Who We Are
John Keisler
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner
John P. Keisler is an experienced economic development leader with a proven track
record in both the public and private sectors. As CEO and Managing Member of Sunstone Cities,
he leads efforts to advance inclusive economic growth through strategic investment, public-private partnerships, and entrepreneurial ecosystem development. With more than two decades
of public service, including his tenure as Economic Development Director for the City of Long
Beach, John played a key role in driving private investment, launching the city’s first Economic
Development Blueprint, and establishing the Economic Development Commission. He also
founded the Long Beach Economic Partnership to support research, marketing, and business
attraction initiatives, and helped create the Long Beach Accelerator through a collaborative public private-education model. His leadership has secured federal workforce grants, developed
innovation districts such as Space Beach, and advanced major infrastructure projects including the
revitalization of the historic Queen Mary. Through Sunstone, John continues to support cities in
designing forward-looking strategies that promote sustainable economic development and job
creation.
Jayro Sandoval
Economic Development Manager & Managing Partner
Jayro Sandoval has led and advised public and nonprofit initiatives focused on racial
justice, arts equity, and economic inclusion across Southern California. As a Commissioner on the
City of Long Beach Economic Development Commission, Jayro has played a key role in shaping
policy recommendations that center small businesses and historically underserved communities.
He has also served in leadership roles for organizations including the Arts Council for Long Beach
and the Long Beach Economic Partnership, where he advanced strategies to close equity gaps in
access to public funding, creative spaces, and workforce development. His background supporting
restorative justice-focused nonprofits and BIPOC-led organizations brings valuable perspective to
the narrative approach Sunstone will take in supporting CCEJ.
Ryan Phong
Project Manager & Partner
Ryan cultivates partnerships with local governments to manage consulting projects that advance economic development, infrastructure planning, and public-sector initiatives. He ensures timely execution of project milestones while delivering strategic guidance and proactive communication. His work includes developing research reports, policy memos, and presentations that provide actionable insights to public agencies. He supports communities in securing funding for critical infrastructure through clean energy retrofits, government grants and loans, and public-private partnership financing solutions. With a focus on creating impact through cross-sector collaboration, he is also the program advisor for the annual USC Economic Development Challenge, where he manages relationships with client cities, mentors graduate student teams, and organizes final pitch events to showcase innovative economic development strategies.
Jennifer Huang
Marketing & Communications Manager
Jennifer Huang has over a decade of experience managing culturally responsive communications for nonprofits and public agencies. Prior to joining Sunstone Cities, Jennifer led marketing and public relations campaigns for immigrant-serving and multilingual organizations across Southern California, where she oversaw equity-centered messaging into Mandarin for community publications and advocacy campaigns. While at Sunstone Cities, Jennifer has led inclusive rebranding efforts and narrative campaigns highlighting the lived experiences of the underrepresented members of the community. She directed two 5k runs for a not-for-profit, drawing over 500+ participants annually and raising more than $100,000 benefiting underserved founders. She was a member of the launch committee for Irvine Tech Week in 2023 and 2024 showcasing the thriving ecosystem of Irvine through events such as Techstars’ Startup Weekend, empowering youths to develop and pitch startup ideas in a more equitable and just setting. Jennifer was a founding member of the Long Beach Accelerator, the city’s first public-private accelerator empowering early-stage tech startups in Long Beach and is currently on the launch committee for the inaugural Long Beach Tech Week for aspiring entrepreneurs. Her work has included storytelling that centers social equity and inclusive entrepreneurship. Jennifer approaches every engagement with a culturally competent lens, ensuring that communications are not only technically accurate, but emotionally resonant and community grounded.
Harry Saltzgaver
Managing Editor
With over 45 years of experience as a journalist, editor, and civic advocate, Harry
Saltzgaver has long used storytelling to illuminate issues of justice, reconciliation, and community
resilience. During his tenure as Executive Editor of the Grunion Gazette, Harry published in-depth
coverage of restorative justice programs, youth leadership initiatives, and interfaith healing efforts
across Long Beach and Los Angeles County. His widely read editorial column, A Pinch of Salt, often
addressed issues of systemic injustice, civic responsibility, and intergenerational advocacy. At
Sunstone Cities, Harry continues to support justice-focused organizations by writing feature
stories, public narratives, and op-eds that capture the voices of those often left out of traditional
media coverage.
Giselle Melendez Cruz
Research & Management Analyst
Giselle Melendez-Cruz has served as an Operations Coordinator at Haven Neighborhood Services, where she managed nonprofit operations, coordinated key projects, and supported economic stability initiatives for marginalized communities across Los Angeles County. She has also led community outreach, developed housing workshops, and connected residents to resources in collaboration with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, as Housing Access and Anti-Displacement Coordinator with the Watts Rising Collaborative.
Her work directly impacted over 50 households by providing housing counseling, financial literacy, and eviction defense resources. With a strong commitment to economic and community development, Giselle is dedicated to improving the well-being of underserved communities like her own by promoting access to housing, financial empowerment, and sustainable economic growth. She believes that enhancing the economic quality of life for vulnerable populations is a collective social responsibility that can be achieved through strategic, high-quality services and by maximizing public-private partnerships to advance economic development efforts that create sustainable benefits for communities.
Julie Ta
Marketing Associate
With a diverse background in social media management, marketing, website design, content creation, and event planning, Julie has cultivated a well-rounded skill set in the marketing field. Focused on leveraging creativity to create meaningful change, Julie is passionate about using innovative marketing strategies to drive community impact and is eager to continue growing within the industry. At Sunstone Cities, she excels at elevating the firm’s presence across platforms by highlighting key projects and initiatives, helping cities and partner organizations discover the work being done to advance economic development.
