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SPECIAL REPORT: VETERANS

Awards Gold Sponsors Awards Title SponsorPresented by

Honoring Business Excellence Among Veteran EntrepreneursProfiles of Award Winners pages 24-39

List of Veteran-Owned Businesses pages 40-41

The Color Guard from Naval Base Coronado was made up of Quartermaster Second Class Loren Macaranas, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Shandalyn Knudson, Fire Controlman Second Class Karl Avanzado and Cryptologic Technician Second Class Blue Haviland.

NOVEMBER 6, 201718 SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL SPECIAL REPORT: VETERANS

HEART AND VASCULAR CARE

• Nationally Accredited for Mission Lifeline Heartcare.• What does this mean for our patients? We prepare for your arrival as soon as you

contact 9-1-1 dispatchers and continue our efficient and compassionate care for the remainder of your visit at Tri-City Medical Center.

Our Award Winning Services Include:

WOMEN AND NEWBORN SERVICES

• Only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County San Diego. • Selected by UCSD for unique telemedicine partnership in neonatal care.• Now with newly renovated single-patient delivery & postpartum rooms.• On-site Board Certified Neonatologists available 24/7.

• AHA Certified Stroke Center with stroke-reversing treatments such as clot dissolving and retrieval procedures.

STROKE CARE CENTER

• First hospital in San Diego to offer Mazor® Robotic Surgery & the only hospital in San Diego to offer the da Vinci Xi with

integrated table motion.

• State-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgery for the hip, knee,

shoulder & spine.

ORTHOPAEDIC & SPINE INSTITUTE

TRI-CITY WELLNESS CENTER

• 58,000 sq. foot Carlsbad fitness center in your community since 2009. • Warm-water & Hrdroworx therapy pools, cushioned indoor track, full-service

wellness spa with massage therapy, café, Kidz In Motion: activity & learning based child care, individualized personal training from our certified professional staff, medically integrated fitness programs, and more.

• Onsite physical therapy & cardiac rehabilitation.

TRI-CITY MEDICAL CENTER4002 Vista Way, Oceanside 92056 | 855.222.TCMC(8262) | Tricitymed.org

NOVEMBER 6, 2017 SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL 19SPECIAL REPORT: VETERANS

TRI-CITY MEDICAL CENTER4002 Vista Way, Oceanside 92056 | 855.222.TCMC(8262) | Tricitymed.org

from

THANK YOU

Your sacrif ice wil l never be forgotten.

Thank you to the many who gave their l ives.

San Diego is a military town like no other. Just look around. But it’s not just the active military presence that makes us special in this regard. Our area’s private-sector workforce is comprised of a higher percentage of veterans than anywhere in the country. And we are said to be the fifth-largest market in the

United States for veteran-owned businesses.The military and our veterans are to San Diego what oil has been to Texas – a

precious resource that is key to our local economy.That’s a blessing. But considering that we are No. 1 in veteran workforce

population, wouldn’t it be great if San Diego could become No. 1 for veteran entrepreneurship as well? Our local economy would be far more robust.

That’s why I was so excited last year when I met the folks from The Rosie Network, a local nonprofit dedicated solely to helping veterans and spouses of military personnel start and grow their own companies. As we got talking about the issues, we realized we wanted to do something together that would both celebrate success among veteran entrepreneurs and assist the next wave of companies launched by veterans and military spouses.

That idea came to fruition on Oct. 25 with our first Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference and Awards. The conference went on most of the day, with excellent panel discussions, speakers and breakout sessions covering financing, branding, human resources, legal matters, and much more. It was wonderful to meet so many budding entrepreneurs who hope to parlay their military experience, discipline and know-how into private-sector success. The presenters were all terrific.

Our awards dinner closed out the day in grand fashion. It was truly an honor to recognize the accomplishments of 50 established veteran-owned businesses, veteran business executives in the private sector and advocates for veteran entrepreneurship.

I have been involved in business journal events around the country for more than 30 years, but I have never been more gratified or honored to celebrate a group of rising business stars. I hope you enjoy reading about them in this special section.

Our keynote speaker, veteran and successful hotelier Larry Broughton, showed the audience some sobering statistics: Entrepreneurship among veterans was many times higher after World War II and Korea than it has been in the post-9/11 era.

We have everything to gain by encouraging and supporting veterans, period, but especially so when it comes to starting businesses.

In addition to The Rosie Network, I want to thank the supporters who made the awards possible: Title sponsor Tri-City Medical Center; Cox Business; and Wells Fargo. These are organizations that, like us, want to see veteran-owned businesses thrive in San Diego.

It is with the deepest respect that I commend and thank all of our veterans, for your service, your sacrifices, and the contributions you are making and will make to the well-being of San Diego. Thank you for allowing us to cheer you on, celebrate your accomplishments, and to give you a boost any way possible. We salute our finalists and winners, and look forward to building on this first-year success.

Huntley PatonPresident and PublisherSan Diego Business Journal

From The San Diego Business Journal Publisher

The San Diego Business Journal and The Rosie Network thank all the sponsors, presenters and participants who

made our first Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference and Awards a success:

Awards SponsorsTri-City Medical CenterCox BusinessWells Fargo

Conference SponsorsUSAABank of AmericaCDC Small Business Finance

It is an honor to support and celebrate our veterans as they become entrepreneurs and job-creators

in the private sector. We salute you.

If your company would like to sponsor the 2018 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference and Awards, please call San Diego Business Journal publisher Huntley Paton at 858-277-2914


Veterans and Military Entrepreneur Awards


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Jim Akin Touchstone Compliance, LLC

Aaron Arce TargetCW

Mike Bilodeau IO Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc.

Marlon Blue BSE Security Service, Inc.

David Charbonnet VIP NeuroRehabilitation Center

Mike Chiesl The Mike Chiesl Group

Kevin Darroch MachineTek

Ric Davy Davy Architecture

Sean Durkin Pacific Pizza

Char Ekoniak Coastal Rock Realty

John Farnam Receptos

Matthew Fichtner TakeFlight

Jim Fitzsimmons SCORE Chapter #0140

Carlos Flores Coronado Distribution

Company, Inc.Alex Galicia

BPI PlumbingVicki Garcia

Marketing ImpressionsWinslow Garnier

Garnier Group and Associates, LLCAmber Gough

Talent Fusion Point, LLCFlossie Hall

Healthy MommaKathy Hansen

Industrial Grind CoffeeLars Herman

Herman Construction Group, Inc.

Brittney Hogan Virago FitnessWilson Ibarra

Jackie Smith Team JWhomesales.com Keller Williams Realty

Michael Johnson Premier Mechanical Group, Inc.

Paul Kitchin Atlas Executive Consulting, LLC

Richard Koeneke Robbins Arroyo LLP

Dan Lathus RiSK Opportunities, Inc.

Alan Lerchbacker Naval Coating, Inc.

Terry Little Bear Roots Brewing Co.

William Lyons Griffin FundingAbel Martinez

Xavier Rodriguez Faveo, LLC

Damon Moore Blue Nose IT Solutions, Inc.

Joe Musselman The Honor Foundation

Justin Nahama Troutman Sanders LLP

Stepheni Norton Dickinson FarmMichael O’Leary

Senta ClinicJonathan Parot

Cushman & WakefieldRichard Pascoe

Apricus Biosciences, Inc.

Terry Robling PKL Services, Inc.

Ryan Ruehl BraykionBen Ryan

Tourmaline PropertiesTy Smith

Vigilance Risk Solutions, LLC

Morgan Smith WorthPointeDavid Strobel

Space Micro, Inc.Paul Thomas

Julian Hard CiderElizabeth Valenzuela Banker

Shore SolutionsEric Venn-Watson Epitracker, Inc.Mark Wernig

Dowling & Yahnke, LLCJanis Whitaker

Veteran Career Transition Assistance Program

Jeffrey Yefsky 5x Technology


Veterans and Military Entrepreneur Awards Judges

Veterans and Military Entrepreneur Awards Finalists

Ted BranchCo-founder & President,

Drone AviatorBranch was named President

of Drone Aviator, Inc. in Febru-ary 2017. Drone Aviator devel-ops and fields remote identifi-cation and tracking technology.

A naval aviator and retired 3-star admiral, Branch flew fighter jets in combat and com-manded top-performing teams at the squadron, ship, aircraft carrier, and carrier strike group levels. As the USS Carl Vinson Strike Group commander, he led initial Navy/Marine Corps relief efforts following the Haiti earthquake.

He commanded the Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force and his last assignment was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare and Director of Naval Intelligence, overseeing $13 billion in intelli-gence programs.

Jo Dee JacobFormer CEO,

Girls Scouts San DiegoJacob served a 27-year career

in the Navy, in which she at-tained the rank of Captain and was commanding officer of the Naval station in Guam. Among her accomplishments upon join-ing the Girl Scouts in 2001 was founding Operation Thin Mint, in which San Diegans sent more than 2.5 million boxes of cook-ies to deployed troops. Under her leadership, the council suc-cessfully completed two capital campaigns, raising $8 million to improve camp properties. She retired from Girl Scouts in April 2016.

Jacob has received numerous honors, including the “Grad-uate of the Year” Visionary Award from LEAD San Diego and the San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award.

Tom LadegaardPrinicpal,

Law Office of Thomas E. Ladegaard

Ladegaard recently started his own practice in San Marcos after 14 years as a business liti-gation attorney. He has litigated cases all over the country, in-cluding partnership/dissolution matters, consumer and banking, insurance coverage and contract matters. His practice focusing on helping startup businesses and small business owners.

Ladegaard is an entrepreneur at heart; he launched a compa-ny called Eternal Roots - Your Custom Documentary, where he interviews people to record and preserve their life stories, which evolved into a video production company for his business clients.

