and managing for results; B+ in information technology; and B- in human resources. Complete results are in the February issue of Governing or online at www.governing.com. *** Elected to the 2002 board for the San Diego Chapter of Executive Women International are Karen Joyce, Tiffany & Co., president; Jill Hammons, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, v.p.; Karen Rawl, Wells Fargo Bank, secretary; Judy Koman, Wells Fargo Bank, treasurer; Linda Long, Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, sergeant-at-arms; Lori Levine, Morton’s of Chicago, membership director; Margie Hoffman, Festivities Catering, program director; Cheryl Veal, North Island Financial Credit Union, publication director; Peggy Jewell, Bollotta and Associates, ways and means director; and Jan Rogers, Francis Parker School, orientation/retention director. *** The size and number of tenants in the Poway business park were listed incorrectly in the “North County Comes Of Tech Age” feature last month. The park is 850 acres in size with 700 acres to be developed. And it is home to about 350 businesses, not 380. San Diego Metropolitan regrets the error. *** On April 20, the SDSU Alumni Association will pay tribute to distinguished alumni and faculty at “The Montys — Awards of Distinction” event. Now in its 30th year, the Monty Award is a symbol of achievement and success, presented to alumni and faculty who have shown exemplary dedication to SDSU and the San Diego community. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner at 8 p.m., awards presentation at 9 p.m. and dancing beginning at 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $100 each and $900 for a table of 10 if purchased by April 5. For more information, call (619) 594-2586. *** Laurie Black and Michelle Brega have been selected to do all the public participation, communications, outreach and expedition of workshops for CCDC’s Comprehensive Community Plan Update. The effort starts next month and should take about 18 months to complete. ***
*** The 2002 UCSD Economics Roundtable is presenting Martin J. Whitman, founder, chair and chief investment officer of Third Avenue Funds, speaking on “The Triumph of Value Investing: So Far.” The Feb. 13 breakfast takes place at the UCSD Faculty Club. Whitman is one of America’s leading value investors. The cost to attend is $50 per person. For information, call (858) 822-0510, email emunk@ucsd.edu or click on econ.ucsd.edu/roundtable. *** The International Visitors Council of San Diego will host U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte in his first visit to San Diego on Feb. 18. Negroponte will speak on “The War on Terrorism” at a dinner at the Mission Valley Marriott. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 if reservations are made before Feb. 12; $85 later. Tables of 10 are $675. For reservations, call (619) 291-8105. *** Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Point Loma Branch Library are set for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9 in the parking lot of the present building on Poinsettia Street between Udall and Voltaire streets. Mayor Murphy, Councilman Byron Wear and Hugh Story, president of Point Loma Friends of the Library, will participate with library director Anna Tatar. *** The 56th president of the San Diego chapter of the Associated General Contractors is Peter J. Filanc, president of J.R. Filanc Construction Co. Filanc succeeds Ted Rossin, president of Bannister Steel. New 2002 board members are John Goodman of Hensel Phelps Corp. and John Nelson of FCI Constructors. ***
*** Community leader Malin Burnham will receive the Chancellor’s Medal for extraordinary contributions to education and the greater San Diego community during a Town and Gown celebration 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in UCSD’s Mandeville Theatre. This is the highest recognition UCSD bestows upon an individual. *** Buying the Williamsburg South apartment complex in La Mesa for $6.9 million are Carolyn Kutzke, Mary Porter and Evanne Lill. The complex, built in 1979, features 70 units, 12 two-car garages, pool, office, spa, sauna and recreation room. Eric Comer of CB Richard Ellis’ central San Diego office and Bob Cota of Bob Cota Realty represented the sellers, De Clara Inc., David A. Haaland Medical Corp. Pension Plan, Stephen and Bonnie Turner, Richard and Maureen Knott and Robert Efren Cota Trust. The buyers were represented by Larry Gittins of Radelow Gittins Property Management. *** The New Professionals Group of the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has named its 2002 board members. Kate Buska of Loews Coronado Bay Resort is director of public relations; Laura Margoni of Heying & Associates is director of membership; Jenna Skidmore of Berkman Communications is PRSA liaison; Jason Spark of Susan Atkins & Associates is director of finance and operations and Lauren Walsh of Marston + Marston is director of event planning. *** ARMA Design, a San Diego-based electronic design and manufacturing firm, has moved to 6255 Ferris Square in Sorrento Mesa. The 15,000-square-foot building will house all design, administrative, manufacturing and shipping divisions of the firm. ***
*** Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health, attended the first Johnson & Johnson-Wharton CEO Program for Health Care Leadership at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Van Gorder was one of 13 hospital executives selected to participate in the three-day program tailored to benefit CEOs of major hospital systems or health groups. *** The San Diego Sheriffs Department has opened a museum at 2384 San Diego Ave. in Old Town. The two-story, 7,000-square-foot building was once office suites. The museum displays guns, handcuffs, cars, a fingerprinting and lie detector machine, and jail house log. Some of the equipment dates back to the 1830s. *** For the third consecutive year, Mark Dearinger’s Dearinger salon has been recognized as one