Category: News

A note from Dr. Clarke…

By Dr. Nikia Clarke,

“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”  —General Dwight D Eisenhower

Every year at EDC, our team spends November and December moving through a structured goal setting process together with our investors, our executive committee, and our board. We work to establish objectives for the year that are responsive to the demands of current economic conditions; that are led by the businesses that create jobs for San Diegans; and that have measurable outcomes that contribute to prosperity and competitiveness across the binational region.

This year, we face unprecedented uncertainty as an organization, economy, and community. The pandemic and subsequent economic hardships have not impacted our community evenly, and the decisions we make on where to prioritize our time and resources have never been more critical. We know 2021 will be another challenging year for everyone. But we also know that it will present us with historic opportunities to contribute to the region’s economic resiliency, recovery, and long-term prosperity.

For an economic development organization, meeting this unique moment requires going back to basics—prioritizing the fundamental building blocks of a strong economy: jobs, talent, and households. In 2021, all our goals, programs, and initiatives roll up to these three priorities as we work to better connect our businesses, workers, and communities to the drivers of growth.

  1. JOBS: Our core competency at EDC is working with businesses, both as they navigate the now, as well as understanding what comes next. At a time when the rules are changing daily, we will track business sentiment and economic resilience. We will continue to assist companies of all sizes as they seek relief, insight, and sustainable connections to customers and markets. And via our World Trade Center, in 2021, we will grow available services for small businesses hoping to access international markets.
  1. TALENT: Despite high levels of unemployment, there are still shortages for in-demand jobs. Via Advancing San Diego, we will continue to work through employers to identify needed skills and create pathways for all San Diegans into quality jobs. And via San Diego: Life. Changing., we will connect talent around the world to jobs at San Diego firms.
  1. HOUSEHOLDS: A competitive region is an affordable one, with the infrastructure the economy needs to thrive. We will double down on the pillars of inclusive growth through our Anchor Collaborative, which enables large employers—universities, hospitals, governments, and utilities—to maximize their economic impact. This year, we will release research and recommendations that leverage large buyers to provide $100 million in new contracts to small businesses, and work with and through our anchor partners to advance those goals.

There is much we don’t know about what this year holds, but we do know that things will change: in the economy, in our region, and thus in these goals and plans. We know we will have to remain agile, adaptable, creative, and inclusive to ensure that EDC remains a resource to our community. We will continue to work with and through our investors and stakeholders to get this recovery right. Join us.

—Dr. Nikia Clarke, VP of Economic Development, EDC; Executive Director, WTCSD

Nikia Clarke
Nikia Clarke

Chief Strategy Officer, EDC; Exec. Director, WTCSD

Good News of the Week – January 8, 2021

By Heather Dewis,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week.

For the week of January 8, 2021, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are the events we’re (virtually) attending:

COVID-19 assistance for small businesses

From California’s COVID Relief Grant Program to PPP updates, EDC has outlined seven new and ongoing resources available to small businesses navigating the impacts of COVID-19. Reach out to EDC for assistance finding and applying to these programs, free of charge.

Find Resources and Assistance

San Diego business resources:

Amidst everything happening in the world, we need a reminder that there’s plenty of ‘Good News’ to go around in San Diego. We have also compiled additional resources for businesses and individuals seeking additional guidance.

For businesses:

For individuals:

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

Heather Dewis
Heather Dewis

Sr. Manager, Marketing Communications

Monthly Report – January 2021

By Taylor Dunne,

A note from Dr. Nikia clarke:

Every year at EDC, our team spends November and December moving through a structured goal setting process together with our investors, our executive committee, and our board. We work to establish objectives for the year that are responsive to the demands of current economic conditions; that are led by the businesses that create jobs for San Diegans; and that have measurable outcomes that contribute to prosperity and competitiveness across the binational region. Learn more about our 2021 goals.
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By the Numbers

  • 6.6% San Diego County unemployment rate
  • 365 business assisted in 2020
  • 8.2K jobs impacted in 2020
  • 476 Companies assisted with COVID-19 relief in 2020

Featured Stories

Investor Recognition

  • Burger Construction
  • CDC Small Business Finance
  • City of Encinitas
  • Cubic
  • Dexcom
  • ESET
  • Illumina
  • ICE
  • ITjuana
  • Layton Construction
  • ReproMagic
  • Southwest Airlines

See our February Monthly Report here.

