San Diego Business Journal articles from February 2006

San Diego Business Journal archives from February 2006

Graduating up the corporate ladder: New York Program benefits Biotechs here.
February 6, 2006... A group of Ivy League transplants like to joke that it was the ocean breeze that landed them in San Diego, bur these scientists-turned-business executives admit it was more than warm sand and swaying palms that enticed them. At least six...

Neighborly gesture: S.D. Builders like what imperial county has to offer; lots of land, growing population base.
February 6, 2006... San Diego and Imperial counties are on the brink of becoming part of a "mega-region," relying more on collaboration than competition, while serving a global economy. That's the consensus of those keeping a close eye on San Diego's neighbor...

Posh Horton Hotel shoots for the stars: lots of room for a Downtown luxury property, some say.
February 6, 2006... The owner of a San Diego-based firm that plans to build a hotel touted as the first step in the upgrade and renovation of Westfield Horton Plaza says it will be Downtown's first "true" luxury lodging facility. Michael Gallegos, the...

Bankers: credit union deal pushes limit: institution bends rules with Silvergate deal.
February 6, 2006... The proposed acquisition of San Diego-based Silvergate Bank by Wescom Credit Union is causing some local bankers to call for a halt on the scope of activities permitted by credit unions. Wescom, the fourth largest credit union in the state...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
February 6, 2006... In a story published in the Jan. 30 edition of the San Diego Business Journal, Scott Jones was identified as the founder of Ace Parking. The company was founded by his father, Evan Jones, who is deceased. The Business Journal regrets the...

Downtown: out with the old, in with the new: 2 longtime firms set to move to other parts of county.(Small Biz)
February 6, 2006... They say all good things must end, and for at least two older Downtown San Diego businesses, the end of an era is near as they say goodbye to their urban digs. Although encroaching redevelopment favoring high-end retailers, swanky...

S.D. officials wary of Chula Vista Gaylord plan: call made for both cities, as well as port, to iron out issues over hotel complex.(Tourism)
February 6, 2006... Financial projections may change as the debate continues over the notion that a massive hotel and convention center proposed for Chula Vista's bay front would take business from the San Diego Convention Center and Downtown's hotels, depleting...

S.D. student loan firms in a growth pattern: tighter federal restrictions have yet to impair the local lenders.(Finance)
February 6, 2006... Despite last week's congressional vote to cut some $12 billion from the federal student loan budget, local lenders specializing in the line are enjoying fatter portfolios and expanding operations. Three different student lenders based in...

Sagient finds the public markets too difficult.(PUBLIC COMPANIES)
February 6, 2006... Another small San Diego public company decided to call it quits and went back to operating as a private company. Sagient Research Systems, which provides financial data to mutual funds and investment companies, conducted a reverse stock...

Relational Investors hears the good and the bad news.(PUBLIC COMPANIES)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... The Fight Continues: Relational Investors LLC, the San Diego-based money management firm that's opposing a sale of stock of a Philadelphia bank it has a stake in, received good and bad news last month. The good involved a court ruling...

A delay: Ashworth Inc.(PUBLIC COMPANIES)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... A Delay: Ashworth Inc., a Carlsbad-based maker of sportswear, said it asked for an extension on filing its annual report with the SEC last month for its fiscal year ended Oct. 31. Ashworth has been in negotiations with its lender, Union...

Another delay: RF Industries.(PUBLIC COMPANIES)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Another Delay: RF Industries, a San Diego based distributor of coaxial cables, is another firm that said it would file its annual audited results late because it needs to obtain financial information regarding the operations of two acquired...

Airport authority is caught between rock and air space.(Arts Center on campus)
February 6, 2006... The "where oh where can my airport go" saga is still tediously humming along as the San Diego Regional Airport Authority continues to search for the ideal site to construct a new airport. Unfortunately, it's old news to just about everyone else...

Sycuan wins suit over management of hotel: renovation of historic grant hotel sees climbing costs.(Law)
February 6, 2006... Attorneys for San Diego-based American Property Management Corp. contend that they will appeal a jury's verdict that awarded Sycuan Development Corp. nearly $1.4 million after Sycuan fired the firm as manager of the U.S. Grant Hotel. The...

Historical problems: discovery of ancient artifacts can slow developers' plans.(SPECIAL REPORT: ENVIRONMENT)
February 6, 2006... Fragments of American Indian history have created large obstacles for the owners of a nearly 300-acre citrus ranch in Pauma Valley. Archaeological artifacts, such as remnants of an arrowhead, bits of pottery and old stone tools discovered...

