As summer 2025 began in June for Sunstone Management, we recommitted ourselves to our core values – Investment, Entrepreneurship and Community.
These are the bedrock values of the Sunstone Way. We use them with each other, and with those we interact with in business and our daily lives.
They are so important I want to give you our one-sentence definitions.
Investment – We are investors, not savers. Entrepreneurship – We believe that problems are opportunities. Community – We believe in service over self.
The entire Sunstone team works hard to keep these core values front of mind as we make our way in the world.
Activation
Activities at our Sunstone Stage presentation area increased exponentially in June, particularly with the launch of the weekly Sunstone Stage Connects series put on by Sunstone Advisors. Crowds have grown each Friday to hear presentations from entrepreneurs and experts.
Many thanks to the team behind the scenes putting these events together, including Jasmine Jiang, Angie Zuo, Jennifer Huang, Cindy Lin and Julie Ta. The size of the audience is a testament to the quality of the event.
Another great team – Ryan Phong, Giselle Melendez-Cruz, Jennifer, Cindy and Julie – put together a new impactful program called the P3 Strategy Series. It precedes the Sunstone Stage Connects series every other Friday.
We’ve already brought in some great experts in areas of P3 strategy, including Ross Zelen, the chief state government consultant for Climate Change Policies; Pat West and Jeff Fullerton, who led the effort to build the Long Beach Civic Center; and David Coffaro, the President and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce.
I’m looking forward to more great programs in these series as we go into the third quarter of the year.
Fellows And Interns
For the past six months, we have had three great fellows in the third year of our fellowship program. Giselle Melendez-Cruz worked with Sunstone Cities, Julie Ta became a marketing and communications whiz and Iris Zhang worked with the Sunstone Investors team.
As part of the Fellow Project, the trio worked to enhance the Startup resources section of the Sunstone website, and updated the portfolio companies on the site to better highlight new state and private-sector resources.
As the fellowships ended on June 30, Giselle and Julie transitioned into part-time positions here. I’m grateful for their continued loyalty.
A trio of summer interns came aboard in mid-June to beef up staffing for Sunstone Cities. Amanda Liu is attending USC Marshall and will focus on P3 partners and operations support. Andre Wilkes, also from USC Marshall, is working on PIFS (Public Infrastructure Financing Solutions). Christopher Reyes-Miranda is a Cal State Long Beach student and is helping with economic development consulting as well as PIFS.
As you can see, we are well prepared to start the second half of 2025, both in people and with initiatives. I can’t wait!
Thank you, and remember, always be a Sunstone!
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
©Sunstone Management, Inc. 2025