WTC San Diego welcomes new British Consul General Emily Cloke

By Heather Dewis,

World Trade Center San Diego extends its warmest welcome to Emily Cloke, the new British Consul General in Los Angeles.

This past December, we were honored to host Ms. Cloke, as well as Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America, UK Government, at our virtual Global Competitiveness Council to discuss the future of trade with the UK and EU post-Brexit. Council members received a valuable update on the current state of play in Brexit negotiations, a forward look at the future trading relationship between the UK and US, and opportunities for the UK and US moving forward toward 2021.

The UK ranks among San Diego’s top investors in FDI and venture capital, particularly in life science and tech. As such, connectivity with UK is of high priority to WTC San Diego, as well as with our partners at San Diego International Airport. Prior to COVID-19, WTC and the Airport worked on non-stop fight with British Airways to London Heathrow. Additionally, in 2017, WTC led a productive trade mission with two dozen San Diego delegates, including Cubic Transportation Systems, Qualcomm, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Representative Scott Peters.

We look forward to strengthening the San Diego-UK relationship, even while working remotely, and we look forward to supporting Ms. Cloke’s efforts to promote trade and investment between our communities.

ABOUT WORLD TRADE CENTER SAN DIEGO

World Trade Center San Diego operates as an affiliate of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. WTC San Diego works to further San Diego’s global competitiveness by building an export pipeline, attracting and retaining foreign investment, and increasing San Diego’s global profile abroad.

Do you want to know more about the work of World Trade Center San Diego? Receive our monthly Global Brief Newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

San Diego’s Economic Pulse: December 2020

By EDC Research Team,

Each month the California Employment Development Department (EDD) releases employment data for the prior month. This edition of San Diego’s Economic Pulse covers November 2020 and reflects some effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the labor market. Check out EDC’s research bureau for more data and stats about San Diego’s economy.

Key Takeaways

  1. Unemployment falls to 6.6 percent.
  1. San Diego retailers gear up for holiday season by hiring 1,800 employees, but sales continue to suffer.
  1. Shop local this holiday season and wear a mask.

Labor Market Overview

The region’s unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in November, down from a revised 7.5 percent in October 2020, and still more than twice the year-ago estimate of 2.9 percent. Unemployment continues to increase in San Diego’s unincorporated and poorer areas, while falling in wealthier areas. The highest unemployment area in the region was Bostonia at 12.4 percent followed by National City at 10.3 percent, and the lowest was Solana Beach at 3.6 percent.

The region’s unemployment rate remains lower than California’s unemployment rate of 7.9 percent, but slightly higher than the national rate of 6.4 percent. While unemployment continues to fall, much of the improvement can be attributed to government support. In fact, unemployment claims increased again this week showing as emergency aid has dried up—proof the local job market could once again backtrack in the coming months.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 14,300 in November. Trade, transportation, and utilities accounted for the largest monthly gains, adding 8,200 jobs last month, primarily concentrated in retail trade (up 1,800 jobs). Even so, compared to a year ago, retail trade is still down 6,200 jobs. Professional and business services followed with an increase of 2,800 jobs. Job gains were driven by administrative and support services, which added 1,800 jobs. Food services and drinking places continue to struggle, shedding 1,000 jobs last month, even before the mandatory closures that took place in December.

Compared to a year ago, San Diego nonfarm employment remains down 97,700 jobs, or 6.4 percent. Leisure and hospitality represent the largest share, down 35,300 jobs. Accommodation is down 12,900 jobs over the year, and food services and drinking places are down 22,400.

Retail Sales Decline

November marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season as shown by an increase in retail employment in San Diego. However, nationwide retail sales numbers were gloomy. Retail sales were down 1.1 percent from October (seasonally adjusted), which was much worse than expected and likely impacted by increased COVID-19 infections and decreasing household income as expanded unemployment benefits expired. Without a stimulus relief package from Congress, retail sales declines will likely continue and perhaps become severe as millions lose unemployment benefits the day after Christmas.

Department store sales in the U.S. declined by 19 percent since this time last year and 7.7 percent since last month. Clothing and clothing accessories stores declined by 16.1 percent since last year and 6.8 percent since last month. Food service and drinking place stores declined by nearly one percent since last year and 4 percent since last month due to mandatory stay at home closures.

November’s retail sales were the worst since April, adding to the already growing list of signs that a slowdown in the recovery could be imminent. As San Diego’s retailers hire more employees for the holiday season, the call to shop local and safely becomes more necessary, especially given what appears to be a slowdown in consumer spending. Small businesses drive San Diego’s economy and create thriving neighborhoods. Check out some local favorites around the County.