Environmental consulting a misunderstood job: business on the rise in local industry.(residential developments )
February 6, 2006... Local environmental consultants say their occupation is often confused with that of a "tree hugger." On the contrary, they say, they are creative scientists. Designing solutions to problems in proposed commercial, industrial or...

Engineering firms *: ranked by local full-time licensed engineers as of Feb. 1, 2006.(Illustration)
February 6, 2006... ENGINEERING FIRMS * Ranked by local full-time licensed engineers as of Feb. 1, 2006 Rank Company (last Address Telephone year) Web site fax 1 URS...

Environmental consultants *: ranked by San Diego County environmental employees as of Jan. 1, 2006.(Illustration)
February 6, 2006... ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS * Ranked by San Diego County environmental employees as of Jan. 1, 2006 Rank Company (last Address Telephone year) Web site Fax ...

Learn the secret of how life works at exhibit.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Most everyone wants to know the secret to life. For those still seeking answers, San Diego life sciences firms are sharing a bit of their knowledge by sponsoring an exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum called "Genome: The Secret...

Cytori Therapeutics achieves milestone.(HEALTH CARE)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Cytori Gets $11M: San Diego-based Cytori Therapeuties, Inc. has received $11 million in milestone payments from Japan-based Olympus Corp. for achieving regulatory approval in the European Union for the Celution System, which extracts stem cells...

Targeting cancer with herpes: Immusol, Inc.(HEALTH CARE)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Targeting Cancer With Herpes: Immusol, Inc. has licensed a cancer therapy from researchers at Baylor University in Texas that uses the herpes simplex virus to kill cancer cells. The therapy has the potential to fight cancer cells...

Institute gets new leader.(HEALTH CARE)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Institute Gets New Leader: The California Healthcare Institute has appointed a new director for corporate development, Elizabeth Goode, who was most recently the director of corporate development at 3D Systems Corp. The firm is a...

Raising money for children.(HEALTH CARE)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Raising Money For Children: The Tri-City Hospital Foundation held a Mardi Gras-themed charity ball and pageant Feb. 4 to raise money for the North County Child Study Center, which provides diagnosis and treatment for under-insured or poor...

Apartment sales likely to have a big year: Downtown real estate market has sixth straight year of increasing values.(REAL ESTATE)
February 6, 2006... San Diego's apartment market is expected to be "a top performer" in 2006, helped along by job growth and rising tenant demand. That's the forecast from Marcus & Millichap's recently released 2006 annual report on the nation's apartment...

Sales.(PROGRESS REPORT)
February 6, 2006... Property: 504 and 508 Mission Ave., Escondido. Seller: ZMI Real Estate. Selling agents: Gary Stache and Pat Scruggs of CB Richard Ellis represented the buyer and Louay Alsadek, Rick Reeder, Mark Avilla and Matty Sundberg of Grubb &...

Leases.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Property: 7466 Carroll Road, San Diego. Lessor: Manulife Insurance. Leasing agents: Dean Asaro of CB Richard Ellis represented the lessor and lessee. Lessee/square footage: RD America Inc., dba Restaurant Depot, signed a 15-year,...

Design Connection.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Design Connection has re-landscaped the campus of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in Old Town to tie together the exterior planters around the law school's Spanish-style buildings in the 2100 block of San Diego Avenue. Cost:...

PCL Construction Services.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... PCL Construction Services in San Diego has started the condo development Aria @ 9th & Ash, a 24-story tower in Downtown San Diego. Cost: Unavailable. Designer: Perkins & Co. Architecture & Urban Design Inc. Developer: Anka LLC....

Lyons Warren.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Lyons Warren of San Diego provided the architectural and structural engineering services for the 67,000-square-foot PriceSmart membership warehouse store in the city of Tibas, a community of greater metropolitan San Jose, Costa Rica. Cost:...

PCF Group.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... PCF Group in San Diego has provided the exterior architectural foam for the Egyptian historic movie theater, which now offers 80 urban residences at Park Boulevard and University Avenue in Hillcrest. Cost: Unavailable. General...

Roel Construction Co.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Roel Construction Co. has completed tenant improvements of GERS Retail Systems at 9890 Towne Centre Drive. Cost: $1.2 million. Developer: Irvine Co. GERS representatives: Dean Worra, Mary Thomas and Bob Franzetta. Developer...