Brad PaganoCo-founder & Managing

director, San Diego Financial Literacy Center

Pagano founded the SDFLC to enhance the financial IQ of San Diego County residents by providing free educational sem-inars and workshops to youth, military (active, transitioning and veteran) and low-to-mod-erate income people. He is re-sponsible for the development of the strategic partnership program, the administration of the corporate social respon-sibility platform, as well as the oversight of fundraising, events, public relations, and marketing of the program. He dedicates countless hours to assist thou-sands of people throughout the San Diego region.

Pagano previously worked in development for HomeStart Inc. and the March of Dimes.

Paul SociaRegional director, Business

Development, PenFed Affiliated Business Division

Socia was CEO of Miramar Federal Credit Union, which in January merged with PenFed Credit Union, the second largest federal credit union. Miramar and PenFed historically have served all branches of the mil-itary.

Socia previously worked at Innovative Commercial Fund-ing in Escondido, which pro-vided help in securing business loans from banks and other lending institutions.

‘It Pays to Be a Winner’The award paddles were hand crafted by James Hintzke, founder of Architectural Renaissance Techniques. James is a combat decorated Master Chief with over 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy SEAL teams. The TRIDENT you see here is made of cold-rolled steel and symbolizes the Navy SEAL’s connection to the sea….the hardest of all elements to operate in.


Easterseals thanks all Veterans for their serviceand the organizations that help make our

Bob Hope Veterans Support Program possible.

Learn how you can help support a veteran to get meaningful work.Visit easterseals.com/ESSCveterans

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Orange County Real Estate Luncheon

Injured SEAL Finds Fulfillment in Rebuilding Rehab Center

Bob Thompson/Fotowerks

David Charbonnet was a patient at VIP NeuroRehabilitation Center before becoming its CEO.

n By JOHN COX

David Charbonnet would have been justified saying no when in 2014 he was asked – begged – to become president of Mira Mesa’s VIP NeuroRehabilitation Center.

He was doing well enough investing in real estate that he didn’t need a job. He also had zero management experience outside of his work as a U.S. Navy SEAL Team member.

Charbonnet admits he wasn’t sure the job was for him. But he couldn’t say no.

“I felt that there was a need for it, and if I didn’t do it, no-body else was going to,” said the 32-year-old winner of the San Diego Business Journal’s 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Award in the Nonprofit Organization category.

Charbonnet had been a patient at VIP since shortly after a 2011 recreational skydiving accident at Otay Lake. The accident left him paralyzed below the waist.

The rehabilitation center was failing financially. Some patients weren’t keeping up with their end of handshake agreements to pay, and the physician who opened the doors in 2009 could no longer bankroll the high equipment costs. The spinal cord injury specialist, Dr. Bradley Marcus, helped turn the operation into a nonprofit in 2012. But now was ready to walk away.

Charbonnet soon realized he couldn’t handle VIP’s admin-istrative tasks. He asked his wife, Janet, if she would leave her career in real estate leasing to join him at the office. Of course, there was no room for either of them in the budget, so like him, she would have to forgo a salary.

David engaged customers and built bridges with San Diego County disability-focused companies like Living Spinal and Golden Boys Mobility. Janet took on the accounting, payroll and grant-writing.

Last year, the nonprofit attracted more than $25,000 in grants and contributions for its scholarship program covering rehabil-itation costs for low-income VIP patients and military veterans.

VIP is now at what David calls a “tipping point.” With its clinic running at full capacity, it’s ready to increase its staff of two physical therapists, three part-time technicians and three trainers.

That kind of expansion is going to require more of him and others.

“We’re hoping the more well known we get, and the more people believe in us, the more people are going to approve their grant funding toward us,” he said.

Janet credits VIP’s turnaround with her husband’s “unique ability to be genuine with every person he meets, and put a smile on their face.” She said this helped greatly in the early years, when he needed to reassure staff about the challenges ahead.

A patient and board member at VIP, Dana Moore II, said in a letter of recommendation that David encourages his employees, friends, family and cli-ents to “strive for a better life through persistence and endurance.”

Since meeting David in early 2014, Moore said, he has felt motivated by him to do what he can to recover abilities and improve his condition. Part of this inspiration has come from watching David’s own progress.

“Watching day to day how hard he would work with all the nerve pain that I know he goes through from his injury, gave me no excuses not to strive to work as hard as he does,” Moore wrote.

“You could tell by the look on his face when he had been up all night from pain and the current pain running through his entire body, yet he would still come through those doors and get to work.”


Jim Fitzsimmons leads the Boots 2 Business entrepreneurial seminar for SCORE, a volunteer mentoring organization.

Best Advocate for Military Entrepreneurship

Attorney Puts Transitioning Veterans On Business Pathn BY JOHN COX

Retired Marine Jim Fitzsimmons had just signed on with SCORE, the national business advising organization, when a coincidence occurred that, through him, changed the lives of countless local military members.

Shortly after he came aboard as a business counselor in 2013, SCORE and the U.S. Small Business Administration rolled out in San Diego Boots 2 Business, a two-day seminar geared toward enlisted personnel and junior officers transitioning to entrepreneurship.

Fitzsimmons jumped in with both boots. He started teach-ing the seminars, making regular visits to local military bases and sharing with students the benefit of his roughly 30 years as a small business lawyer, and his experience now as a small business owner. Soon he was coordinating the local program.

Since then, Fitzsimmons has conducted an estimated 70-plus Boots 2 Business training courses. In 2016 alone, courses he coordinates and presents reached more than 600 individuals.

That kind of dedication helped make Fitzsimmons winner of the San Diego Business Journal’s 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference & Awards in the category of Best Advocate for Military Entrepreneurship.

“Jim works tirelessly every month to make sure this program functions and is valuable to participants,” local SCORE CEO Sally Broff said in a note supporting Fitzsimmons for the honor. She added his ratings by students are consistently high, and that he earns immense thanks from program participants.

The Boots 2 Business program makes good use of all three of Fitzsimmon’s careers. The first was with the U.S. Marine Corps: He knows the sometimes steep challenges veterans face as they prepare to reenter civilian business life.

His second career was that of a small-business lawyer. By the time he retired, the firm he started was renting 4,500 feet at a prestigious address in downtown San Diego.

He sees his third and continuing career as an entrepreneur coach serving attorneys, veterans and small business owners. “Perspective comes with experience,” he website states.

The company he started, Fitzsimmons Coaching, works with veterans, but not only veterans. The business applies what he terms “Fitzsimmons Methodology,” a heavily analytical ap-proach encompassing a holistic view of the client’s business, from operations to marketing.

His idea is to “work with a client on where they and their business are, where they want to be, and what we need to do to get them there,” his website states. “This includes extensive analysis and identification of client issues, operational issues and marketing.”

While he could not be reached for comment on this story, his website tells the story of his unique mix of military, legal and business experience. It speaks of developing systems for handling the most pressing business matters, reducing isola-tion and boosting productivity. He also offers direct help with employee issues, business plans and marketing.

Greg Bowcott, assistant district director of SCORE’s South-ern California region, said in an email Fitzsimmons embraced the Boots 2 Business program quickly and enthusiastically. By summer 2013, Fitzsimmons had taken responsibility for running the entire program in San Diego.

“We are proud to have Jim as a member of our chapter and believe this award from the SDBJ is well deserved,” he wrote.

Fitzsimmons served with Marine Reconnaissance in combat duty in Vietnam. These days he continues to donate his time as a counselor and mentor with SCORE.

He also presents at legal seminars, and has served as moot court judge for the University of San Diego and California Western School of Law. He still serves as coach of the Vista High School Moot Court Team. Additionally, he presents at multifamily housing crime-prevention programs in several cities.


Best Entrepreneur, Nonprofit Organization


Lifetime Achievement Award

Jennifer BarnesPro Back Office

Dawn BarryIllumina

Amber BaynardBill Howe Plumbing, Heating &

Air, Restoration & FloodDenise Bevers

KindredBioAllison Blake

WorthPointeJennifer Borba

von StauffenbergOlive Creative Strategies

Shari BrasherFresh Start Surgical Gifts

Sara BrownSara Brown Events

Tara BurdT.Burd Law Group, APC

Anel CalifanoMUFG Union Bank

Jolanta CampionCushman & Wakefield

Carin Canale TheakstonCanale Communications

Cashmere CarrilloBeauty Bakerie

Cosmetics BrandKristin Carroll

Rescue AgencyDeana CarterCarter Financial

Kecia CaugheySouth Coast Copy SystemsGina Champion-Cain

American National Investments, Inc.Wendy Cohen

KitchellJaye Connolly-LaBelle

RippleNami, Inc.Elisabeth Cullington

HoyleCohen LLC

Susanne de la FlorLitivate Reporting +

Trial ServicesNorma Diaz

Community Health GroupAmber Eck

Haeggquist & Eck LLPSheila Eivazi

Costanzo Financial GroupElizabeth Fitzsimons

San Diego Regional Chamber of CommerceBre’an Fox

FS Design GroupMaresa Friedman

The Executive Cat Herder

Kristin Gaspar Gaspar Doctors of Physical Therapy Marcie Gately

ZeetoHelena Gibson

STRUT Hair SolutionsCaitlin Goldmangap intelligenceCayce Greiner

Tyson & Mendes LLPChristina Gustin

UBS Financial Services, Inc.Alreen Haeggquist Haeggquist & Eck LLP

Flossie HallHealthy Momma Sheree Harrison

CBIZ MHM LLCMervat Hassan

UBS Financial Services, Inc. Charla Heimer

McKinney Capital & AdvisoryAngelina Hendricks

VerimatrixBretton Hevener

Sleep Data

Tara HoffmanBob Hoffman

Photography & VideoStephanie Holly

Tide Rock Ventures Star Hughes-GorupHughes Marino, Inc.Denise Jackson

Balboa TravelKimberly Jackson

Kaiser Permanente Insurance Company & Junior League

of San DiegoKara Jensen

Bop Design Nan Jiang

BioLegend, IncStephanie JimenezFirst Associates Loan

Servicing, LLCSalma Jutt

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.Kristin KahleNavigateHCRBecky Kahn

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.Bonnie Khang-Keating

Smith Group JJRJulie Kilpatrick

JLLSondra Kiss

Kissinger GroupDanna Korn

Sonic Boom Wellness Erin Krehbiel

ACI Specialty BenefitsCecilia Kucharski

Balfour Beatty USSusan Kuruvilla

Managed SolutionMichelle Lai

Taiyo Yuden (U.S.A.) Inc.Wendy Lanahan

Qualcomm Incorporated

Agnes LeeResMed

Mary LockwoodMindera

Silvia MahHera Labs

Laura MalyWonderist AgencyGina Marsaglia

Pizza PortStacy Mendes

Underground ElephantShanna Missett Nelson

Jazzercise, Inc.Candace Moon

Dinsmore & Shohl LLPSheri Nasim

Center for Executive Excellence, Inc.

