Local technology executives seem to be optimistic going into the new year, believing the worst of the economic decline has passed, and are also looking at hiring this year, according to the latest socalTECH.com Industry Survey . Job hiring plans were also better, with only a slim number of firms--3.06% expecting possible layoffs, with 85 percent of firms looking to hire workers. The non-scientific survey was a shift from the fairly negative outlook from last year's survey. According to the results--tallied by the David James Agency , which conducted they survey for us--82 percent

San Diego-based Verari Systems , a developer of blade server technology, has shut down, according to publication InsideHPC. Tags: verari systems blade server shutdown employment jobs layof According to InsideHPC, Verari Systems shut down due to lack of access to capital. Verari had raised over $59M in funding from such investors as Carlyle Group, Celerity Partners, Sierra Ventures, and Voyager Capital. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

San Diego-based Quidel , a developer of diagnostic tests for the healthcare industry, said Tuesday that it has cut approximately 10 percent of its work force, or 31 employees, in a corporate restructuring. The firm also said that its Chief Technology Officer, Thomas Foley, will retire, although the firm said that the move was unrelated to the restructuring. ...Tags: According to Quidel, it made the cuts in order to "gain operational efficiences and reduce costs." Quidel disclosed that the cuts included two senior-level positions, an elimination of its annual cash incentives,