Category: News

Meet our Board: Kathryn Lembo

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Meet our Board: Kathryn Lembo

For our next Board Member Spotlight, meet Kathryn Lembo, president & CEO at South Bay Community Services (SBCS). Read her Q&A below, get to know Kathryn and find out why EDC’s inclusive growth efforts are something she finds most interesting.

What is your “day job”?
As CEO, my days are dynamic and filled with a broad cross-section of individuals throughout the county. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with residents and youth (many with no home) who share their crucial insight on challenges impacting everyday living and hopes for the future. It’s through their eyes that navigate my day in discussions with school, nonprofit, health, and business leaders as well as policymakers as we work together to build true measurable solutions that respond to our community’s challenges. Above all, it’s an honor to take an idea to inception with my dedicated team at SBCS and our regional partners by implementing evidence-based programs that are changing the trajectory of families and communities.

Of all the boards in San Diego, why EDC?
To grow San Diego’s innovation economy: This is something that will demand a diversity of voices contributing to the conversation. The economic vitality of San Diego County is also crucial to the well-being of families we [SBCS] serve, and thus, important for us to take part in developing a strong local workforce to benefit employers, economy and our population.

Favorite quote?
“Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning, the devil says ‘oh sh*t, she’s up!'”

We know San Diego is a life-changing place, what was your life-changing moment?
A couple of summers into my undergraduate studies in biochemistry, my father insisted I needed a summer job. He proceeded to find one for me – a job as a lifeguard at a home for girls in New York. I spent the summer getting to know these young women who had lived through and experienced some truly horrible situations. They taught me about resilience. Most all, I learned the importance of community in helping to build strong families. Even though their homes were scattered with issues like violence, poverty, and drug abuse, the girl’s dreamed and hoped of returning home to their families. The following school year, I changed my major and this experience was in part the reason for my professional journey.

What part of EDC interests you most?
I’m most interested in EDC’s inclusive growth efforts.

Cubic breaks ground on new San Diego HQ

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Cubic breaks ground on new San Diego HQ

If you’ve ever hopped on the tube in London or swiped your MTA card to take the L from Brooklyn into Manhattan, you have San Diego innovation to thank for it. Cubic’s Transportation division is helping move millions of people throughout the world’s most dynamic cities, including Sydney, London, New York, and more. Though Cubic is a global company, it is headquartered right here, in San Diego.

This week, the company reaffirmed its commitment to San Diego by breaking ground on a new campus. The two 125,000 square-foot, three-story buildings, developed in partnership with Cisterra Development, will bring its San Diego-based workforce together onto one centralized location in Kearny Mesa.

A long history in San Diego

In 1951, Walter J. Zable opened a small electronics company operating out of a modest storefront. Today, Cubic has 6,000 employees globally and three primary business units that do everything from increase mass transit efficiencies to train and protect our armed forces. Along the way, the company has developed a lot of “firsts”; from the world’s first electronic scoreboard for a stadium to the first wholly contactless fare system in the U.S., meaning you can swipe a card (and in some cities, a smartphone) instead of scrounging for change to buy a bus ticket.

Since the beginning, San Diego has been a crucial part of Cubic’s story. As the company began to win new contracts and bring innovations to market, it added new employees to keep up with the demands. However, these employees were spread throughout a few buildings in San Diego.

Cubic breaks ground on new San Diego HQ

One Cubic headquarters

Cubic’s new home base seeks to change that.

“Our culture is driven by One Cubic, which emphasizes collaboration across our businesses to share ideas, strategies, and expertise. We are thrilled our new campus will bring together our San Diego employees onto one centralized location where we can continue to achieve excellence through teamwork,” said Bradley H. Feldmann, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Cubic Corporation. If you’re looking for jobs in San Diego, you might want to visit Cubic’s career site.

This isn’t Cisterra Development’s first time working on a project of this magnitude. In San Diego and beyond, the developer has made a name for itself for creating cutting-edge space for San Diego strongholds including Sempra Energy (and it’s downtown headquarters) as well as  Diamond View Tower, which houses numerous San Diego startups.

The new campus will also contain new landscaped common areas for employees, including a basketball court and open lawn, as well as a new café and fitness center.

With assistance from EDC, Cubic secured a CalCompetes Tax Credit worth $8.5 million. Locally, Cubic was also able to secure expedited processes through the City of San Diego, in addition to a Business Incentive Program and Business Cooperation Program award. In total, the incentives and expedited processes provided gave Cubic the necessary offsets and timeline confidence to commit to redeveloping its Kearny Mesa headquarters, and keeping San Diego as its home for decades to follow.