Legal notices.
February 6, 2006... NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FILED: January 10, 2006 To Whom It May Concern: PANOS THEODORE. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to sell alcoholic beverages at:...

Web connect directory.(Directory)
February 6, 2006... Advertising Agencies/Marketing Communications Square One Advertising, Inc. www.squareoneadv.com erin@squareoneadv.com 858.715.4714 sulicworldwide www.sulic.com info@sulic.com 858.551.5511 Whitelaw Marketing www.whitelawmarketing.com...

Gas prices rise.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Gas Prices Rise: San Diego County gasoline prices rose 4.2 cents, during the week of Jan. 21-27, to an average of $2.548 per gallon of self-serve regular, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's weekend gas watch survey....

City in solar deal.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... City In Solar Deal: The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a five-year solar energy deal between the city and Sun Edison SD LLC to provide about 5 megawatts of photovoltaic systems at city-owned facilities. The first will be at the...

Epsilon adds on.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Epsilon Adds On: Defense contractor Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. announced it expanded its ship-repair capabilities with the acquisition of the West Coast operations of Earl Industries, LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The...

Cymer profits from quarter.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Cymer Profits From Quarter: Cymer Inc., a San Diego-based maker of laser equipment used to make semiconductors, reported net income for the fourth quarter of $16.4 million on revenue of $102.8 million, compared with net income of $10.4 million...

Websense stock to split.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Websense Stock To Split: San Diego-based Websense, Inc., which makes software to protect employers from various perils of Internet use, reported net income of $11.1 million, on revenue of $40.1 million during the fourth quarter. In the same...

Ship deal.(National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Ship Deal: The Navy exercised an option to buy a ninth cargo ship from National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. The contract for the 689-foot ship is worth $317 million, shipyard parent General Dynamics announced.

Sempra chief lays out agenda.(Donald Felsinger appointed)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Sempra Chief Lays Out Agenda: Donald Felsinger, who took the chief executive's job at Sempra Energy on Jan. 1, added the title of chairman. Felsinger, 58, jump-started his tenure by vowing to spend $4 billion in the next two years on capital...

New CEO at MediaFlo.(chief executive officer)(MediaFlo USA Inc. appoints Gina Lombardi)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... New CEO At MediaFlo: Gina Lombardi, 44, was named chief executive of MediaFlo USA Inc., a unit of Qualcomm Inc., where she will help launch the company's TV-over-wireless-phone service. She follows Richard Sulpizio, who spent the last year...

Sports in stereo: Broadcast Company of the Americas.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Sports In Stereo: Broadcast Company of the Americas, the La Jolla-based company that owns the Mighty 1090 all-sports radio station, extended the programming to its FM sister station. The two stations were renamed XX Sports Radio, or "Double X"...

VCs like Tarari.(venture capital )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... VCs Like Tarari: San Diego-based Tarari Inc., which designs specialized semiconductors and software, has completed a series C round of venture capital funding, raising $14 million. Leading the round was San Diego-based Enterprise Partners...

San Diego public stocks.(Table)
February 6, 2006... SAN DIEGO PUBLIC STOCKS TICKER PRICE EXCHANGE SYMBOL COMPANY NAME 1/31/2006 NASD ACAD Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 13.05 ...

First Community Bancorp.
February 6, 2006... NASDAQ--FCBP First Community Bancorp serves as the holding company for First National Bank and Pacific Western National Bank. First National and Pacific Western are community banks providing banking and financial services to customers...

Calendar.(For the Record: BUSINESS EVENTS)(Calendar)
February 6, 2006... If you would like your business event that costs $75 or less to attend included in the calendar section, make sure your press release arrives at our offices at least 15 working days before the event. Send requests to: Andy Killion San Diego...

Corporate Directors Forum.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Corporate Directors Forum has honored six leaders with the Director of the Year Awards. William Jones, director of Sempra Energy, for corporate governance; Joseph Cook, the chairman of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, for enhancement of economic value;...

First National Bank.(Anne Page promoted )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Anne Page has been promoted to loan assistant for First National Bank, Carlsbad branch. Page has been with the bank for tive years. First National Bank has also hired Kathryn Nielson as senior vice president, relationship manager for San Diego...

Craig Ramseyer.(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP partner Craig Ramseyer has been named head of the firm's litigation team. Ramseyer is the group leader of the firm's construction group, which represents general contractors, subcontractors, public and...