Margie NewmanIntesa Communications

Group, LLCKarmin Noar

San Diego Workforce Partnership

Kristin Norby-MosemanMorgan Stanley

Kristie NovaBespoke Partners

Danielle O’ConnorMoss Adams LLP

Kim PerellAmobee

Ilana PlumerMain Path Marketing

Courtney PratoVistage Worldwide, Inc.

Heather RileyAllen Matkins

Olivia RoemerTAG

Dawn SaundersCrosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP

Rachel Scatizzi ThompsonSmith & Scatizzi LLP

Terry SchmidtGuild Mortgage

Julie Seal-GaustadMirus Promotions, Inc.

Diane SikoraTri-City Medical Center

Deborah SolomonKid Ventures

Michelle StansburyLittle Penguin PRGrace Staten

MassMutualNia Stefani

Xnergy Financial LLCCarolyn Taylor

Weatherly Asset Management Shireen ThorMaria Shireen

Robin ToftToft Group Executive Search

Jessica TothSolana Center for

Environmental InnovationSusan Tousi

IlluminaBrooke Valle

San Diego Workforce Partnership

Felicia VieiraCrafted CocktailsMichele Vives

Douglas Wilson CompaniesIna von Ber

The Ambassadorial Roundtable

Kathleen WebberCalifornia Manufacturing Technology Consulting

Amber YooSKY Facial Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Yuanyuan ZhouWhova, Inc.

Event Charity:

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11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. Registration) Special Awards Luncheon with no host bar

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Title Sponsor Gold SponsorsPresented by

Congratulations 2017 Top 100 Finalists

Judi Sheppard-MissettJazzercise, Inc.

Sarah RudderMarine Veteran

Courage Award

Realtor Finds Success at Intersections With VA Lending


Mike Chiesl estimates half his business is with active or former military.

n By JOHN COX

Mike Chiesl knows how hard it can be for military spouses. They’re the ones running the household, dealing with the kids’ schedules and striving in the midst of it all to build a career than can be carried from one deployment to the next.

For them the retired marine offers a solution: Come learn real estate at his real estate company. Get a check every time a referral buys or sells property.

He sees this as his part in helping military families make the most of their opportunities. It’s partly why Chiesl, owner-bro-ker of The Mike Chiesl Group, is winner of the San Diego Business Journal’s 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Award in the Small Company category.

“What I find is (training and working with military spouses) gets us in front of more of the people that need to be served in the military, but it also generates an opportunity for our mil-itary spouses to create some income from home,” Chiesl said.

His beneficent professional ambition isn’t limited to spousal employment, though it’s a big focus. He’s also driven to teach good financial sense to service members.

Chiesl, age 38, said he has seen too many Camp Pendleton marines take their checks straight to the car dealer and buy a brand new Camaro.

What they should be doing, as he now teaches squadrons around San Diego County, is to make full use of a VA loan. That’s the home mortgage borrowing option guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“If you look at the average state of armed forces, the VA loan is the most powerful financial tool in the marketplace,” he said. “And one in 10 veterans use it in their lifetime.”

He said his students get financial basics and instructions on doing real estate the way he considers most advantageous.

Chiesl grew up in Texas dreaming he’d play football at one of the state’s big universities. But he didn’t make the cut, he said: “It was either an Ivy League or Naval Academy.”

The U.S. Naval Academy won out because his grandfather and hero was a B-17 navigator shot down over German-occu-pied France then taken as a prisoner of war. Upon graduation

from the academy, though, Chiesl switched and went with the U.S. Marine Corps. After a period at Quantico Station in Virginia, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton as a communi-cations officer.

Then came the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Within two weeks of his arrival at Camp Pendleton, Chiesl was assigned to go to Iraq.

During his first deployment commanding an 80-vehicle convoy headed for Fallujah, Chiesl says he got to see the best and worst humanity has to offer. “Lots of really fun, interesting stories,” he said, recalling that initial deployment as “definitely a wild one.”

After his second deployment he left the Marines. He mentored in real estate in Los Angeles before choosing the San Diego area to open a brokerage. He and a business partner grew the office to 50 employees in 10 years, then sold it two years ago.

Now, employing 10 at his offices in Carlsbad, with half of his staff veterans, Chiesl prides himself on high-touch customer ser-vice that’s “super pro-vet-eran.” He estimates half or more of his business is with active or for-mer military.

Amber Gough , owner of San Di-ego-based executive r e c r u i t m e n t firm Talent Fusion Points, and a client of Chiesl, said Chiesl trains and coaches military spouses in a lasting way that gives them a leg-up in their professional lives, wherever on the map they end up.

“His efforts really center around continuing to give back to the veteran community,” she said.


Best Entrepreneur, Small Company

Align your company with the best in the business — the “San Diego 500” is the region’s most valuable reference guide and one publication that readers turn to throughout the year.

For the second straight year, the editors of the San Diego Business Journal have identified the 500 most influential business leaders in a special standalone publication called the “San Diego 500,” and it provides a personal, engaging look at the leaders who make the San Diego economy tick.

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Jamie Scott Lytle

Irwin Jacobs paved the way for wireless communications and helped dramatically evolve the makeup of the San Diego economy.SEE HIS PROFILE ON PAGE 136

S A N D I E G O 5 0 0

SAN DIEGO 500

VINCENT J.

BARTOLOTTA JR.FOUNDING PARTNER,

THORSNES BARTOLOTTA MCGUIRE

Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr. has been involved in

some of the highest profile legal cases in San

Diego over the past 20 years. He specializes in

plaintiff’s litigation with an emphasis on business

disputes, condemnation and major injury cases.

He was honored in 2014 by the National Law

Journal by making its list of the Top 100 Verdicts.

Civic activities include serving as a member and

past chairman of the board of directors of St. Vincent de Paul Village. He also

is a member of the American Ireland Fund San Diego Chapter and serves as

president-elect of the San Diego Nice Guys.

ALMA MATER University of Pittsburgh

ENJOY MOST Helping people who, through no fault on their own,

are down on their luck.

LOOKING FORWARD More grandchildren.

EARLY JOBS Before he became an attorney, he held many jobs,

including working as an ironworker and a scuba diver.

ROBERT COPELAND

PARTNER, SHEPPARD MULLIN

RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP

Robert Copeland practices in the area of corpo-

rate law with an emphasis on finance, securities,

real estate, mergers and acquisitions. He has led

corporate finance, recapitalization and initial pub-

lic offerings; and works with individual owners,

executive leadership and boards of directors on

corporate governance, corporate law and real

estate law. He is also a trained mediator certified

by the National Conflict Resolution Center

in advanced mediation, and handles complex

pre-litigation disputes as well as matters that are in litigation.

BEST ADVICE Be diligent. Tell the truth. Smile.

Connect people. Be a resource. Have fun.

FUN FACT I chose law school over studying theology

at Princeton University.

BUCKET LIST Fly fishing in Scotland.

CAR YOU DRIVE BMW 328i Convertible

BARBARA BORDEN

PARTNER, COOLEY LLP

Barbara Borden leads the firm’s global M&A prac-

tice group, focusing on mergers and acquisitions,

cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and

public securities law. She represents strategic

and financial buyers and sellers in public and

private acquisitions. She was named to the Legal

500: United States 2011-2015 Editions of Mergers,

acquisitions and buyouts category for large deals.

She also was chosen to be Lawyer of the Year in

the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America

in the San Diego securities and capital markets

category. She has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

ALMA MATER Arizona State University School of Law;

` University of Virginia

ENJOY MOST I like complexity. I often describe it as being

like a puzzle.

PET PEEVE Dearth of women in the boardrooms of

tech companies.

FUN FACT She was a member of the Raven Society, an honorary

literary organization at the University of Virginia.

WILLIAM EIGNER

PARTNER, PROCOPIO LAW FIRM

William Eigner practices corporate law, spe-

cializing in emerging growth and technology

companies. He counsels clients in the areas of

venture capital, angel financing, seed capital and

other financing. He also works with clients on

mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance

and employment, particularly in the software,

telecommunication, e-commerce, cybersecurity,

energy and clean-tech sectors. His clients rely on

his extensive experience in intellectual property

protection and competitive business practices. He

has expertise in nearly all types of business transactions and is often called on

to deal with political and regulatory issues involving telecommunications and

independent power producers.

TOUGHEST The tech sector ‘nuclear winter’ or the dot-com

CHALLENGE bubble burst in 1999 to 2001.

BEST ADVICE Know who you are dealing with.

Contracts can only protect you so far.

HOBBY/PASSION Tennis.

JANICE BROWN

FOUNDER, THE BROWN LAW GROUP

Janice Brown launched her own law firm in 2003

specializing in business and employment law. She

began her career with the U.S. Department of Jus-

tice and in 1988, she became a partner at Seltzer

Caplan McMahon Vitek, where she remained un-

til she founded her own firm. Her firm provides

pro bono representation to several community

groups and nonprofits. She founded Beyond

Law, which helps professionals achieve financial

success. She serves on the San Diego Regional

Economic Development Corp. and on the boards

of several professional and legal organizations.