And not to be overlooked, Cubic’s new campus will also provide access to one of San Diego’s overlooked neighborhoods – Kearny Mesa. As Councilmember Chris Cate, who represents the city of San Diego’s 6th district, said, “Kearny Mesa is going to be the hottest neighborhood in San Diego.”

And we can thank Cubic for being (one of) the impetuses of this. The new campus is expected to be online by December 2020.

Meet our Board: Cheryl Goodman

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Meet our Board: Cheryl Goodman

Meet Cheryl Goodman, head of corporate communications at Sony Electronics. Read the Q&A below, get to know Cheryl and find out why she is proud to have Sony Electronics’ North American headquarters located here in San Diego.

What is your “day job”?

Every day, in Corporate Communications for Sony, I unearth and translate the deep tech that makes press, employees, and the general public excited to have Sony products not only in their homes, but to have Sony Headquartered in their hometown—#HelloSanDiego. Working alongside Sony President Mike Fasulo, we are on the road nearly every week to talk tech from sensors, to standards, to 8K, to robotics, to Hollywood events at Sony Pictures or Sony Corp in Tokyo. Sony is a creative entertainment company with deep technology roots, and I’m fortunate to be able to illustrate how we move people emotionally though epic content & our best-in-class technology.

Of all the boards in San Diego, why EDC?

EDC gathers relevant leaders surrounding key topics to make business move forward…and it’s fun. Summer Bash, anyone?

Favorite quote?

“Be the CEO your mom wanted you to marry.”

We know San Diego is a life changing place, what was your life changing moment?

Leaving a great paying job at a great company to start my own business in 2013 reconfirmed to me that the only limits in life are the ones we put on ourselves. I left because I didn’t like my title or future growth path, those things changed and so did my life.

What is your favorite EDC program or initiative?

San Diego: Life. Changing.

San Diego employers endorse regional goal to create 50,000 new quality jobs within small businesses by 2030

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Today, San Diego Regional EDC and its employer-led Inclusive Growth Steering Committee officially endorsed a regional goal to create 50,000 new quality jobs within small businesses by 2030. Driven by EDC’s latest study release, Equipping Small Businesses to Compete, the regional goal and accompanying set of employer recommendations aim to help small businesses in San Diego to compete.

“If you care about the future of San Diego—economic competitiveness and mobility—then you need to pay attention to small businesses,” said Janice Brown, board chair, San Diego Regional EDC. “From large employers to elected officials, it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure that small businesses have the tools to succeed.”

In its new study, EDC found that while small businesses—those with fewer than 100 employees—employ the majority of San Diego’s workforce, only 26 percent of jobs in small businesses are quality jobs—those that pay enough for economic security (paying wages of at least $40,529 per year or $19.49 per hour).

Additional key findings include:

  • Due to financial challenges, small businesses pay 14 percent lower average wages.
  • Only 36 percent of all businesses are minority-owned, and about the same proportion are woman-owned.
  • Opportunity industries, such as construction and transportation, offer a greater number of quality jobs than many innovation industries, including precision health and cybersecurity. Additionally, many opportunity industry jobs can be accessed without a bachelor’s degree.

Citing these key findings, it’s important for the region to invest in diverse founders, support existing small businesses, and focus on job growth within opportunity industries. San Diego will be able to drive a greater economic impact and broaden access to quality jobs, especially for people residing in communities with lower rates of educational attainment.

“When small businesses succeed, it leads to more quality jobs, better local economies, and healthier communities,” said Jane Finley, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente. “We support this goal and invest in programs like Inner City Capital Connections because Kaiser Permanente believes that investing in small businesses and creating more quality jobs leads to improved health and well-being for every San Diego resident.”

EDC’s Inclusive Growth Steering Committee is led by large employers, who understand the crucial role that small businesses play in the regional economy.

In order to meet its goal by 2030, the Inclusive Growth Steering Committee is committed to collaborating with other regional employers through the following actions:

  1. Transparency – connect with and better understand existing local service providers to strengthen their capacity and resiliency.
  2. Engagement – commit to mentoring and/or building strategic partnerships with small businesses in high-growth, high-wage industries, particularly from underrepresented groups (women, minority, veteran, disabled, low-moderate income).
  3. Investment – invest directly in small business support programs, such as supplier diversification and growth acceleration initiatives.

For more information about these actionable recommendations or a complete list of employers committed to this effort, visit smallbiz.inclusivesd.org.