Fehlman LaBarre Architects.(appointments )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Fehlman LaBarre Architects have named Paige George, Cindy Blair, Michael Stonehouse and Tom Barich as architects. Sam Patel has joined UbuildIt's Escondido office as a bidding and supplier consultant. Patel has more than 15 years' experience in...

MicroIslet Inc.(appointment of James Gavin )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... MicroIslet Inc. has appointed James Gavin as interim president and chief executive officer. Gavin serves as clinical professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and as executive vice president for Clinical...

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.(EDUCATION)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences Dean Paula Cordeiro has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Cordeiro has been an educator for 30 years and has...

Grand Del Mar.(appointment of Lisa Ann Ray )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Lisa Ann Ray has been appointed to national sales manager for the Grand Del Mar. She will be responsible for the group sales market, as well as the financial and insurance markets. Most recently, Ray was national sales manager at the Lodge at...

San Diego Foundation.(appointments)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... The San Diego Foundation has hired John Duca as North County coastal regional manager; Heather Dugdale as North County inland regional manager; David Jaffer as associate vice president of endowments and planned giving; and Sedra Shapiro as...

M Squared Consulting, Inc.(appointment of Scott Lininger)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... M Squared Consulting, Inc. has appointed Scott Lininger as vice president of consultant services. He will be responsible for consultant sourcing, business development and project management. Most recently, Lininger was president of the Cabrillo...

Wilson Petty Kosmo & Turner.(appointment of Christian Scott )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Wilson Petty Kosmo & Turner has added Christian Scott as an associate. He joins the firm's product liability group. Most recently, Scott was with Lincoln Gustafson & Cercos, where his practice focused on defense of theme parks. Mauricio Flores...

Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial.(appointment of Scott Dickson )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Scott Dickson has joined Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial as transaction and service delivery manager for the company's industrial and office properties division. He will be responsible for leading and executing work plans, assembling and managing...

Children's Museum receives $7.5m.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Jason Hughes, the president of the San Diego Children's Museum board of directors, has announced that the museum has received a donation of $5 million from Joan and Irwin Jacobs. In addition, two families who wish to remain anonymous have...

Partnership promotes philanthropy, marketing.(TRENDS)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Students and small-business owners alike might want to take note: A new partnership between a Downtown San Diego-based marketing firm and a Normal Heights-based nonprofit combines pro-education philanthropy with tax-friendly marketing...

Small-biz owners get new resource.(Center for Entreprenomics)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Open For Business: The Center for Entreprenomics, a new resource for small-business owners in North County, is now open for business in San Marcos. The center, which officially opened Jan. 26 and has been about a year in the making, is...

Spotlight: Showcase Moulding, Inc.(Small Business)
February 6, 2006... Like many small-business owners, James Foy learned by working for someone else what it takes to run a company. For years he learned as much as he could about the molding material supply business; it didn't take long before he realized he...

Real estate not always the best investment.
February 6, 2006... Question: As a business owner, when is it a good idea to invest in real estate? Answer: Investing in real estate can be tempting to many business owners who are hoping to cash in on increasing real estate values and to achieve the peace of...

Jason Rose.(Executive Profile)
February 6, 2006... The football team found him by chance as a sophomore. Jason Rose--an all-state kicker during high school in Arizona--was practicing kicking at San Diego State University. The Aztecs' special teams coach happened to be watching. "Have you...

Boom town.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Boom Town: The Downtown real estate market recorded its sixth consecutive year of increasing values in 2005, with a 20 percent rise over 2004 in new-home sales prices--the biggest one-year change since the beginning of the Downtown condo boom...

Grand openings.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Grand Openings: Grossmont College recently held a ceremony marking the grand opening of its new campus entrance road. This $3.1 million project, designed to improve traffic flow, tapped into $1.4 million in state bond funds and $1.7 million...

Moving in: Equastone.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Moving In: Equastone, a real estate investment firm, is relocating its corporate headquarters after a dozen years in La Jolla, moving to a new 15,000-square-foot facility at 8910 University Center Lane to accommodate its growing corporate...

Kudos: Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Kudos: Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc., a San Diego-based general contractor and construction manager, was recently commended by the National Safety Council for excellent safety performance in the construction industry. Barnhart is among 63...

Corruption built in to feds' business model.(On The Point)
February 6, 2006... Quick! Name a corruption-free government. It's a fact that corruption is everywhere there is money, but in private industry, it can be controlled with proper inventory and spending controls. Government, on the other hand, has portions where...