 

For more COVID-19 recovery resources and information, please visit this page.

EDC is here to help. You can use the button below to request our assistance with finding information, applying to relief programs, and more.

Request EDC assistance

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San Diego’s Good News of the Year 2020

By San Diego Regional EDC,

While the end of the year is about reflection, it has been challenging for all of us to celebrate 2020’s bright spots and successes. And yet, while our community grappled with global public health and social justice crises, we also saw San Diegans rise to the challenge—as they always do—to address a new virus, grow innovative companies, and make the world a better place.

Read on for the silver linings of 2020, all made possible by the region we call home. Here’s to continued collaboration, resilience, and inclusion in 2021.

-Team EDC

COVID-19 spurs life sciences innovation with global impact

At the onset of the pandemic, we saw our local biotechnology and research communities collaborate to create rapid testing, develop new treatments, and contribute to scientific efforts aimed at bringing a vaccine to the world. Here are just a few of this year’s breakthroughs with a San Diego stamp on them:

  • Pfizer develops COVID-19 vaccine with 95 percent efficacy rate
  • FDA approves first COVID-19 drug from Oceanside’s Gilead Sciences
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific ships first COVID-19 tests
  • BD wins FDA approval of 15-minute, hand-held COVID-19 test
  • Sanford Burnham Prebys wins $10M to test broad-spectrum antivirals to combat COVID-19
  • Vista’s Cue Health wins $481M to expand COVID-19 test manufacturing, adds jobs
  • FDA grants Quidel emergency-use status for first COVID-19 antigen test
  • Inovio gets $71M for COVID-19 vaccine device

Companies find creative solutions to crisis

Some COVID-19 inspired innovation isn’t so obvious. This year, from safe attractions to hand sanitizer, we saw San Diego companies big and small answer the call to innovate:

San Diego makes major strides in research and innovation

Beyond COVID-19, San Diego’s tech and life sciences companies continued to make waves in a diversity of industries, from oncology to aerospace to artificial intelligence (AI):

San Diego stays strong in defense with major contracts

In 2020, an estimated 25 percent of San Diego’s gross regional product was a result of military spending, and we saw key regional players score major contracts:

Venture capital skyrockets, yields big rewards

Venture capital into the region skyrocketed this year, as San Diego companies responded to the challenges of the pandemic. In Q2 and Q3 alone, local life sciences and healthcare companies pulled in $1.4B in new investment—75 percent of all funding. Some of San Diego’s standout startups and raises include:

  • GoSite raises $56M total to help small businesses go online
  • Software unicorn Seismic raises $92M
  • Lytx receives new investment, earns unicorn status
  • Escient Pharmaceuticals raises $77.5M to target proteins with therapeutic potential
  • Flock Freight raises $113.5M to pool truck freight shipments
  • Newly relocated from the Bay Area, ClickUp raises $135M, earns unicorn status

San Diego earns the numbers to back it up

From heavyweights to fast-growing startups, our local companies, talented workforce, and innovative industries remained at the forefront of growth and innovation. We even have the numbers to prove it:

  • San Diego ranks no. 3 in U.S. for life sciences
  • Qualcomm, LunaPBC make Fast Co.’s 2020 ‘Most Innovative Company’ lists
  • San Diego is one of five cities accounting for 90 percent of tech jobs
  • Taylor Guitars sees record sales, renewed interest in guitars
  • Innovative Commercial Environments, Scientist.com join 112 local companies on Inc. 5000
  • Chula Vista ranks as top city for integrating immigrants in the U.S.

Airport, regional companies foster continued connection

This year, we’ve learned that staying connected is key. Whether helping small businesses adapt to remote work or adding critical flights from San Diego, we saw regional players work hard to keep us safely connected to resources, opportunities, and each other:

San Diego makes the region—and the world—a better place

Making the world a better place is no small feat. These are just a fraction of the many ways regional teams made us prouder than ever to be San Diegans:

EDC’S OWN GOOD NEWS

Our Top 20 in 2020

Between a global pandemic, a racial justice reckoning, and an ever-contentious political landscape, this year had nobody ‘seeing 2020’. And yet, here we are—turning the page into the new year, with many of the same problems of 2020, but with greater resilience, forward thinking, and commitment to inclusion.