ALMA MATER University of Montana; Gonzaga Law School

TOUGHEST Recovering from a serious bicycling accident

CHALLENGE before I started law school.

BEST ADVICE Hire slowly. Fire quickly.

FUN FACT I am funny and love to sing.

BUCKET LIST Villa in Italy.

MIKE BROWNPARTNER, STRADLING YOCCA

CARLSON & RAUTH

Mike Brown specializes in corporate law, working

with emerging growth companies and the ven-

ture capital firms and other investors that finance

them. His practice focuses on representing clients

during acquisitions and mergers. He also provides

expertise in structuring transactions, strategizing,

negotiating and successfully closing such deals.

In the past year, he has helped 10 companies with

their acquisitions and growth.

TOUGHEST Recovering from a post-concussion syndrome

CHALLENGE that lasted a year after a car accident.

BEST ADVICE Be passionate about the work you do and

the people you might come across.

BUCKET LIST Hold a grandchild.

CAR YOU DRIVE Infiniti QX56.

HOBBY/PASSION Travel.

20 l LEGAL

SAN DIEGO 500

Call 858-277-6359 to participate in the 2nd annual SD500!

Naval Vet Sees Construction Work as Extension of His Service


Lars Herman does a lot of work renovating research and health facilities.

n By EMMET PIERCE

Lars Herman, president of Herman Construction Group Inc., has been honored as best entrepreneur, medium company, with a 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Award.

Herman, 35, said he was proud to receive the honor Oct. 25 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

“It was fantastic,” he said. “This is a military town. There are a ton of incredible veterans out there doing incredible things. It’s very humbling. There were a lot of good names and good businesses on that list” of nominees.

Transition to Civilian LifeAfter graduating from the Naval Academy in 2004, Herman

served in the Navy for five years, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the Civil Engineering Corps. He resigned his commission in June 2009 and began operating his construction company in Escondido. He has grown Herman Construction from a two-employee operation into a busy firm with more than 50 workers.

Over the past eight years his company has completed or been awarded more than 100 federal general construction and design-build projects throughout the U.S.

“We’ve done probably over $100 million since inception,” Herman said. “We’re on a number of multiyear contracts.”

The company provides construction services to such numer-ous government entities, including the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the National Recon-naissance Office, and the Department of Homeland Security. It also serves the private sector.

A Natural Extension

Herman says running his company is a natural extension of his military service.

“It’s what I knew,” he said. “I knew how the government purchased things. It was easy for me to get my foot in the door.

Just because we don’t wear a uniform anymore doesn’t mean that we don’t want to serve. I deal very closely with active-duty members by performing work on bases.”

Herman’s company has become an expert in the renovation, repair, and upgrade of research facilities, laboratories, exam-ination rooms, patient interview rooms, and staff offices within hospitals. A major focus has been the renovation of health-care facilities and hospitals serving veterans.

Earlier this year, Herman was named small business person of the year by the Small Business Association (SBA) California. He finished as second runner-up nationally among 51 nominees for the award.

Herman is a member of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) National Small Business Council, as well as the AGC of San Diego, which meets to discuss the policies and procedures of the various government agencies.

The entrepreneur is an active member of the SmartBidNet Advisory Board. Herman assists and advises this group in organizing the electronic bidding of government contracts.

Community FocusedHerman and his company are active in civic affairs, sup-

porting peace officers, construction trades, the YMCA and an orphanage in Mexico. He serves as a member of the San Diego Honorary Sheriff Association.

“Men in uniform who deal with tough stuff, we need to honor them,” he said. “Their jobs are not easy. I like giving back.”

Herman has served as a forum chair and moderator for Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global peer-to-peer net-work for leading entrepreneurs. He and his wife Jenna have three children.

The businessman said his wife and his employees are respon-sible for his success.

“None of this would have been possible without an amazing supporting spouse and incredible employees,” he said. “It’s not just about me.”


Best Entrepreneur, Medium Company

We are very proud to be a part of this organization. We want to thank Dan for his leadership and for setting the high standards that keep us improving as professionals. In every way, Dan has helped the firm grow to into the solid, respected risk management-company it is today.

Dan has taught the team to involve the client at every crucial juncture of the project, through a collaborative and flexible approach, in such a way that we are able to serve a range of private and public companies, large and small, global and local.Congratulations Dan!

RISK OPPORTUNITIES, INC. 10755 Scripps Poway Parkway, Suite 468 San Diego, California 92131 (858) 492-7490 riskopportunities.com

We live by the belief that opportunities exist among the risks and it is up to us to optimize them

SERVICES:

The team at RiSK Opportunities Inc. congratulates our CEO, Daniel Lathus, for being a finalist at the 2017 Veteran and Military Entrepreneur Awards

IT Advisory

Security, ITGC’s, Third-party Assurance, BCM, PCI, ISO, Governance & Framework

Process and Controls

SOX, Process Mapping/ Improvement, Third-party Reporting, Vendor Management

Internal Audit

Governance & Framework, Quality Reviews, IA Support, Continuous Control Monitoring

Enterprise Risk

ERA, ERM, Disaster and Continuity Management

Business Advisory

Project Management, Organization and Strategy, Asset Protection, Analysis

Training

SOX, ISO, COSO, ERA/ERM, COBIT, ITIL, PCI DSS, IT Infrastructure

From left, Zach Couasnan, Ilian, Emmons, Rich Valderrama, Lucy Maxwell, Mary Ann Lathus, Daniel Lathus

© RISK Opportunities, Inc 2017

Efficiency Brings Expansion for Naval Ship Painting Co.n By EMMET PIERCE

Alan Lerchbacker, the president and CEO of Naval Coating Inc. (NCI), has been honored as best entrepreneur in the large company category of the 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepre-neur Awards.

Lerchbacker said he was pleased to be surrounded by nu-merous colleagues from San Diego County’s business and military communities when he received the award on Oct. 25 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

“We were super excited,” he said. “I knew 30 or 40 percent of the people who where there in the room.”

Lerchbacker’s company paints and preserves the Navy’s Pa-cific Fleet. The veteran served in the Navy for 26 years before starting his career in the private sector. He has been described as leader who is adept at finding cost efficiencies and growing business.

Lerchbacker acquired his company in San Diego in January 2016. It currently employs 144 people, many of whom are vet-erans. The veteran’s management strategy has reduced monthly operating costs from as high as $1.5 million to an average of $800,000. This has been accomplished by renegotiating vendor relationships and finding innovative ways to conserve resources.

Part of Lerchbacker’s strategy has been the development of a proprietary enterprise resource planning (ERP) and project management system, which enables employees to manage hours, supplies, tools and maintenance in real time. This helps optimize reorder and maintenance schedules.

“That is how we are able to see that we are optimizing and utilizing people in all the right areas at the right time,” he explained. “It is really critical that our people get to the right place at the right time.”

Building A BusinessLerchbacker has used customer engagement to establish

deeper business relationships. One project has lead to another, he explained.

“It’s like hockey,” he said. “You score that first goal and others will follow.”

His company has bid on numerous state and local projects to refurbish and enhance water treatment facilities, storage tanks, public buildings, and other infrastructure. NCI’s first commercial job will be the renovation of a recreation center for the City of San Diego.

Lerchbacker noted that he has collaborated with other coating and defense subcontractors to develop partnerships.

“We have partnered with one of our previous competitors to win work in the Northwest,” he said. “We will be opening an office in the Seattle area in January or February of next year.”

Becoming A MentorThe entrepreneur’s experience in the ship repair industry has

enabled him to mentor his own workers and industry partners. He serves as a leader at his American Legion post and within the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.

At the alumni association, he helps sponsor scholarship interviews and mock job interviews for veterans who are transitioning to civilian life. NCI is a sponsor for the National Veteran Transition Services Inc. program.

The entrepreneur said finding ways to help veterans has become one of his passions.

“I am working with three guys who all want to go to the Naval Academy,” he said. “I am working on getting them into the next class. I am working with 12 or 13 officers and enlisted men who are leaving the Navy, to find what is next for them.”

He credits his wife Amy with supporting his efforts. He noted that his daughter Suzie now works with him. His son Scott is an entrepreneur in Cleveland.


Congratulations Richard Koeneke

Finalist in the 2017 Veteran and Military

Entrepreneur Awards

Founded in 2002, Robbins Arroyo LLP is a nationally recognized leader in securities litigation and shareholder rights law.

Robbins Arroyo LLP congratulates its Chief Operating Officer, retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Richard Koeneke, on being chosen as a finalist in the 2017 Veteran and Military Entrepreneur Awards.

This prestigious honor recognizes Mr. Koeneke's exceptional leadership and guidance to the firm and San Diego community. Parlaying his 26 years of military experience, Mr. Koeneke has infused the firm with vigor and guides the firm’s culture of unity and entrepreneurship. As he heads toward his nine year anniversary, Mr. Koeneke continues to serve the firm with the same enthusiasm and drive as the day he started, and has successfully applied his legal insight and business acumen to help transform Robbins Arroyo LLP into the firm it is today.

Robbins Arroyo LLP proudly supports the military and veterans. Please join our excitement in congratulating Richard Koeneke.

PRESENTS

30TH ANNUAL ECONOMIC FORECAST BREAKFAST

DEEP DIVE

www.iremsd.org

Best Entrepreneur, Large Company


Alan Lerchbacker has led his company to expand to the private sector and soon to the Pacific Northwest.


