Welcome back to the Sunstone Way.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and boy, have we been having fun!
I could talk about the two amazing trips I’ve experienced in the last few weeks, one to New York City and the other to Japan. I think the thing I’ll remember the most is the time with my traveling companions on both trips – some of the most dedicated, brilliant supporters of the California community you could ask for – who inspired and energized me.
Or I could talk about the tech weeks we’ve experienced over the last six weeks in Southern California, where innovation and entrepreneurship shined the light on the future of our communities. It’s been an honor to watch the Sunstone team advance the discussion at Glendale, Long Beach and all over Los Angeles.
Or we could reminisce about the Moon (Cake) Festival last week and look forward to the Halloween festivities on the horizon.
But what really amazes me is how quickly 2025 has flown by. Do you realize that we’re into the fourth quarter of the year already?
Fast Start
Sunstone Management started 2025 – the Year of the Snake – with plans to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We’ve been involved with nurturing startups from the beginning, so we know the odds of surviving in business for 10 years (not great). We’re proud to have made it.
But we weren’t resting on our laurels. Snakes are renowned for their ability to shed their skin, a powerful metaphor for transformation and renewal. Sunstone’s transformation, begun in 2024, took hold in 2025 with the Sunstone Cities brand finding traction with four consulting contracts and invitations for more discussions even as the Sunstone Investors continued to serve customers and grow as a diversified private capital firm.
Along with the rise of Sunstone Cities came the emphasis on Public-Private Partnerships – P3 for short. This expertise in facilitating partnerships for the good of the community has been our secret sauce since the beginning. The emphasis on P3 – and on community – has been intentional this year.
Focus on Partners
Thanks to the new P3 Strategy Series and the Sunstone Connects series, we have seen many of our partners from government agencies, subject experts and business founders in person this year at the Sunstone headquarters presentation area. These events both delivered great information and cemented bonds in our community of entrepreneurship.
That’s important to me, because my personal focus in 2025 has been to help and strengthen the many communities Sunstone is proud to participate in. That includes the efforts to create more energy in climate-conscious ways, support the Space Beach and aeronautic innovations day after day, push the supply chain modernization so critical to goods movement and so much more.
The Sunstone Way is defined by our Core Values – Investment, Entrepreneurship and Community. All are very important. The goal is to create a better community for us all.
Fourth Quarter
With football in full swing – USC at Notre Dame this Saturday! – pretty much the whole world knows what the fourth quarter means, right? Crunch time. Finish strong. When the tough get going.
All those meanings and more apply to business too. We want to finish 2025 strong, and we are tough enough to get it done during crunch time.
We have the partners to make that happen. We are the partners to make that happen for you.
It takes a team to win the fourth quarter in football, and in life. Thank you for being a part of our team. Because that’s the Sunstone Way.
And remember to always be a Sunstone!
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone Management, Inc.
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©Sunstone Management, Inc. 2025