With and through our nearly 200 investors, EDC is proud to have directly helped nearly 500 San Diego businesses through crisis and recovery. Read our top 20 of 2020.

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Fast Five: North County Business Wins from 2020

By Kierstin Rielly,

It’s been a long and unpredictable year, yet it’s gone by in a flash. This year was challenging and different for everyone, but one thing rang true – the North County community showed its resiliency and commitment to collaboration time and time again. Together we celebrated the bright spots and successes and grieved unimaginable loss. And so, as we turn the chapter into a new year, Innovate78 is highlighting some of North County’s biggest business wins in 2020.

  1. Acutus launches successful IPO (Carlsbad) Acutus Medical (AFIB), a Carlsbad-based biotech company that develops 3-D imaging technology for heart procedures, found major success with its IPO. The company’s flagship product, AcQMap, creates a virtual map of the heart that updates in real time with each heartbeat to help treat arrhythmia, which affects more than 2.7 million Americans. Acutus garnered such excitement around its story in the midst of the marketing process for its public offering that it had to upsize. It ultimately raised $183 million for its initial public offering.
  1. Scripps Medical Center opens state-of-the-art facility (Oceanside) Scripps Health opened their Scripps Medical Center Jefferson in Oceanside, giving North County its largest outpatient health center. The facility boasts 85,915 square feet and three stories, and is designed as a one-stop shop for patients, with a wide range of outpatient services including primary care, cardiology, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and pediatrics, along with comprehensive imaging, outpatient surgery, urgent care and same-day walk-in care through Scripps HealthExpress.
  1. Exagen rapidly expands footprint and employee count (Vista) Inside Exagen, scientists work around the clock on groundbreaking tools to help physicians better diagnose and monitor autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, giving hope to patients with major, unmet medical needs. The Vista-based company is growing rapidly, expanding its footprint from approximately 33,500 square feet to approximately 46,500 square feet for its corporate headquarters and ancillary space. Earlier this year, Mayor Judy Ritter and Vista City Council Members joined Exagen to learn about their life-changing work through a lab tour (pictured here) during their ribbon cutting celebration of the new facility expansion.
  1. Piercan secures $1.5 million in tax credits (San Marcos)Piercan is a worldwide leader in manufacturing niche polymer products, including specialty gloves used by NASA, pharmaceutical companies, and beyond. The San Marcos company secured a $1.5 million California Competes Tax Credit. With the funds, Piercan will expand their local operations and create 62 new jobs along the 78 Corridor. The company will also be investing more than $7.5 million toward wages, equipment and improvements in North County within the next five years.
  1. LocalHub opens and thrives through pandemic (Escondido) Opened this year in Escondido, LocalHub allows small business owners, freelancers, entrepreneurs and remote workers a space to work, conduct meetings, use shared resources and collaborate safely. While coworking spaces have been hit as the pandemic has forced people to temporarily stay and work from home, the LocalHub continues to grow and thrive. In addition, LocalHub began hosting a weekly Tuesday outdoor retail market to support local makers and retailers who have been hit with significant reductions in indoor sales capacity to sell their wares in a safe, outdoor environment on the LocalHub campus.

Good News of the Week – December 11, 2020

By Heather Dewis,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week.

For the week of December 11, 2020, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are the events we’re (virtually) attending:

EDC’s Top 20 of 2020

In 2020, our communities grappled with unimaginable loss brought on by COVID-19, a social and racial justice reckoning, an ever-contentious political landscape, and so much more. And yet, here we are – turning the page into the New Year, with many of the same problems of 2020, but with greater resilience, forward thinking, and commitment to inclusion.

With and through our nearly 200 investors, EDC directly helped nearly 500 San Diego businesses through crisis and recovery. Here’s a look back on EDC’s top 20 of 2020. Read More

IPP recap: San Diego’s foundation for emerging aviation technology

Capitalizing on San Diego’s rich aerospace history, industry relationships, and unique operational environment, EDC and partners have helped grow the emerging Unmanned Aerial Systems industry by providing regional support for food delivery, medical delivery, and public safety initiatives through the Integration Pilot Program (IPP). Read the Program Recap

San Diego business resources:

Amidst everything happening in the world, we need a reminder that there’s plenty of ‘Good News’ to go around in San Diego. We have also compiled additional resources for businesses and individuals seeking additional guidance.