Economic Trends 2018 | Tuesday,

January 9, 2018

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina333 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

111516www.SDBJ.com l 4909 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 200 l San Diego, CA 92123 l 858.277.6359 l fax 858.277.2179

Economic Trends Event 2017 |Hyatt Regency La Jolla At Aventine Vicino Ballroom3777 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 921227:00 - 10:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served

Join us for the premier business information and networking event as top executives from six of San Diego’s most respected companies candidly discuss the state of their respective industries and how they impact the region, as well as share their economic expectations for 2017.

San Diego Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Nels Jensen will moderate this unscripted panel discussion exploring hot topics on what to expect for the local, state and national economies, as well as the outlook for San Diego’s key industries and projects.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

cycle,” McKee said. “A lot of people are

excited about tech, excited about start-

ups, and many people who made money

in tech started investing.”

But we’re likely heading for a down-

turn, McKee said.

“I know many VCs who stopped deploy-

ing money about a year ago, and they’re

smart to be slowing down,” McKee said.

“I think the next couple of years could be

tough. We’ll probably hit a down cycle, and

a correction will take place. Parts of the

ecosystem that are overbuilt will collapse.”

McKee said the � rst ones to suffer the

downturn will be organizations that don’t

offer enough value, like coworking spaces

that only offer real estate and not services.

“We’ve got a coworking bubble in San

Diego; the market is overheating,” McKee

said. “Innovation has never been about

physical of� ce space — it’s about ideas,

technology, and connections to people.”

McKee said the local startup commu-

nity needs to � gure out how to add value

and be effective with fewer resources.

“Just like any business, we need to do

a better job with less stuff,” McKee said.

“Bringing capital from outside is the

number one thing we can do. We have

an abundance of space, tech, and talent.

We don’t have an abundance of capital.”

In other words: � ngers crossed that

Krenn’s initiatives pay off in 2017.

JANUARY 2, 2017

Local breaking news: www.sdbj.com

8 SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL

THE STARTUP PAGEA look at innovative

organizations, concepts,

products and people

Startup Community Hits

Its Stride, But Obstacles

Could Be Aheadn By BRITTANY MEILING

San Diego’s startup economy, chock-

full of fresh leadership and closely

watched by local and national press,

gained lots of momentum last year. But

if community leaders aren’t careful, 2017

could see parts of the ecosystem crumble.

MomentumLooking back on the year, the startup

community (largely made up of entre-

preneur-focused associations, investors,

and the startups themselves) has boomed

in numbers.

Organizations meant to support entre-

preneurs and help new companies grow

came out of the woodwork in 2016, in-

cluding the of� cial formation of Startup

San Diego , the Downtown Collaboratory ,

and numerous incubators spun out of

universities and research institutes.

This is partly due to � nancial oppor-

tunity, said Greg McKee , president of

startup-focused nonpro� t CONNECT .

“People see that startups and innova-

tive companies are where the opportuni-

ties are,” McKee said.

A good example of this � ock to serve

startups is the recent rise of coworking.

The city was home to only a handful of

these shared of� ce spaces a few years

back; today, San Diego has about 35 on

the map (with many more poised to open

their doors in the coming months). These

facilities are popular for entrepreneurs

because they offer temporary space

where you can share amenities with other

� edgling startups.

When you add entrepreneur-focused

associations, incubators, and accelerators

to the mix, the number of startup-fo-

cused groups in the city grows to upwards

of 50 organizations (and hundreds of

community organizers).

The Power Pack

Fresh faces have spurred change to

San Diego’s startup community, and are

partly responsible for a noisy 2016.

“New blood is rising up, and I think

that’s sometimes required for change to

happen,” said Brant Cooper , a longtime

startup community leader in San Diego.

“And I’m not just talking about young

people. Being ‘old school’ does not de-

pend on age; it’s an attitude.”

Some of those fresh faces include Mike

Krenn , who was appointed president of

San Diego Venture Group in the summer

of 2014, and made 2016 a year of action,

launching several am-

bitious initiatives to

attract capital to San

Diego startups.

T h e n t h e r e ’s

Ashok Kamal , the

37-year-old executive

director of Tech Coast

Angels in San Diego

who’s working to keep the angel investing

community nimble and active.

Austin Neudecker , Tim Ryan and oth-

er leaders of Startup San Diego added

some structure to the organization in

2016, of� cially becoming a nonpro� t

and corralling sponsors and volunteers

to fuel their next major event, Startup

Week 2017.

Speaking of Startup Week, in 2016

the event attracted record-breaking at-

tendance, with 3,000 people showing up

for the entrepreneur-focused activities.

Big Tech Moves In

Large tech corporations are starting

to take note of the racket down in San

Diego, Cooper said.

“You’re starting to see a trend of large

technology companies opening branch

of� ces in San Diego, and that’s positive

for the startup community,” Cooper said.

Companies including Google , FitBit ,

GoPro , and most recently app maker

Evernote have set up regional hubs in

San Diego. Cooper said their presence

attracts more tech talent to the region,

and boosts the overall technology brand

of the city.

Survival Test

The startup world is at the crest of

boom-time. But it may be time to add

action to the cheerleading and the

noise, buckling down on organizational

ef� ciency.“We’re nine years out from 2007, and

we’re at the latter end of an economic

“The caliber of com-

panies started in San

Diego will take a big

leap forward, including

several in the artifi cial

intelligence and ma-

chine learning space.”

— Anonymous venture

capitalist in San Diego

Predictions

Economic Trends: Startups

2017

Mike Krenn

“There will be a big

exit for a San Diego

software startup.”

— Brant Cooper, author

of “The Lean Entrepreneur” and

co-founder of startup strategy

� rm Moves the Needle

“The big winners in

technology will be the

startups making sense

of data — data collec-

tion and data analytics.”

— Greg McKee,

president of CONNECT

Coworking leaders WeWork, left, and DeskHub were among dozens of shared space providers to set up shop in 2016.

The Startup Economy

• 400 new startups are created

per year in San Diego

• 50 coworking spaces, startup

incubators, and accelerators now call

San Diego home

• $900 million to $1 billion in

venture capital has � owed into San Di-

ego companies each year for the past

three years

Startup Week

founders Austin

Neudecker and

Tim Ryan

“San Diego’s start-

up community will be

shaped and accelerated

by its relationship with

Tijuana more than

any other area —

including The Bay and

Los Angeles.”

— Anonymous local leader in

the investment community

“2017 will be a ban-

ner year for merger and

acquisition transactions

in San Diego.”

— Anonymous venture capitalist

in San Diego

Sponsors

Strength in Diversity

Economic Trends page 43

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ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL

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BUSINESSJOURNAL

TM

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Volume 37, Number 1

January 4-10, 2016 $2.00

Multifamily & Commercial Real Estate Loanssdccu.com/business

As international trade partners struggled with re-

cession and consumer spending growth slowed,

forecasters warned that the U.S. economy was losing

momentum in the second half of 2015 and could close out

the year weaker than expected. While the economy was still

growing, they said, sluggish global demand was slowing that

growth and pushing down corporate revenue.San Diego has not been immune to those pressures, though

economists say the region will fare better than the rest of the

state. The region’s gross domestic product, the total value of

the goods and services produced here, was projected to rise

3 percent in 2015, but instead grew only 2 percent to $213.7

billion, according to a National University System Institute for

Policy Research estimate. The economy is on track to grow 1.9

percent this year, to $221.1 billion.

ECONOMY: The Wide Variety of Our Businesses Is Insurance Against 2016 Storms

n BY MICHAEL LIPKIN

ECONOMIC TRENDS: Special Report

2016

Economic Trends EventThursday, January 7, 2016

7 – 7:30 a.m.Registration/Networking7:30 a.m. Breakfast7:45 – 10 a.m. ProgramParadise Point Resort & Spa1404 Vacation RoadSan Diego 92109

Local GDP

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016

0

50

100

150

200

250

2015

Source: National University System Institute for Policy Research; numbers in chart are adjusted for infl ation.

Positive ForcesSan Diego’s diverse economy and steady job gains have

helped the region bounce back from the recession. And

mainstay industries such as biotech and craft beer are on

the rise. Explosive growth in tourism or defense spending

could push the economy past its projected 2 percent

rise in GDP.

fore

cast

estim

ate

$ 16

1 B

$ 16

8.8

B

$ 17

5.7

B

$ 17

8.1

B

$ 17

4.6

B

$ 17

6.5

B

$ 18

3.4

B

$ 19

3.1

B

$ 20

0.2

B

$ 20

6.8

B

$ 21

3.7

B

$ 22

1.8

B

6 6

Factors Driving Our Economy

could push the economy past its projected 2 percent

Factors DrivinFactors DrivinOur EconomyOur Economy

Negative Forces A strong dollar and struggling foreign economies cutting into international trade. Disappointing growth

in consumer spending. The threat of terrorist attacks at

home and abroad. These factors are already pushing down

expectations for 2016, but any unexpected spikes could

further depress expected growth.

Will Our Strong Sectors Hold Up Against Outside Forces?

Join us for the premier business information and networking event as top executives from San Diego’s most respected companies candidly discuss the challenges and expectations for our local economy in 2018.

San Diego Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Nels Jensen will moderate this unscripted panel discussion exploring hot topics, including the new tax laws, housing crisis, health care and wellness, and the legalization of marijuana.

Presented By

Sponsors

Reserve your space today at www.sdbj.com/bizeventsTicket price includes a 26-week subscription to the San Diego Business Journal ($20.00 allocated to the subscription). Current subscribers may gift their subscription to a colleague.

Event Information: Contact the Events Department at 858.277.6695

Translating Research on Dolphin Health to Human Conditionsn By KEVIN GEMMELL

It’s common for physicians to study a particular discipline because they were inspired or impacted by someone close to them. But that’s not the case with Dr. Eric Venn-Watson, co-founder of Epitracker Inc., who is working with the U.S. Naval dolphin population to study a wide range of diseases from aging-associated ailments to neurodegenerative afflictions.