EDC’S INCLUSIVE GROWTH INITIATIVE

In 2018, EDC launched a data-driven initiative focused on promoting inclusive growth as an economic imperative, emphasizing that San Diego employers must take active measures to promote inclusion, or the region will no longer be able to compete with other regions. Together with its Inclusive Growth Steering Committee, EDC aims to set regional targets and release actionable recommendations for three main goals: build a strong local talent pool; equip small businesses to compete; and address the affordability crisis.

Additionally, San Diego recently won a $3 million grant from JPMorgan Chase’s AdvancingCities program to further propel the inclusive growth initiative and its goals.

For more information about the Inclusive Growth initiative, visit inclusiveSD.org. Join the conversation at #inclusiveSD.

**Read the full press release.**

Meet our Board: Manuel Rodriguez

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Meet our Board: Manuel Rodriguez

Meet Manuel Rodriguez, market president and commercial banking team leader at U.S. Bank. Read the Q&A below, get to know Manuel and find out how U.S. Bank’s mission aligns well with the work EDC is doing.

What is your “day job”?

As the San Diego market president and commercial banking team leader at U.S. Bank, I lead a team of experienced commercial bankers who are dedicated to providing financial solutions to mid-sized organizations. I lead the company-wide efforts and activities in San Diego County and chair the San Diego market’s charitable foundation committee, partnering with senior leaders from across U.S. Bank to best serve the community.

Of all the boards in San Diego, why EDC?

EDC’s mission to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness aligns very well with U.S. Bank’s commitment of investing our time, resources, and passion in economic development by supporting efforts to create stable jobs, better homes, and vibrant communities.

Favorite quote?

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

We know San Diego is a life changing place, what was your life changing moment?

My life-changing moment was deciding to go to college 1,500 miles away from where I grew up, out of my comfort zone and in a city/state where I didn’t know anyone. This led me to my first job in banking, which then provided me the opportunity to live and work in many wonderful cities including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Dallas. I was also fortunate enough to meet my wife (a native San Diegan) along the way, which ultimately led us and our four kids to relocate and make San Diego our permanent home!

What is your favorite EDC program or initiative?

There’s a lot going on at EDC, and I’m new to the board. However, I’m particularly interested in the Inclusive economic growth initiative.

Meet our Board: Tom Pellette

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Meet our Board: Tom Pellette

Meet Tom Pellette, President of Solar Turbines. Read the Q&A below to get to know Tom and find out why a global company, like Solar Turbines, finds value in San Diego Regional EDC.

What is your “day job”?

As President, I am responsible for driving Solar Turbines’ strategic direction as we design, develop, manufacture, and service innovative energy solutions. Solar is a leading provider of industrial gas turbine generator, compressor, and mechanical drive packages. We provide best-in-class service support and connected product technology to drive value for customers around the world.

Of all the boards in San Diego, why EDC?

As a global company that has been in San Diego for more than 90 years, Solar Turbines recognizes the critical importance of organizations like EDC to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness.

We know San Diego is a life changing place, what was your life changing moment?

Getting my first job at Solar Turbines. I have been fortunate to have a long, fulfilling career of 26 years both at Solar Turbines and Caterpillar, our parent company. For much of my career, I have been lucky to call San Diego my home.

What is your favorite EDC program or initiative?

All of the programs at EDC are important because of their ability to coordinate and represent corporate interests, from supporting international trade, to fostering local talent development, and maximizing economic prosperity to promote San Diego as a globally competitive region.

Planck Aerosystems wins Defense Innovation Voucher Program Grand Prize

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Planck Aerosystems
Planck Aerosystems, a technology company that develops specialized drones, was awarded a $25,000 voucher as part of its participation in the inaugural Defense Innovation Voucher Program (DIV) Grand Prize Pitch. Launched in 2018 to help small and mid-sized defense companies in San Diego scale, the DIV Program worked directly with 15 local defense companies throughout 2018-2019, providing strategic boot camps and business consulting services via an initial $15,000 grant to aid in strengthening and expanding company operations.

“Our local defense economy supports one in five jobs, and small businesses represent 98 percent of total companies in our region,” said Mark Cafferty, president & CEO, San Diego Regional EDC. “This is why EDC is committed to building programs that promote defense innovation and build resiliency in small and mid-sized businesses.”

Five DIV companies were chosen to participate in the DIV Grand Prize Pitch, based on their accomplishments, goals and overall involvement in the program. The finalists were EpiSci (EpiSys Science Inc.), Fuse Integration, Inc., GET Engineering Corporation, Planck Aerosystems and Trabus Technologies.

