$sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT * FROM company_contact_info WHERE region = '%San Diego%' ";");

This has almost nothing to do with perl, but you have an error in your SQL statement. instead of WHERE region = '%San Diego%' try WHERE region LIKE '%San Diego%'.

Will perl for money
JJ Knitis
(901) 756-7693
gt8073a@industrialmusic.com