He does it because he can. And because he should. “What inspires me is the opportunity,” said Venn-Watson.

“We can treat some of the biggest, most devastating diseases. Cardiovascular metabolic syndrome affects one out of every three people in the world. We have this opportunity to treat diseases that are very difficult to treat. Because we have it, it’s an imperative – a moral obligation to see if we can treat the biggest diseases out there.”

Venn-Watson, 44, and Epitracker Inc., were recently honored at the 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference & Awards for best entrepreneur startup category.

The 20-year Navy veteran – who saw combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan – teamed up with his wife Stephanie to start Epitracker. She serves as the chief executive officer. As the director of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program’s clinical research program, she’s been privy to dolphin research that stretches back about 60 years. Armed with that knowledge, the Venn-Watsons decided it was time to apply what they know and formed Epitracker.

“I started going to some of her meetings and, oh my gosh, what they were doing was amazing,” Venn-Watson said. “Let’s see if we can take some of those discoveries that improved dolphin health and translate those to humans.”

So the couple spent most of 2017 getting their house in order.

Over the past year they have secured five granted intellectual property patents, have nine more pending and have raised approximately $1.2 million in seed money. On top of that, it was shaping the structure of the company. That includes data crunching, forming a business advisory board, a board of di-rectors, more data crunching, applying some of their findings to other lab models and data crunching. Did we mention the data crunching?

“Physiologically, humans and dolphins are very similar,” Eric Venn-Watson said. “This program has been researching these animals for 60 years. We have this database that is very clean. Now that we’ve learned that we’re so similar, we could move forward. They get diseases that people do, but also, they don’t. They are a cheat sheet for how you can cure or treat chronic diseases. You have 60 years of research that hasn’t been applied yet to humans. So we’re asking, ‘What’s the relevancy?’”

Some of the key diseases Epitracker targets are cardiomet-abolic, neurodegenerative, aging-associated diseases and skin repair. They are also tackling diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and liver disease.

Aside from their direct connection to the military, Epitracker also works with veteran communities and the Biocom military veteran’s initiative, which helps educate and place veterans in life sciences jobs.

Venn-Watson attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. and received his general surgery and orthopedic surgery training at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He completed his MBA at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, where he is also a regular lecturer.

He also serves as the company’s chief medical officer and serves in an advisory role for multiple startups.


Dr. Eric Venn-Watson and his wife, Stephanie, co-founded Epitracker Inc.

Army Vet Makes Successful Transition to Life Science CEOn By KEVIN GEMMELL

It’s been a hectic but ultimately successful and fulfilling year for Richard Pascoe, CEO of Apricus Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: APRI).

For starters, late in the first quarter, Pascoe helped over- see the sale of Apricus’ ex-U.S. assets and rights to the drug Vitaros to Switzer-

land-based Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The drug is an on-demand topical cream for the treat-ment of erectile dysfunction. The deal, in excess of $12

million, comes on the heels of an already existing commercial relationship between Ferring and Apri-

cus as a commercialization partner for Vitaros in Latin America and parts of Asia and Europe. “Our business model is drug development with our top-

ical platform and licensing those products out for others to commercialize,” said Pascoe, 54. “We developed the product and platform which and we sold the rights off.”

A similar commercial relationship exists with Allergan, which owns the U.S. rights to Vitaros. In August, Apricus filed a new drug application with the FDA for Vitaros use in the United States and they expect an approval decision by February.

Pascoe, A West Point graduate from the class of 1986, was recently honored at the 2017 Veteran & Military Entre-preneur Conference & Awards in the best executive category for a public company.

This year also saw Apricus make advancements in the development of RayVa, a drug for Raynaud’s disease. It’s a condition that is triggered by auto-immune diseases like Scleroderma or Lupus, where people lose circulation in their extremities – typically the hands or fingers.

Per Pascoe, there are no approved products on the market anywhere in the world for what is also sometimes called Ray-naud’s phenomenon.

And yet with all of that on his plate, he still finds time for his true passion, which his helping veterans. He’s spent the bulk of his adult life serving in and out of uniform. He’s an Army combat veteran and served as a commissioned officer with the 24th Infantry Division. He also continued with the National Guard following his initial commitment. Along with West Point classmates, he founded the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, which is named in honor of classmate, Col. John McHugh who was killed in action in Afghanistan.

Originally it started as Pascoe and some of his ’86 class-mates raising money to help supplement a college education for McHugh’s five children. What it’s blossomed into is an organization that has raised more than $6 million over the past three years. With only a 2 to 3 percent overhead, nearly all of the money is given to nonprofits that distribute the funds to families of fallen soldiers.

“The military does a pretty good job of taking care of Gold Star families,” Pascoe said. “We fill in the gaps. We raise the money and then give it to various organizations – Folds of Honor, Children of Fallen Patriots – legitimate nonprofits that are equipped to manage and facilitate the selection and build relationships with these children who receive the scholarship money.

“It’s something that grew from a small effort to something substantially larger.”

Pascoe’s other main charitable endeavor is with the Biocom military veteran’s initiative, which helps educate and place veterans in life sciences jobs. He serves as a member of the board of directors of the Biocom initiative and is a founding member with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. Bob Thompson/Fotowerks

Richard Pascoe is CEO of Apricus Biosciences Inc., which is working on a treatment for Raynaud’s disease.


Best Entrepreneur, Startup Company

Best Executive, Public Company

Healthy Momma Carves Out Meaningful Career On Her Termsn By KEVIN GEMMELL

When speaking with Flossie Hall, it’s easy to get caught up in her air of “anything is possible.” Her message is simple: If I can do it, so can you.

And in just two years, she has helped build Healthy Mom-ma – her company which prepares fresh, healthy meals and affordable meals – into a thriving business that generates more than $150,000 in revenue per month.

The Navy wife and mother of four was recently honored at the 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference & Awards for best company owned by a military spouse.

Once a prime candidate for medical school, Hall holds an EMT license, an A.A. in Science, a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Biology. She graduated with honors from the University of Michigan.

But the combination of her husband’s deployments (he works in Naval Special Warfare) and raising four children was too much of a burden to pile on medical school. She had started to meal prep to lose weight after pregnancies, so turning that into a business seemed like a natural next step.

“I feel like it’s far more gratifying than if I were a doctor,” Hall said. “As a doctor, there are a lot of political restraints and guidelines. Now I feel like I’m helping people on my own terms.”

While her business caters to pretty much any type of indi-vidual or family, it’s her work with the military community that has earned her richly-deserved praise. Having served more than 500,000 meals in just two years, Hall has managed to incorporate military families into her daily routine.

Since launching in 2016, Hall has hired about 80 military spouses and active duty members. She’s also earned plaques

from veterans support groups for donating hundreds of meals to homeless veterans.

“The special warfare community is a very tight-knit one,” Hall explained. “Right off the bat, I started with dozens of customers. I’ve never actually had to pay for marketing.”

Hall said her meals have helped people lower blood pressure, get off of diabetes medication and are a great comfort to fam-ilies with newborn babies or those in time of loss.

“It’s not just military, but police officers, also,” she said. “If there’s a fallen hero in our community, we’re the first to reach out.”

And that sometimes means giving away her food, which she’s happy to do.

“If I say I’m not going to be like every other company out there and charge $15 per meal because I want this to be ac-cessible to people who need it the most, then I’m going to do that,” she said. “I’m not doing this to be a multi-millionaire. I’m doing this to reach people and to help people.”

While the company saw tremendous growth in 2016, Hall said 2017 was all about getting her house in order. With so much growth, she actually had to scale back in 2017 to “correct some mistakes.” But she embraces the grind of motherhood and being an entrepreneur while having a spouse who is active military.

“I’m exhausted, but I’ve always had overachiever syndrome,” she said. “Even before I started the company, I worked, and had four kids, and my husband was gone and I was trying to get to med school. I’m used to the grit of everything.

“Entrepreneurship is just another kind of grit. I’m not in the rat race of getting into medical school anymore. I’m in the rat race of doing something bigger than that.”


Flossie Hall has bypassed medical school to launch her meal-prep company.

Engineering Firm Finds National Opportunity at VA Hospitals


Michael Johnson founded Premier Mechanical Group in 2012. The company has grown from its foundation of servicing VA Hopsitals.

n By EMMET PIERCE

Michael Johnson, the owner of Premier Mechanical Group Inc. (PMG), has been honored as best executive of a privately held company in the 2017 Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Awards.

“I was blown away, ecstatic, very humbled and grateful,” Johnson said of the award, which was presented Oct. 25 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. “We are being recognized for the good work we do. Veterans aren’t being forgotten in San Diego.”

Johnson founded PMG in Escondido in 2012. His company delivered engineering service and support to 42 Veterans Ad-ministration hospitals in 2016 alone.

The San Marcos resident described PMG as “a small en-gineering firm” with offices in Escondido, Atlanta, El Paso, Texas, Fayetteville, N.C, and Memphis, Tenn.

“We’ve gone around the U.S. providing engineering support for VA hospitals,” he said. “That is how we started out. Now we do engineering services and construction work. Not only do we inspect buildings and equipment, we build buildings also. Ninety-eight percent of our work comes from outside San Diego County.”

The future for the company looks bright, he stressed. “We are a new company,” Johnson said. “The future is unlimited. Who knows? We are here to service and support our customers.”

Johnson’s professional experience includes three years as the director of engineering with the U.S. Government Bureau of Medicine at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. He also spent two years as the owner of a smog testing company in La Mesa before he founded PMG.

A Rich Military CareerJohnson is a retired lieutenant commander nuclear engi-

neering repair officer who served in the Navy’s submarine

force for 25 years. He has more than 28 years of experience in engineering and capital construction projects.

Throughout his Navy career, Johnson participated in deploy-ment tours to both Southwest Asia and the Middle East. He was involved in the war in Kuwait and received several honors for his service. They included the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and a battle award ribbon.