A live voting audience and a panel of judges selected Planck Aerosystems as the winner.

“Planck is thrilled to win the Grand Prize Pitch event and be a part of DIV’s first year,” said Dave Twining, COO of Planck Aerosystems. “Thanks to San Diego Regional EDC, Booz Allen Hamilton and Propel San Diego for your guidance and support through the DIV program. We’ll be using the funds to scale our marketing efforts, which we hope will generate additional sales and investment in San Diego.”

In its inaugural year, the DIV program provided two primary benefits to chosen participants. Companies selected a pre-approved contractor to assist with services including marketing, certifications needed for government work, strategic planning, accounting compliance or lean supply chain & additive manufacturing support. Additionally, participants enrolled in a six-month-long boot camp, which provided best practices and strategies on topics ranging from contract procurement to fundraising to marketing and branding.

“We are proud to support the continued innovation that is a hallmark of the San Diego defense community,” said Jennie Brooks, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. “At Booz Allen, we empower people to change the world, and DIV’s mission helps empower and strengthen the small and mid-size businesses that are bringing an incredible range of solutions to all branches of the military.”

Managed by San Diego Regional EDC, DIV is primarily funded through Propel San Diego, a grant award provided to the City of San Diego from the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment. Additional programmatic funding for DIV is provided by Booz Allen Hamilton, the presenting sponsor.

The DIV Grand Prize Pitch event was hosted at San Diego Central Library on Thursday, May 23, with a keynote presentation by Marisa Silva, partner at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Planck Aerosystems

Meet our Board: Dennis Doucette

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Meet our Board: Dennis Doucette

For the next installment in our Board Member Spotlight series, we are pleased to introduce Dennis Doucette, partner at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP. Read the Q&A below and get to know Dennis and how he effects San Diego’s economic development outside of his role as one of EDC’s board members.

What is your “day job”?

I assist in company forming, funding, and selling. As a corporate attorney, I help my clients realize their goals with efficient legal and business solutions. I have been fortunate to have worked on more than 400 transactions representing buyers, sellers, and investors.

Of all the boards in San Diego, why EDC?

I have served on many for-profit and non-profit boards and look forward to assisting EDC in its mission to make San Diego a better place for all companies and their employees.

Favorite quote?

“It often requires more courage to dare to do right than fear to do wrong.”

– Abraham Lincoln

We know San Diego is a life changing place, what was your life changing moment?

Meeting my wife Margot and enjoying every day together.

What is your favorite EDC program or initiative?

Direct economic support to companies.

Your Vote Matters: DIV Grand Prize Pitch event on May 23

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Small businesses + defense economy = our future.
It’s simple math.

  • Small businesses represent 98% of San Diego companies
  • The defense economy supports 1 in 5 jobs in San Diego

That’s why EDC is focused on helping small and mid-sized defense companies grow.

What is DIV?
In 2018, we launched the Defense Innovation Voucher Program(DIV). Thanks to funding provided from the Department of Defense, EDC worked directly with 15 companies to provide consulting services (think: marketing assistance, certifications, accounting compliance, and more) and a six-month long crash course designed to help these participants win high-value government contracts and find other revenue streams.

What’s next?
Now, we need your help taking DIV to the next level. On May 23, we’re inviting five companies to share their story and pitch for the grand prize – an additional $25k in funding. And YOU – the audience – gets to help pick the winner.

Event details:
Grand Prize Pitch
Thursday, May 23 | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
San Diego Central Library – Shiley Special Events Suite

Who should attend?

  • Defense industry employees that want a better grasp of market trends
  • Startups interested in connecting with other high-growth companies
  • Services providers looking for their next client
  • Anyone that cares about the future of San Diego

The participating companies:

  • EpiSci (EpiSys Science, Inc.) was founded in 2012, with the vision that future disruptive innovations would be derived from the paradigm of systems science. Through its deep technical expertise in multiple emerging areas, EpiSci develops the most innovative systems solutions for defense, intelligence, and commercial applications.
  • Fuse Integration, Inc. was founded with a noble cause of bringing the benefits of commercial human-centered design processes to first responder and military systems engineering. Fuse is working hard to lead the charge with an agile approach to development and a rapid prototyping ethos for the way they build systems.
  • GET Engineering Corporation is a leading-edge, high technology engineering firm providing tactical data solutions to government and industrial clients. GET is a small business dedicated to providing the U.S. Department of Defense and its coalition forces the most cost effective tactical communication products and solutions available.
  • Planck Aerosystems combines artificial intelligence, advanced controls, computer vision, and rigorous testing to enable drones to operate from moving platforms and execute fully autonomous missions. Its customers include government agencies and commercial maritime operators.
  • Trabus Technologies is a high-tech IT and engineering corporation that continues to expand its impressive portfolio of capabilities, programs, and services. Trabus Technologies thrives on practical solutions to the toughest challenges in cyber, wireless, and unmanned systems.

