Military, Beer, Wireless and Sustainability Spell Growth

SAN DIEGO-Four industries have been identified as growth markets creating demand for the commercial real estate market here by NAIOP San Diego, a chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Derived from four major economies or “dynamic clusters” in San Diego—the military; convention, tourism and gaming; research, technology, innovation and manufacturing; and the county’s local economy, the four specific areas targeted for growth by the organization were unmanned military aerial vehicles, sustainable technology, wireless mobile medical devices and craft-beer breweries.

Yesterday, GlobeSt.com and 300 commercial real estate professionals attended a breakfast conference at the Marriott San Diego Del Mar entitled “San Diego’s Emerging Growth Industries: Drafts to Drones,” presented by NAIOP San Diego. The conference featured moderator Mark Cafferty, CEO, San Diego Regional EDC, leading panelists representing the four growth segments to discuss what’s in store for San Diego’s emerging growth industries and what it means for the commercial real estate industry that provides the space where San Diegans work. Panelists included Jim Zortman, senior VP, Northrup Grumman Aerospace Systems; Jim Waring, president and CEO, CleanTech San Diego; Tomme Arthur, president, Port Brewing; and Tom Watlington, CEO of Sotera Wireless.