Injured in CombatJohnson suffered a serious war injury during his service.

After recovering, he continued to perform as a naval officer, retiring after 25 years of service. His experience includes three years as the director of engineering with the U.S. Government Bureau of Medicine at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Johnson is the father of three grown sons. When he’s not busy with PMG, he volunteers to help maintain the Good News Missionary Baptist Church in San Diego and the homes of some of its members. He also supports various civic programs that provide food to individuals and families in need.

“He is just a very smart individual,” said award nominator Travin Griepenstroh, who works in human resources and ac-counting for PMG. “He is giving, not just with the church but with his employees. He hates to see people struggle. He always sees the good in people.”

Johnson has been known to offer jobs to people he meets who are in need of a helping hand, Griepenstroh said.

“He mentors them and gets them back on their feet,” he said. “To me he is s a hero. He is always doing good deeds. He is a very private, very quiet man. People aren’t aware of what he does for others.”


Best Executive, Private Company

Best Company Owned by a Military Spouse


Veteran-Owned Businesses Ranked by number of full-time employees as of September 1, 2017

Researched byGina Bertuzzi

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSESRanked by number of full-time employees as of September 1, 2017

Rank(last year)

CompanyAddressWebsitePhone

# ofemployees:Full-timePart-time

Companywide

Grossrevenue

(millions):20162015

% + (-)

% veteran-ownedCertified veteran-owned?Service-disabled veteran-

owned?Majorityowner(s) Company description Local executive(s)

Yearfounded

1(NR)

Naval Coating Inc.3475 E Street, San Diego 92102www.navalcoating.us 619-234-8366

1500

150

$15$20(25)

100YY

AlanLerchbacker

A CA DVBE premier abrasiveblasting, painting &

preservation company for theU.S. Navy

Dan McCaighin 1969

2(NR)

Atlas Executive Consulting1545 Hotel Circle S., Suite 120, San Diego 92108www.atlasexecutive.com 619-684-3896

999

108

$9.91$3.24206

51YY

Paul Kitchin

Provides businessmanagement consulting

services to defense & federalagencies

Paul KitchinOscar Mancia 2006

3(NR)

Quality Controlled Manufacturing Inc.9429 Abraham Way, Santee 92071www.qcmfginc.com 619-443-3997

894

93

$13$13.5

(4)

75NN

Bob Grande

Precision machining ofgeneral to very complex

components for Aerospace,DOD & other industries

Bob GrandeRick Urban 1978

4(5)

Collins Plumbing8130 Commercial St., La Mesa 91942www.collinsplumbing.com 619-469-0800

70wndwnd

$12$9.96

21

51NN

Richard R.Collins

Construction plumbingcontractor

Steve ManigliaRobin Schaefer 1979

5(NR)

Herman Construction Group Inc.2060 Wineridge Place, Suite A, Escondido 92029www.hermancg.com 858-277-7100

590

59

wndwnd

wndYY

Lars Herman &Steve Smidt

Provides construction servicesto the federal government &

military

Lars HermanSteve Smidt 2009

6(8)

Servpro North Vista/San Marcos2870 S. Santa Fe Ave., San Marcos 92069www.servpronorthvistasanmarcos.com 760-758-3454

484

52

$5.4$4.36

24

100NY

Joe ArayaWater & fire damage

restoration work as preferredvendors for insurance work

Juan ArayaSteven Carlile 2002

7(11)

Innoflight Inc.9985 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite 250, San Diego 92121www.innoflight.com 858-638-1580

295

34

wndwnd

100NN

wnd

Dedicated to innovativeresponsive electronics

solutions for secureoperations in extreme settings

Jeffrey Janicik 2005

8(9)

Diamond Pacific Construction Inc.6051 Amarillo Ave., La Mesa 91942www.diamondpacificinc.com 619-677-5985

261

27

$3.18$2.21

44

100YY

Gregg M.Torwick

General demolition contractorCSLB A,B,C-21,C-61,D06

Gregg TorwickErik Dyresen 2009

9(12)

BPI Plumbing1021 Bay Blvd., Suite S, Chula Vista 91911www.bpiplumbing.com 619-429-9066

231

24

$3.95$4.2(6)

51YY

Alex Galicia

Plumbing contractor; service& repair, 24/7 on-call, new

construction & tenantimprovement

Alex Galicia 1976

10(13)

Diego & Son Printing Inc.2104 National Ave., San Diego 92113www.diegoandson.com 619-233-5373

14wndwnd

$1.6$1.8(11)

60YY

NicholasAguilera Commercial printer Clara Aguilera 1972

11(14)

Novum Group Inc.3207 Greyhawk Court, Suite 110, Carlsbad 92010www.novumgroup.com 760-477-1281

110

11

$1.4$1.6(13)

100NN

Eric Armstrong Executive search firmspecializing in finance Eric Armstrong 1997

12(NR)

5x Technology LLC3160 Camino Del Rio S., Suite 208, San Diego 92108www.5xtechnology.com 858-777-1650

92

wnd

$4.7$5.8(19)

100YY

Jeffrey Yefsky

IT solutions firm providingbusiness intelligence services,

training & softwarenationwide

Jeffrey Yefsky 1998

13(17)

Engineered Mechanical Services Inc.2180 Chablis Court, Suite 111, Escondido 92029www.emsi-socal.com 760-233-5055

82

wnd

$1.8$180

100YN

Tom Reichert

Mechanical solutions forspecialty environmentsrequiring specific temp.,humidity & HVAC service

Tom Reichert 2002

14(NR)

Rooter-Man Plumbers of San Diego(1)

13741 Danielson St., Suite H, Poway 92064www.rooterman.com/san-diego 858-679-0585

8wndwnd

$1wnd

100YY

Eric Brockmire Provides plumbing & draincleaning services Eric Brockmire wnd

15(20)

Ceramic Tile Supply Inc.3310 Via De La Valle, Suite E, Oceanside 92058www.ceramictilesupplyonline.com 760-433-3555

6wnd

6

$0.86$0.94

(9)

100YN

wndRetail/wholesale ceramic tile,natural stone, glass & metal

tile, & all installation materialsMichael Molen 1980

16(18)

James Crone & Associates Inc.555 Enterprise St., Escondido 92029www.jamescrone.com 760-480-8888

617

$3.72$1.48151

100wnd

N

James A.Crone III

Full-service commercial realestate; sales, leasing,

management, developmentJames A. Crone III 1986

17(15)

A+ LandscapesPO Box 460127, Escondido 92046www.aplus-landscapes.com 760-522-0760

53

wnd

wndwnd

100YN

RandyHernandez

Install pavers, concrete,flagstone, masonry, turf. Randy Hernandez 2002

18(NR)

Lorimar Group1488 Pioneer Way, Suite 14, El Cajon 92020www.lorimargroup.com 619-749-9399

516

wndwnd

100YY

wndFull-service communicationscompany that offers mission

critical comms.Mike Johnson 2004

19(24)

San Diego Hauling Hunks1063 Vista Madera Lane, El Cajon 92019www.junkremovalinsandiego.com 619-507-4172

54

wnd

$0.13$0.14(11)

100YY

Lt Col RobertBrookeEldridge

Hauls junk, demo sheds,cleans out garages/storageunits, helps with emptying

load pods/trucks

Robert BrookeEldridge 2006

20(23)

Bowman Consultants Inc.4445 Eastgate Mall, Suite 200, San Diego 92121www.BowmanDB.com 619-261-0185

426

wnd$0.23

100NN

Ian Bowman

Provides expert constructionconsultation from concept to

completion for the privatesector

Ian Bowman 2011

21(NR)

Phoenix Water Management LLC2907 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 105/304, San Diego 92106www.phoenixwater.net 619-997-0597

1wndwnd

$0.73$0.72

2

100NN

Michael JConner

Provider of industrial watertreatment, energy & water

saving servicesMichael J Conner 2003

22(30)

Risen Oil/Martin Risen Sales Co. Winzer3316 Pae Drive, Oceanside 92056www.winzerusa.com 619-855-7575

000

$0.17$0.17

(3)

100NY

Martin Risen Fleet maintenance supplies &oil products Martin Risen 1986

wnd Would not disclose(NR) Not rankedIn case of a tie, companies are ranked alphabetically.To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of press time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness ofthe list, omissions and typographical errors sometimes occur. Please send corrections or additions to the Research Department at the San Diego

Business Journal. 858-634-4635. This list may not be reprinted in whole or in part without prior written permission from the editor. Somecompanies have declined to participate or did not return a survey by press time. It is not the intent of this list to endorse the participants nor toimply a company's size or numerical rank indicate its quality.(1) Formerly known as Brockmire Plumbing Services.

