CARLSBAD
ViaSat Gets Military Order Valued at $27.6 Million
Carlsbad-based communications technology provider ViaSat Inc. has received a delivery order from the U.S. military valued at approximately $27.6 million, for terminals and related gear to aid situational awareness during combat.
A Sept. 15 company statement said the order came from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, or Spawar, in San Diego. The multifunctional information distribution system, or MIDS, low-volume terminals are used by the military to gather information into a secure, digital view of the battlefield.
The high-capacity, jam-resistant and wireless system connects users with digital data and voice communications. Deliveries of the terminal units are scheduled to begin in July 2012 and continue through March 2013, the statement said.
— Lou Hirsh
VISTA
Holding Company Buys Stake in Medical Device Firm
Integra Biotechnical LLC, a contract medical device manufacturer, sold a majority interest in the company to Providien LLC, an Arizona holding company, for an undisclosed price. Providien has done three other acquisitions in the San Diego area since forming last year.
Providien CEO Jeff Goble said with the most recent deal, the business has more than $50 million in annual revenue.
Integra, an assembler and packager of finished medical devices for major manufacturers, has about 600 employees at its Tijuana plant and 20 workers at its administrative and distribution office in Vista.
Its annual revenue is about $25 million, Goble said.
Since June of 2010, Providien has also acquired Specialty Manufacturing Inc. of San Diego, Plastics Engineering and Development of Carlsbad, and Emergent Respiratory LLC of San Diego.
— Mike Allen
POWAY/SANTEE
County Land Buy Would Link Poway, Santee Parks
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has scheduled an Oct. 12 public hearing to discuss the county’s proposed $2.82 million purchase of open space on the north end of Sycamore Canyon Preserve, in an unincorporated area between Poway and Santee.
According to a county staff report, the acquisition of the 112.7 acres would help preserve a prime habitat for the California gnatcatcher, a species of small birds, and secure a multi-use trail connection to park areas in the cities of Poway to the north and Santee to the south, eventually connecting to the San Diego River regional trail network.
The land would be added to the county’s existing 2,300-acre Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve. Following hearings, supervisors would approve the purchase of six legal parcels from Hidden Valley Partners, a California general partnership, for the appraised value of $2.82 million.
The land is located west of state Route 67 and south of Scripps Poway Parkway.
— Lou Hirsh
SAN MARCOS
Business Leaders Participate In University Lecture Series
Cal State San Marcos continues its Executive Chair Series, featuring top local business executives speaking about their lives in a weekly lineup that runs Tuesdays through Nov. 29.
The series, modeled after “Inside the Actors Studio,” started this year on Sept. 6. The free sessions start at 10 a.m. and are open to the public.
The remaining schedule for the series is: Sept. 27, Michael Harth, founder of Sunset Parking; Oct. 4, Malin Burnham, founder of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; Oct. 11, Ken Markstein, CEO of Markstein Beverage Co.; Oct. 25, Helen Adams, retired partner, Deloitte; Nov. 1, Holly Green, CEO of The Human Factor; Nov. 8, Bill Strauss, CEO of ProCommerce; Nov. 15, Ian Woodall, inspirational speaker; Nov. 22, Andy Laats and Chad Di Nenna, co-founders of Nixon Inc.; Nov. 29, Julie Wright, CEO of WrightOn Communications.
— Mike Allen