For businesses:

For individuals:

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

Heather Dewis
Heather Dewis

Sr. Manager, Marketing Communications

Good News of the Week – October 2, 2020

EDC’s Top 20 of 2020

By San Diego Regional EDC,

The end of the year is about reflection – of the months past and of the work accomplished. But like most, 2020 has made it challenging for EDC to celebrate the bright spots and successes. This year was unlike anything anyone could have predicted. Our communities grappled with unimaginable loss brought on by COVID-19, a social and racial justice reckoning, an ever-contentious political landscape, and so much more. And yet, here we are – turning the page into the New Year, with many of the same problems of 2020, but with greater resilience, forward thinking, and commitment to inclusion.

With and through our nearly 200 investors, EDC directly helped nearly 500 San Diego businesses through crisis and recovery. This is our top 20 of 2020.

Regional resources and relief

  1. EDC helped 476 companies access COVID-19 relief.
    At the onset of the pandemic, EDC developed a COVID-19 webpage for regional businesses seeking relief, resources, and reopening assistance; and continued on to support nearly 500 local businesses throughout the crisis.
  1. Advancing San Diego launched its internship program virtually.
    EDC’s talent development program, Advancing San Diego, placed 70 student interns at 33 regional small companies and recognized 19 Preferred Provider programs giving top-quality training to emerging local talent. And we’re doing it again next year.
  1. IPP helped San Diego advance the emerging drone industry through historic flights.
    Through San Diego’s Integration Pilot Program (IPP), Chula Vista Police Department became the first public agency to receive a Close Proximity, Low Altitude Waiver; and a UC San Diego Health partnership made San Diego one of the first regions to complete a medical specimen delivery by drone.
  1. EDC partnered with CMTC to assist 47 manufacturers.
    In addition to a formalized CMTC partnership to support small business, EDC launched its manufacturing resource page and hosted Virtual Manufacturing Day 2020 to discuss global supply chain risks.

International aspirations, domestic resiliency

  1. World Trade Center (WTC) San Diego launched MetroConnect V virtually.
    This all-star cohort of 15 small and medium-sized businesses participating in WTC San Diego’s entirely remote international sales accelerator is connecting with an international network of partners and exploring opportunities that ultimately build domestic economic resiliency. Over the years, the MetroConnect program has generated an $85 million net increase in exports.
  1. WTC San Diego launched its in-house Export Specialty Center.
    Through a new partnership with the San Diego and Imperial Small Business Development Center, WTC San Diego will double down its focus on small business export advising and training that serves to increase the number of export-ready firms in the region.
  1. WTC San Diego analyzed key FDI trends in the San Diego region.
    In early 2020, WTC San Diego identified foreign direct investment types and trends in San Diego in preparation for the launch of a new regional trade and investment strategy.
  1. WTC San Diego worked with San Diego Tourism Authority and San Diego International Airport to look toward recovery.
    Together with key partners, WTC San Diego helped spearhead a COVID-19 economic recovery strategy focused on flight retention and expansion.
  1. For more on World Trade Center San Diego, read its 2020 annual report.

Leading with data and research

  1. EDC’s Research Bureau conducted two new economic impact studies on key industry clusters.
    EDC’s Research Bureau released “Measuring the Future: AI and San Diego’s Economy” underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton, and “San Diego’s Creative Economy” in partnership with the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
  1. EDC’s Research Bureau tracked the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on local businesses and workers.
    In partnership with key regional organizations, EDC assessed ongoing data and identified lasting impacts on our region’s most vulnerable: low-wage workers, small businesses, and marginalized business owners.
  1. EDC’s Research Bureau launched its interactive Industry Profiles.
    Back and better than ever, these new Industry Profiles take a deep dive into the industries that make San Diego the innovation hub that it is, with data on employment, businesses, wages, and more.
  1. EDC’s Research Bureau debuted a new Economic Snapshot and Economic Pulse.
    Economic data changes quickly, so EDC empowered its audience to explore the data for themselves. Check out the new Economic Snapshot and Economic Pulse.