Researched by Gina Bertuzzi


Rank(last year)



Companywide

Grossrevenue

(millions):20162015

% + (-)



Yearfounded

1(NR)


1500

150

$15$20(25)

100YY

AlanLerchbacker



Dan McCaighin 1969

2(NR)


999

108

$9.91$3.24206

51YY

Paul Kitchin




3(NR)


894

93

$13$13.5

(4)

75NN

Bob Grande




4(5)


70wndwnd

$12$9.96

21

51NN

Richard R.Collins



5(NR)


590

59

wndwnd

wndYY



military


6(8)


484

52

$5.4$4.36

24

100NY




7(11)


295

34

wndwnd

100NN

wnd




8(9)


261

27

$3.18$2.21

44

100YY

Gregg M.Torwick



9(12)


231

24

$3.95$4.2(6)

51YY

Alex Galicia



Alex Galicia 1976

10(13)


14wndwnd

$1.6$1.8(11)

60YY


11(14)


110

11

$1.4$1.6(13)

100NN


12(NR)


92

wnd

$4.7$5.8(19)

100YY

Jeffrey Yefsky



Jeffrey Yefsky 1998

13(17)


82

wnd

$1.8$180

100YN

Tom Reichert


Tom Reichert 2002

14(NR)



8wndwnd

$1wnd

100YY


15(20)


6wnd

6

$0.86$0.94

(9)

100YN



16(18)


617

$3.72$1.48151

100wnd

N

James A.Crone III



17(15)


53

wnd

wndwnd

100YN

RandyHernandez


18(NR)


516

wndwnd

100YY



19(24)


54

wnd

$0.13$0.14(11)

100YY



load pods/trucks


20(23)


426

wnd$0.23

100NN

Ian Bowman



Ian Bowman 2011

21(NR)


1wndwnd

$0.73$0.72

2

100NN

Michael JConner



22(30)


000

$0.17$0.17

(3)

100NY





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Rank(last year)



Companywide

Grossrevenue

(millions):20162015

% + (-)



Yearfounded

1(NR)


1500

150

$15$20(25)

100YY

AlanLerchbacker



Dan McCaighin 1969

2(NR)


999

108

$9.91$3.24206

51YY

Paul Kitchin




3(NR)


894

93

$13$13.5

(4)

75NN

Bob Grande




4(5)


70wndwnd

$12$9.96

21

51NN

Richard R.Collins



5(NR)


590

59

wndwnd

wndYY



military


6(8)


484

52

$5.4$4.36

24

100NY




7(11)


295

34

wndwnd

100NN

wnd




8(9)


261

27

$3.18$2.21

44

100YY

Gregg M.Torwick



9(12)


231

24

$3.95$4.2(6)

51YY

Alex Galicia



Alex Galicia 1976

10(13)


14wndwnd

$1.6$1.8(11)

60YY


11(14)


110

11

$1.4$1.6(13)

100NN


12(NR)


92

wnd

$4.7$5.8(19)

100YY

Jeffrey Yefsky



Jeffrey Yefsky 1998

13(17)


82

wnd

$1.8$180

100YN

Tom Reichert


Tom Reichert 2002

14(NR)



8wndwnd

$1wnd

100YY


15(20)


6wnd

6

$0.86$0.94

(9)

100YN



16(18)


617

$3.72$1.48151

100wnd

N

James A.Crone III



17(15)


53

wnd

wndwnd

100YN

RandyHernandez


18(NR)


516

wndwnd

100YY



19(24)


54

wnd

$0.13$0.14(11)

100YY



load pods/trucks


20(23)


426

wnd$0.23

100NN

Ian Bowman



Ian Bowman 2011

21(NR)


1wndwnd

$0.73$0.72

2

100NN

Michael JConner



22(30)


000

$0.17$0.17

(3)

100NY






18CCN0025_A-CCP

10/05/17 17:32

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Veteran-Owned Businesses Ranked by number of full-time employees as of September 1, 2017

Researched byGina Bertuzzi


Rank(last year)



Companywide

Grossrevenue

(millions):20162015

% + (-)



Yearfounded

1(NR)


1500

150

$15$20(25)

100YY

AlanLerchbacker



Dan McCaighin 1969

2(NR)


999

108

$9.91$3.24206

51YY

Paul Kitchin




3(NR)


894

93

$13$13.5

(4)

75NN

Bob Grande




4(5)


70wndwnd

$12$9.96

21

51NN

Richard R.Collins



5(NR)


590

59

wndwnd

wndYY



military


6(8)


484

52

$5.4$4.36

24

100NY




7(11)


295

34

wndwnd

100NN

wnd




8(9)


261

27

$3.18$2.21

44

100YY

Gregg M.Torwick



9(12)


231

24

$3.95$4.2(6)

51YY

Alex Galicia



Alex Galicia 1976

10(13)


14wndwnd

$1.6$1.8(11)

60YY


11(14)


110

11

$1.4$1.6(13)

100NN


12(NR)


92

wnd

$4.7$5.8(19)

100YY

Jeffrey Yefsky



Jeffrey Yefsky 1998

13(17)


82

wnd

$1.8$180

100YN

Tom Reichert


Tom Reichert 2002

14(NR)



8wndwnd

$1wnd

100YY


15(20)


6wnd

6

$0.86$0.94

(9)

100YN



16(18)


617

$3.72$1.48151

100wnd

N

James A.Crone III



17(15)


53

wnd

wndwnd

100YN

RandyHernandez


18(NR)


516

wndwnd

100YY



19(24)


54

wnd

$0.13$0.14(11)

100YY



load pods/trucks


20(23)


426

wnd$0.23

100NN

Ian Bowman



Ian Bowman 2011

21(NR)


1wndwnd

$0.73$0.72

2

100NN

Michael JConner



22(30)


000

$0.17$0.17

(3)

100NY






Rank(last year)



Companywide

Grossrevenue

(millions):20162015

% + (-)



Yearfounded

1(NR)


1500

150

$15$20(25)

100YY

AlanLerchbacker



Dan McCaighin 1969

2(NR)


999

108

$9.91$3.24206

51YY

Paul Kitchin




3(NR)


894

93

$13$13.5

(4)

75NN

Bob Grande




4(5)


70wndwnd

$12$9.96

21

51NN

Richard R.Collins



5(NR)


590

59

wndwnd

wndYY



military


6(8)


484

52

$5.4$4.36

24

100NY




7(11)


295

34

wndwnd

100NN

wnd




8(9)


261

27

$3.18$2.21

44

100YY

Gregg M.Torwick



9(12)


231

24

$3.95$4.2(6)

51YY

Alex Galicia



Alex Galicia 1976

10(13)


14wndwnd

$1.6$1.8(11)

60YY


11(14)


110

11

$1.4$1.6(13)

100NN


12(NR)


92

wnd

$4.7$5.8(19)

100YY

Jeffrey Yefsky



Jeffrey Yefsky 1998

13(17)


82

wnd

$1.8$180

100YN

Tom Reichert


Tom Reichert 2002

14(NR)



8wndwnd

$1wnd

100YY


15(20)


6wnd

6

$0.86$0.94

(9)

100YN



16(18)


617

$3.72$1.48151

100wnd

N

James A.Crone III



17(15)


53

wnd

wndwnd

100YN

RandyHernandez


18(NR)


516

wndwnd

100YY



19(24)


54

wnd

$0.13$0.14(11)

100YY



load pods/trucks


20(23)


426

wnd$0.23

100NN

Ian Bowman



Ian Bowman 2011

21(NR)


1wndwnd

$0.73$0.72

2

100NN

Michael JConner



22(30)


000

$0.17$0.17

(3)

100NY





ALANLERCHBACKER

OwnerNaval Coating Inc.

GREGG TORWICKOwner,

Diamond Pacific Construction Inc.

PAUL KITCHINOwner, Atlas

Executive Consulting

NICHOLASAGUILERA

Owner, Diego & Sons Printing Inc.

BOB GRANDEOwner, Quality

Controlled Manufacturing IInc.

ERICARMSTRONGOwner, Novum

Group Inc.

LARS HERMANOwner, Herman

Construction Group Inc.

JOE ARAYAOwner

Servpro North Vista/San Marcos


People took in advice and exchanged ideas at the first Veteran & Military Entrepreneur Conference and Awards on Oct. 25 at The Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

The conference was presented by The Rosie Network, which supports military families through entrepreneurial programs and services.

More than 240 people were on hand to hear the keynote from Larry Broughton, founder of Broughton Hotels during the awards program in the evening.

One of the highlights of the awards program was the recognition of a real life Rosie the Riveter, Ida Tagliaferri of Rancho Bernardo, one of about three million women who joined the workforce during WWII.

The Awards title Sponsor was Tri-City Medical Center; gold sponsors were Cox Business and Wells Fargo. The Conference sponsors were USAA, Bank of America and CDC Small Business Finance.

San Diego Business Journal EventON THE SCENE2017 Veteran and Military Entrepreneur Conference & Awards

7

6

9

5

3

4

1 2

8

10 11


1. Vic Martin of Shelter to Soldier and a service dog2. Ida Tagliaferri , an original “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II and

a Rancho Bernardo resident, and her daughter Elaine Tagliaferri3. Keynote speaker Larry Broughton of Broughton Hotels4. Jim Akin of Touchstone Compliance LLC, Mike Naylor of PKL Services

Inc. and David Bakkeby of Target CW 5. Beth Holland of conference presenter The Rosie Network6. Brian Lee of Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo7. Kathy Hansen of Industrial Grind Coffee and Ray Flores of the County

of San Diego8. Alex Marlay of WealthWave and Ty Smith of Vigilance Risk Solutions9. Nels Jensen, Editor, San Diego Business Journal 10. Althea Coetzee Leslie of the Small Business Administration11. Tom Garcia of USO San Diego and David Bennett of title sponsor

Tri-City Medical Center12. Jerry Sanders of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce13. Disa Dearie of Dearie’s Delectables and Maurice Wilson of National

Veterans Transition Services14. Stephanie Brown of conference presenter The Rosie Network and

Leah Brodt of Wholesome Kitchen San Diego 15. Beth Holland of conference presenter The Rosie Network, Joshua

Hoagland of Tent City Tech, Jennifer Jordan of The Rosie Network and Roshard Woolfolk of Axon FP Inc.

16. Huntley Paton, President and Publisher, San Diego Business Journal17. Anita Lightfoot and Supervisor Bill Horn of the County of San Diego 18. David Dearie of conference sponsor USAA19. Susan Couch of conference sponsor Bank of America, City Council

Member Chris Cate and Laura Dodd of of America20. Brandy Williams of Rapid Solutions CPR + AED and Dr. Heather Lewis21. Stacy Lindsey and RADMR Yancy Lindsey of Navy Region Southwest22. Marnie Peterson and Mo Camacho of presenting sponsor Cox

BusinessPhotos by Bob Thompson, Fotowerks. Additional photos from the event are at the following link: http://Fotowerkssd.smugmug.com.

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