NO. 1 VOL. XXXVI Luvvie Ajayi Jones SAN DIEGO WOMEN’S WEEK CONTINUES TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE AFTER 11 YEARS Photo credit: Kesha Lamber 2021 | ISSUE 1 Volume XXXVI Our mission is to always provide quality journalism for our readers by being fair, accurate and ethical and a credible resource for our advertisers. Chairman | CEO COVER STORY: Robert Page Luvvie Ajayi Jones: [email protected] Professional Troublemaker Luvvie Ajayi Jones doesn’t seem like the kind Publisher Rebeca Page of person who’s afraid of anything. In fact, [email protected] the New York Times bestselling author of “I’m Judging You,” and internationally renowned Managing Editor Manny Cruz public speaker seems like fear’s worst [email protected] nightmare. But that same bestselling author was once a confused pre-med student, afraid Graphic Designer Christopher Baker of calling herself a writer. Jones is one of the [email protected] speakers at the virtual 2021 San Diego Women’s Week March 15-19 sponsored by the Photography/Illustration North San Diego Business Chamber. Page 8. Pam Davis San Diego State University (Photo credit: Kesha Lambert) Contributing Writers Marsha Sutton Cecilia Buckner Tech privacy expert to lead new center Marlise Kast-Myers for data, AI and society Advertising SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Maritza Johnson, a widely respected data Rebeca Page 7 privacy and security professional, has joined the University of San Diego as the director Get in the loop with SD Metro’s Daily Business Report. Sign up for daily emails on of a new center focused on data science, the latest business at sandiegometro.com artificial intelligence and society. In this pioneering role, Johnson will be responsible P.O. BOX 3679 for developing the center. RANCHO SANTA FE, CA 92067 858.461.4484 FAX: 858.759.5755 SD METRO magazine is published by REP Publishing, Inc. 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For 18 Marisa Fogelman is the founder of Integra reprints or plaques of articles published in SD METRO , please call Rebeca Page at 858-461-4484 Development Center, which extends learning for youths beyond the acquisition All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any Preference of knowlege and focuses holistically on limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, whole child development in five primary handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any preference, limitation or discrimination. “Familial status includes ways, called building blocks: mental children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under power, emotional intelligence, social skills, 18. 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(Image: Owen Stanley, SDSC/UCSD) San Diego Supercomputer’s ‘Expanse’ formally enters production System now available to academic & industry researchers The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego announced that its new Expanse supercomputer formally entered service for researchers following a program review by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which awarded SDSC a grant in mid-2019 to build the innovative system. At over twice the performance of Comet, SDSC’s current petascale supercomputer, Expanse supports SDSC’s theme of “Computing without Boundaries” with powerful CPUs, GPUs, and a data-centric architecture that supports a wide range of scientific workloads including experimental facilities, edge computing, and public clouds. “The name of our new system says it all,” said SDSC Director Michael Norman, the principal investigator for Expanse and a computational astrophysicist. “With innovations in cloud integration and other features such as composable systems, as well as continued support for science gateways and distributed computing via the Open Science Grid (OSG), Expanse will allow researchers to push the boundaries of computing and substantially reduce their times to discovery.” 4 SANDIEGOMETRO.COM | NO. 1 VOL. XXXVI | 36TH ANNIVERSARY 1985-2021 SAN DIEGO SCENE Registrar Michael Vu named county assistant chief administrative officer Registrar of Voters Michael Vu is now responding to them,” said Robbins-Meyer. taking on the responsibilities of assistant chief “For this, he has gained the respect and trust administrative officer for the County of San of many within our community, including Diego. Vu began his new role Jan. 8 after community-based organizations, advocacy working for the County for nearly 14 years, the groups, elected officials and the media.” last eight as Registrar. As Vu takes on his new responsibilities, he The Chief Administrative Office is will also continue to lead the Registrar of responsible for implementing policy decisions Voters particularly now that a special vacancy from the Board of Supervisors. The office also election is expected for the 79th Assembly manages day-to-day operations. District. Assistant Registrar Cynthia Paes will Chief Administrative Officer Helen serve as the acting registrar. Robbins-Meyer praised Vu for working Vu succeeds Tracy Sandoval as assistant tirelessly to engage the San Diego community CAO. Sandoval left the county last October to in a way that represents county values. “Not become the CEO for the San Diego County only has he enjoyed taking on new challenges, Employees Retirement Association. but he has been innovative and resourceful in Registrar of Voters Michael VUzyynski Alaska Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft Alaska Airlines has accepted delivery of its Diego, and Seattle and Los Angeles. The receive a total of 68 737-9 MAX aircraft in first Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane, marking a airline's second 737-9 is expected to enter the next four years, with options for an new phase of modernizing the airline’s fleet service later in March. additional 52 planes. The airline is scheduled in the coming years. Alaska pilots flew the Teams from across various divisions to receive 13 planes this year; 30 in 2022; 13 aircraft on a short flight from the Boeing at Alaska will now follow a strict readiness in 2023; and 12 in 2024. The agreement Delivery Center at Boeing Field in Seattle to timeline that guides the actions that must be incorporates Alaska’s announcement last the company’s hangar at Sea-Tac taken before the start of passenger flights, November to lease 13 737-9 aircraft as part International Airport with a small group according to officials. The process – involving of a separate transaction. of Alaska’s top leadership on board. rigorous rounds of test flying, verifying and Alaska's first 737-9 is scheduled to enter specific preparations -- will take five weeks. passenger service on March 1 with daily Alaska announced a restructured order roundtrip flights between Seattle and San agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to Alaska Airlines’ first delivery of a 737--9 MAX departs Seattle’s Boeing Field. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines) 36TH ANNIVERSARY 1985-2021 | NO. 1 VOL. XXXVI | SANDIEGOMETRO.COM 5 SAN DIEGO SCENE Taylor Guitars transfers ownership to employees El Cajon-based Taylor Guitars, a global builder of premium acoustic guitars, has transferred ownership of the company to its nearly 1,200 employees through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan. “We have delighted in giving people the joy of music and hope to do so for generations to come,” said Bob Taylor, co-founder and president of Taylor Guitars. “Becoming 100 percent (employee owned) allows us to ensure our independence for the long-term future and continue to realize our vision for the company as an innovative guitar manufacturer.” Kurt Listug, co-founder and chief executive officer, added, “While Bob and I are not retiring, we have been preparing for our eventual exit. Master guitar designer Andy Powers is not only the wellspring of our guitar designs for the future, but he also joined our leadership team several years ago, and strengthening our leadership team has been essential to our succession planning.” Listug views the transition in ownership as the next step to ensure a sustainable future for the company, while also providing a valuable financial benefit to people who have contributed to its success. “We believe we’ve created a special company, where passionate people can engage in problem-solving innovation, collaboration and respect,” he said. Taylor Guitars employees, now owners, at the El Cajon factory prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. SHOOTING FOR THE MOON UC San Diego alumni selected to NASA’s Artemis program that aims to land first woman and next man on the moon By Brittany Hook and Mario Aguilera | UC San Diego When NASA unveiled the initial team of astronauts for its ambitious moon exploration project in December, the news quickly spread that two of the announced 18 Artemisprogram team members hold degrees from UC San Diego.