Telling San Diego’s story

  1. EDC launched the framework for San Diego’s economic recovery.
    Too often, in a rush to restore economic normalcy for some, entire segments of our communities have been left further behind in economic recoveries. To begin a more resilient recovery for all, EDC launched a webpage that tracks impacts of COVID-19 on an interactive data dashboard and outlines our region’s growing economic imperative for inclusive growth.
  1. Innovate78 launched a new website.
    To spotlight North County San Diego as an innovation hub unto itself, Innovate78 launched a new website with interactive economic dashboards, regional investment information, and resources for startups. The launch immediately increased website traffic by 25 percent.
  1. San Diego: Life. Changing. launched its Still Hiring list.
    In partnership with Startup San Diego and CONNECT w/ SDVG, EDC talent campaign San Diego: Life. Changing. developed a live table connecting job seekers to hiring companies. Since its launch, the page has garnered more than 15,000 page views and 110 entries.
  1. EDC and Innovate78 helped local companies tell their stories.
    In addition to free consulting and programmatic support, we secured placements in news outlets highlighting Welfie, The Broken Token, Wynn’s Ice Cream, Fuse Integration, and more.

Staying connected, no matter where

  1. EDC hosted a Future of Growth Forum discussing inclusive growth.
    In February, EDC gathered community leaders to learn how members of the Brookings Network for Economic Inclusion are addressing economic inclusion in cities across the country. Stay tuned for more in 2021…
  1. San Diego: Life. Changing. launched a virtual series to highlight San Diego companies.
    San Diego: Life. Changing. hosted four virtual panels highlighting San Diego science, genomics, senior health, and job opportunities during COVID-19, with more than 500 total attendees.
  1. Advancing San Diego hosted its inaugural virtual Career Fair and Exploration Day.
    During Advancing San Diego’s day-long virtual event, featuring speakers from Qualcomm and Sony, San Diego students submitted 240+ applications to 20 regional companies.
  1. New EDC board chair doubled down on commitment to getting San Diego’s economic recovery right.
    EDC continued to drive an inclusive growth and recovery strategy as outgoing Board Chair Janice Brown passed the gavel to Julian Parra, who wrote in the San Diego Union-Tribune that San Diego’s economic recovery must be inclusive.

 

Get involved

Advancing San Diego Intern Spotlight: Kailyn King, ZUM Radio

By Bree Burris,

The Advancing San Diego (ASD) Internship Program launched this Spring in a remote-capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to provide up to 100 San Diego-based companies with fully subsidized interns. This program targets companies with 100 employees or less, which comprise 98 percent of all businesses in San Diego, employ nearly two thirds of San Diegans, and account for 70 percent of job growth. A key issue for these companies has been a lack of time and resources to recruit the skilled talent necessary to continue their growth.

As students close out their Summer internship experiences—and as we recruit a new cohort of companies and interns—EDC has launched this blog series to highlight the innovative local companies that comprise the first cohort of the program and the interns they hosted.

In this feature, we sat down with ZUM Radio intern and California State University (CSU) San Marcos student Kailyn King. A part of the inaugural cohort of host companies, ZUM Radio is a San Diego-based software company that manufactures radio-frequency transceivers for the amateur radio community. King is a computer science transfer student that began her studies at Oceanside’s MiraCosta College and is now in her first year at CSU San Marcos.

Read on for more from Kaylin.

How has your experience in the ASD Internship Program been, and what projects have been the most meaningful?

Applying for an internship through ASD and being connected with ZUM Radio proved to be a seamless transition from my coursework in community college to industry-based work. My supervisor Jim McLaughlin was excellent in relating the skills I had to new applications and opportunities for growth. My tasks included contributions to an open-source Android mobile application, revising a C program for a Raspberry Pi USB device, and writing guides on how to set up handheld transceivers for communicating on-air. Through this, I gained invaluable practical experience working for a project manager under a specific timelines. Above the technical knowledge, I learned the most about how to effectively communicate through email and daily Scrum meetings. Some of my biggest takeaways from this internships were practicing the management of expectations and keeping my colleagues informed about my progress on each project.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your day-to-day, and what challenges have you faced as a student?

Although I am no stranger to spending a lot of time in front of a computer, this new modality of fully-online learning has challenged my ability to dedicate time and energy throughout multiple classes. It is sometimes hard for me to focus as I typically stay at home for remote work and school. I now do my best to diversify my environment by studying in different locations, walking my dog through new routes, and running outside a couple times a week. We are all constantly subjected to the stresses of the pandemic, so it is important to have patience with ourselves as we work to the best of our abilities under these unusual conditions.

What advice would you give to students looking for a successful career in the local software industry?

Recognize that good company is all around you. Communicate often and be open with your colleagues, mentors, and potential employers. Your background, perspective, passion, and hard work will be recognized as you continue to reach out towards new and challenging opportunities.

We’re now accepting applications for small companies in need of business interns! Learn more about ASD and our internship program. 

Apply here by Dec. 18

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