No story of San Diego is complete without mentioning Qualcomm. But what's remarkable is that Nat Geo didn't just tell the story of Qualcomm as a telecommunications giant; they told the story of Qualcomm's Thinkabit Lab, which is engaging local school districts and is inspiring future engineers. They are ensuring San Diego remains a “smart city” for generations to come.

Then there is Illumina, appropriately called the “World's Smartest Company” by MIT Technology Review. Along with other San Diego life-sciences leaders, they are redefining the field of genome sequencing and personalized medicine. I could go on and talk about the fascinating things SDG&E, UC San Diego, Northrop Grumman and others are doing to draw attention to our incredible region.

We believe that National Geographic has it right: it's all about the people; smart people solving some of the world's most challenging problems.

GlobeSt.com: What does this designation do for the commercial real estate industry here?
Cafferty: The documentary did a great job of capturing the essence of what makes San Diego great: our quality of life and geographic diversity. Instead of focusing in on one neighborhood where development has already occurred, the documentary tells the story of San Diego, from the labs at UC San Diego near the Torrey Pines Mesa to the colorful streets of Barrio Logan. Additionally, the documentary was seen by more than 247 million households in 60 countries across the globe. Along with the San Diego Tourism Authority, we premiered the documentary in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. This increased international exposure is a good thing for demand-driven industries like commercial real estate that are fueled by job growth and economic development.

GlobeSt.com: In which areas could San Diego stand to improve?

Cafferty: Like many other major cities, San Diego is not immune to growing pains. As demographics continue to shift, challenges arise. With aging infrastructure and finite natural resources, San Diego has the opportunity to hone in on smart growth. And the good news is that we have policymakers and leaders who are willing to address these challenges head on. We have a mayor who is pushing through a climate action plan and working with other elected officials on innovative water-conservation measures.

It is also important to note that innovation is often born out of challenges. There is a reason we are early adopters of solar energy—which has been harnessed by SDG&E—and will soon be home to the largest desalination plant in the western hemisphere.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about San Diego as a smart city?

Cafferty: If they know San Diego, they might know we are one of the most beautiful cities in the country—if not the world. What we are hoping people take home from this is that we are also one of the world's most innovative regions as well. There is a lot to make us proud. But statistics and accolades aside, San Diego is a remarkable place in that you don't just build a career here; you build a life—and that's what people need to remember.