# John Keisler

> John P. Keisler is CEO and Managing Partner of Sunstone Management, based in Long Beach, California. A former Teach For America teacher and Long Beach economic development director, he connects government, universities and private capital to support early-stage entrepreneurs. He also writes The Sunstone Way blog.

- **Role:** CEO & Managing Partner at Sunstone Management
- **Organizations:** Sunstone Management, Sunstone Investment Group, Sunstone Cities, City of Long Beach (former employer), Teach For America (former participant), League of California Cities (former employer), Patrick Henry Foundation (founding member)
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion, St. Olaf College, Master of Public Administration, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
- **Known for:** Led Long Beach’s first Innovation Team, supported by a three-year $3 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant., Long Beach Post 40 Under 40 honoree in 2016., Helped establish the Long Beach Accelerator partnership while serving in city government.

## Career timeline

- **After college** — After college, taught middle school literacy and civics in Newark through Teach For America; precise teaching dates are not established.
- **2003-2005** — Policy assistant for the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities.
- **2005** — Joined Long Beach as a management assistant, rotating through four departments.
- **2008** — Became Animal Care Services business manager, initially in an acting capacity.
- **2015** — Became the first director of Long Beach’s Bloomberg-funded Innovation Team.
- **2017** — Began serving as Long Beach economic development director.
- **2019** — Helped develop the Long Beach Accelerator partnership with Sunstone and CSULB.
- **2022** — Named Sunstone CEO on February 22; final day with the City was March 31.
- **2023** — Launched The Sunstone Way blog on March 9.
- **2026** — Described his involvement in planning the Irvine Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

## Achievements

- Led Long Beach’s first Innovation Team, supported by a three-year $3 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant.
- Long Beach Post 40 Under 40 honoree in 2016.
- Helped establish the Long Beach Accelerator partnership while serving in city government.
- Recipient of a Newark Public Schools Best Practices Award for a first-year teacher in 2001, according to a 2014 municipal management newsletter.
- Past president of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California, 2007-2008.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Published a post about Long Beach Tech Week, the Accelerator Tech Center and opportunities for founders to meet investors.
- **2026-09** — Outlined plans to reconnect with municipal colleagues at the League of California Cities conference and participate in economic development and climate gatherings.
- **2026-08** — Argued that solo founders using AI still need mentors, customers and human partners.
- **2026-07** — Reported Irvine council approval for a center he had helped plan with Sunstone Cities and public partners.

## Links

- Website: https://www.sunstoneinvestment.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpkeisler
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jpkeisler

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/john-keisler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09