of the fastest growing salons in the United States by Salon Today magazine. For a salon to be named, it has to meet the following criteria: The salon is a provider of professional salon services including hair care, skin care, body care or spa treatments; it generated gross annual service and product sales of at least $100,000 per year since 1997; revenues were greater in 2000 than 1999, and projected to be even higher in 2001 and the owner charted the business’ growth for the past three years; The applicant submitted financial documentation to verify revenue. *** County Television Network is now Channel 19 on Cox Communications, Channel 24 on Time Warner and Channel 66 on Adelphia. ***
*** State Farm Insurance donated 50 Pentium II computers to the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber. The organization will distribute 40 computers to Hispanic groups in the community that lack computers or need to upgrade their computer centers. *** Barney & Barney LLC has established a retirement services department to respond to its clients’ need for competitive retirement plans. William J. Peartree will manage the effort. He’s a former partner with Corporate Benefit Solutions & Retirement Solutions. *** Fashion Group International of San Diego will hold its sixth annual Style Awards at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel in Downtown. The winners are: Marilynn Dworking, creator of The Make-Up Studio, Star Style Award; Michelle Mason, executive director of the San Diego chapter Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fashion Industry Award; Joan Embry, wildlife spokeswoman, Education Award; Ester Jane Paul, president of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Pacific Southwest, Media Award; Charlotte Jacobs, community volunteer, Community Outreach Award; Robert E. Tuggey, Tuggey Interior Design, Interior Design Award. *** Bill O’Connell signed a $54,000 lease at 110 W. C St., Ste. 712 for 964 square feet for 36 months. The tenant represented himself, while Joel K. Cloud of A.W. Arendsee Real Estate represented the landlord, Charter Building Ltd. Arena & Associates signed an $81,000 lease at the same address, Ste. 1013, for 835 square feet for 60 months. The tenants represented themselves and Cloud again represented the landlord. *** Solar Solutions in San Diego has developed the AquaCone, a portable water purification device, for distribution in Third World countries. Using the sun’s rays to evaporate water, purified water condenses on the sides of the cone and collects in a base. The cone can distill up to 2.5 liters of water daily. At night, heated rocks can produce the same effect. The cone costs about $150 per unit. Distribution will be done through government and private partnerships. *** San Diego author and investment adviser Gordon Williamson has released “The 100 Best Mutual Funds You Can Buy.” This is the 12th edition of his book, designed to save the investor time, money and frustration by narrowing the mutual fund field to 100 and ranking them by category and risk level. Published by Adams Media Corp., the book sells for $12.95. *** On March 5, the Corporate Directors Forum will honor six of San Diego’s business leaders at its 11th annual Directors of the Year awards dinner at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Chosen for demonstrating the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity and corporate leadership, and for making tremendous, positive contribution to the community, the honorees are: Corporate Governance, Richard Collato; Enhancement of Economic Value, Peter Farrell; Companies in Transition, Joseph Cook Jr.; Corporate Citizenship, William K. Geppert; Not-for-Profit Board, Julie Meier Wright; and Lifetime Achievement, Anne L. Evans. For information, call Linda Sweeney at (858) 455-7930. ***
“The original plan called for New York City to supply 100 additional buses needed for the job,” says Susan Hafner, director of multimodal operations at MTDB. “After the terrorist attacks in September, New York City was not able to fulfill its promise to deliver these buses, so a plea went out to cities across the United States asking for the use of any buses they could spare for this cause.” The bus wraps and panels were designed by the ConVis advertising agency, Di Zinno-Thompson.
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San Diego’s position as the epicenter for advanced wireless technology careers continues to harden, most recently with TRW Radio Systems in Carmel Mountain Ranch actively in the hunt for nearly 150 engineers to work its $4 billion-$5 billion U.S. portion of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. The effort will require another 150 positions — mostly engineers — in 2003. The plane is now called the F-35, of which 3,002 will be built for the U.S. and U.K. military, perhaps many more for friendly governments. The winner of the $200 billion contract, Lockheed Martin, was announced in fall. Not that TRW Radio was worrying: The company also was in line to handle the CNI — it stands for communications, navigation and identification — work for Boeing, the other fighter finalist. This is a huge contract for TRW Radio, although it wasn’t hurting for work: Last year it added more than 150 people, swelling its staff to 850-plus. V.P. Dave Vandervoet, maybe the most undertitled executive in San Diego, runs the operation for parent TRW.
Visitors and athletes from around the world attending the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City this month will see three San Diego Transit buses wrapped from roof to wheel with the colorful San Diego sunshine brand and a message. The promotion is sponsored by MTDB and ConVis. An additional 22 buses sport side panels featuring the ConVis sunshine image and Web site address. San Diego responded to a national appeal from Salt Lake City for additional buses to handle game transportation needs.Home | Info | Cover Story | About Us | Back Issues | Search
