August 14, 1998

BUSINESS NOTES:

Mauricio Calderon Joins Channel 12 Sales Staff

XEWT-TV Channel 12, which recently relocated its San Diego based sales offices from Mission Valley to Chula Vista at 637 Third Ave., has expanded it's sales staff with the addition of Mauricio Calderon as a marketing consultant selling commercial airtime. Calderon was previously with selling airtime with KECY-Channel 9 in El Centro and XHBC-Channel 3 in Mexicali.

The native of Mexico City has a business degree from the University of Mexico and a master from the Institute de Mexico. The San Diego native, who graduated from Hoover High School (class of 1978), spent ten years marketing Coca Cola to Hispanics in San Diego. He then entered the publishing business and founded two local sports magazines and a line of trading cards featuring professional athletes.

Southwest Marine to Buy Norshipco: Acquisition to Create Nations Largest Non-Nuclear Ship Repair Company

Southwest Marine Inc. and Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp. (NORSHIPCO) announced a letter of intent for Southwest Marine to acquire NORSHIPCO, a transaction which will create the nation's largest non-nuclear ship repair company.

The acquisition will give Southwest Marine, based din San Diego, California, significant capabilities on each coast and in the principal megaports of the U.S. Navy. Southwest Marine is currently the largest ship repair company in the United States specializing in conversion, overhaul, modernization and maintenance of government and commercial ships. The transaction will boost annual revenues to approximately $400 million .Southwest Marine has facilities in San Diego, San Pedro and San Francisco California, and Ingleside, Texas, employing approximately 2,000 people.

City Welcomes Solar Turbines to Chula Vista

Solar Turbines has leased more than 90,000 square feet of property on L Street between Industrial Boulevard and Broadway in Chula Vista. The Company is expected to spend $5 million on the lease, site improvements, and relocation costs. Solar Turbines announcement adds to the list of major companies locating in the South Bay city. Among the reasons cited by companies relocating in Chula Vista are the proactive business environment, ideal location, and the speed of processing.

Earlier this year, a Chula Vista site also was selected by Raytheon Company—a $20 billion global technology corporation—to relocate a portion of its operation from Irvine, San Diego and Long Beach. Solar Turbines will build on Chula Vista's expanding aerospace, defense and manufacturing industrial base which includes Ray-theon, B.F. Goodrich and Gold Coast Engineering.

Construction Begins on Laurel Residential

Carlsbad, Ca…Laurel Tree Apartments, an affordable housing project being developed by MAAC Project and Catellus Residential Group, broke ground at the Palomar Airport Road and Aviara Parkway site. Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis, city council members, representatives from Duke Cunninghams office, and local and national funders attended the event.

Laurel Tree Apartments will provide 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments in a garden setting. The apartments are affordable to families who make between $18,000 and $33,000 a year, with rents ranging from $430 to $700 a month. MAAC Project, which will own the Laurel Tree apartments when completed, is a multipurpose non-profit community based organization with a 33 year history of providing services to San Diego County. Laurel Tree Construction is schedule for completion in the fall of 1999.

Presto Telecom., receives "A" Concession From Mexico

The Mexican Telecommunications Ministry (SCT) has issued to Presto Telecommunications, S.S. de C.V. its "A" Concession for installation, operation, and exploitation of a public network for long distance telephone, nationally and internationally. San Diego based Presto Telecommunications Inc., (a Delaware based corporation, formerly Automated Telecommunications Inc.) and a Mexican consortium are the major shareholders. The Mexican Group possesses diversified interests in infrastructure development, including dams and highways, petrochemicals and marine construction projects.

Petro plans to invest in an extensive fiber and switching network in Mexico. CEO, A.L. "Bobby" Avallo, has worked for the past two years on having a concession issued in Mexico, so this represents a major milestone in the company's history. Other "A" licensees include AT&T, MCI, and Sprint.

Black Contractors Association Host Grand Opening of BCA and Apprenticeship Training Center.

The Black Contractors Association opens its door for a Grand Opening Celebration for the Apprenticeship Training Center. The new 10,000 square foot facility is located at 6125 Imperial Avenue and will house the Inner-City Community Unilateral Apprenticeship Center, The Black Contractors Association of San Diego,Inc. as well as a satellite office for the Latino Builders Industry Association, Booker T. Washington Contractors Entrepreneurial Training Institute, George L. Stevens Hall, and Three (3) plan rooms.

With a $1,450,000 Federal Community Development Block grant from Councilman George Stevens and $20,000 from councilman Juan Vargas, and $10,000 from Councilman Harry Mathis, BCA provided the land at 61^st and Imperial Avenue, which was appraised at $250,000.

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