This project is funded with Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for Reductions in Defense Industry Employment funds provided by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment to the City of San Diego.

Join us on May 23 for the Defense Innovation Voucher Program Pitch event, beginning at 9 a.m. at San Diego Central Library – Shiley Special.

San Diego Regional EDC welcomes new board of directors

By San Diego Regional EDC,

EDC welcomed 10 new directors to its board, with Janice Brown, founder of Brown Law Group, continuing to serve as chair through May 2020. The board will help guide the programs and initiatives for the privately-funded, nonprofit organization with more than 180 investors.

“I’m thrilled to continue serving as board chair of EDC,” said Janice Brown, founder of Brown Law Group and chair of EDC. “EDC’s board is now stronger than ever. With our pool of dedicated board members, we will be able to set an impactful agenda for all of San Diego’s economy, lifting every community in our region. I truly believe there’s no mountain high enough for us to overcome, San Diego!”

EDC’s board is comprised of elected directors and trustees representing partner organizations in the business community. Directors are vetted by EDC’s governance committee and elected annually by its membership to serve two-year terms. For 2019, 25 directors were re-elected alongside 10 new directors. Two new trustees were also appointed by the organization’s executive committee. The board represents executives from companies, organizations, institutions and the military along with elected officials, who are all working cohesively to advance San Diego’s economy.

“Thanks to the support from our investors, board and the entire San Diego business community, EDC is working to positively shape the region’s future.” said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO, San Diego Regional EDC. “Together, we can make San Diego a better place to live and work for all residents and businesses.”

2019 Officers:

  • Chair – Janice Brown, Founder at The Brown Law Group
  • Vice Chair – Rob Douglas, President and COO at ResMed, Inc.
  • Vice Chair – Julian Parra, Business Banking Executive at Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Treasurer – June Komar, Executive Vice President at Scripps Health
  • Secretary – Phil Blair, President and CEO at Manpower San Diego
  • Mark Cafferty, President and CEO at San Diego Regional EDC

Newly elected Directors:

  • Dennis Doucette, Partner at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
  • Cheryl Goodman, Head of Corporate Communications at Sony Electronics
  • Dan Harrington, EVP and Chief Services Officer at Teradata
  • Don Kearns, President Emeritus at Rady Children’s Hospital
  • Mark Navarra, Managing Partner at Jerome’s Furniture
  • Mike Neal, President and CEO at HG Fenton
  • Tom Pellette, President at Solar Turbines
  • Greg Richardson, Lead Advisor at Dowling & Yahnke
  • Manuel Rodriguez, Market President at US Bank
  • Matt Thoene, CEO at AIS

Newly appointed Trustees:

  • Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director at San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
  • Jim Madaffer, Board Chair at San Diego County Water Authority

On the horizon for 2019

With and through its investors, EDC will remain focused on sustaining and growing existing initiatives and programs including San Diego: Life. Changing, the Defense Innovation Voucher Program, regional research and Innovate78. World Trade Center San Diego, an affiliate of EDC, will continue to drive an international agenda for San Diego through programs including MetroConnect as well as an upcoming trade mission to Germany in late 2019.

Additionally, EDC will continue to support companies of all sizes with their growth efforts by assisting with regulatory/permitting support, economic incentive consulting, strategic partnerships and more. EDC services are underwritten by its investors that believe in creating a more prosperous San Diego, and are free-of-charge to companies looking to expand, stay or locate in the San Diego region. In 2018 alone, EDC directly assisted more than 170 companies, which represented approximately 7,000 jobs in San Diego.

Announced in April, EDC will be launching Advancing San Diego, which is made possible through a $3 million grant provided by the JPMorgan Chase AdvancingCities initiative. This grant will complement EDC’s ongoing inclusive growth strategy. In collaboration with City of San Diego, San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA), San Diego Workforce Partnership and United Way of San Diego County, the program seeks to strengthen the region’s local workforce by enhancing relationships between employers and education systems.