China's role in Iran crisis not so far out.(Pacific Perspectives)
February 6, 2006... The term "Far East" is not one you hear that often anymore, especially in California, where the "East" doesn't really seem all that far away. But the president of the United States, in a recent major news conference, used the term anyway. ...

New AT&T: company our customers need.(Opinion)
February 6, 2006... On the face of it, the creation of the new AT&T marks the culmination of a process that began nearly a year ago when the former SBC Communications Inc. announced its intention to merge with AT&T Corp. More significantly for our customers in San...

Merchants condemn Chula Vista renewal plan: fears of displacement through eminent domain prompt initiative battle.
February 13, 2006... Battling businesspeople, nervous property owners and looming legal actions are hanging over Chula Vista like a blanket of fog these days. In the forefront is a group of Chula Vista business owners trying to head off what they think might be...

Embattled city pension fund a breadwinner nonetheless: returns in recent years among nation's best.(San Diego City Employees' Retirement System's)
February 13, 2006... San Diego's pension fund may be in a hole last measured at $1.4 billion, but its investment portfolio has generated stellar returns in recent years--among the best of any public fund in the nation. For the year that ended in September, the...

UCSD database may aid startups: project aims to help decipher genetic codes.
February 13, 2006... Researchers at UC San Diego are creating a massive database that scientists worldwide will use to identify new genes in microscopic marine life. The project, which is under way thanks to a recent $24.5 million grant from the San...

Out with the old, in with the new: former Spaghetti Factory gets a youthful makeover.
February 13, 2006... The surprise birthday party that Madelaine Saia threw for one of her best friends during happy hour in the lounge at Dussini Mediterranean Bistro recently wasn't exactly the type of event that makes the society columns. Saia's party of 10...

Correction.(Correction notice)
February 13, 2006... In a story printed in the Feb. 9 edition of the San Diego Business Journal, Robert DeRose was said to be a consultant to Student Loan Xpress. He is in fact the company's vice chairman. The Business Journal regrets the error.

Study: border area could be top biotech hub: crossborder innovation, competitiveness center would foster growth, UCSD report suggests.
February 13, 2006... A UC San Diego study suggests that more collaboration among life science companies and research institutions on both sides of the border could fuel the San Diego-Baja California region into the largest, most appealing biotech hub in the world....

Starwood cuts its local hotel holdings to one: company may want to sell Westin as a separate property.(Tourism)
February 13, 2006... Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s sale of the 264-room Sheraton Suites San Diego in a package deal that included two other hotels in different states means that the White Plains, N.Y., firm currently has full ownership of only one...

Natural food stores take bigger slice of pie: as Henry's grows, specialty retailers are gaining more market share.(Retail)
February 13, 2006... The natural and organic food market in San Diego County is, in a word, healthy. And one chain feeling extra well these days is Henry's Farmers Market. Henry's, which was founded locally in 1943 and sold to a Colorado company in 1999, plans...

Posh new nightclub offers a tasty alternative.(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... The barely on time, way over budget December opening of Downtown's Stingaree nightclub was a gala affair that drew some 1,200 well-dressed partygoers who managed to drink and dance the night away without getting any paint on themselves--a minor...

Orfila corks a year's worth of wine awards.(Orfila Vineyards and Winery)(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... No Wine Before Its Time: Orfila Vineyards & Winery in the San Pasqual Valley near Escondido corked 2005 by winning 126 medals in national and international wine competitions. It was also distinguished as being among the nation's top 10 percent...

Up, up and away.(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... Up, Up And Away: While the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority scrambles to come up with a site recommendation for relocating the airport, Lindbergh Field rounded out 2005 with a total passenger count of 17.37 million, a 6.1 percent...

Regional or local, CB&T turns in a solid year.(California Bank and Trust)(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... It keeps its headquarters in San Diego, but California Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation of Utah, is really a regional lender that maintains most of its offices outside this county. Of the 91 offices, only 25 are in San Diego....

Internal growth, bank buy fuel community Bancorp's 50 percent increase in 2005.(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... A 50 Percent Increase: Escondido-based Community Bancorp reported net income for 2005 was $12.6 million, up 50.6 percent from 2004, thanks largely to internal loan growth and its purchase of Rancho Bernardo Community Bank. Total loans...

Plenty of security.(Brief article)
February 13, 2006... Plenty Of Security: Security Business Bank of San Diego increased total assets to $123.9 million as of the end of December, up about 35 percent from $92 million in the prior year. Loans at the 3-year-old bank increased by about 45 percent...