Irvine, CA – (March 17, 2026)
The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine today announced the launch of the American Lending Center and Sunstone Private Business Initiative, a multi-year effort to strengthen the long-term success of privately held firms across Southern California and beyond. The initiative is made possible through a founding partnership commitment from American Lending Center (ALC) and Sunstone, with funding commitment.
The only initiative of its kind on the West Coast housed within a business school, the American Lending Center and Sunstone Private Business Initiative brings together Merage School faculty expertise, graduate student talent, and industry partnerships to address the distinct challenges facing private businesses. The initiative will operate across three core areas: thought leadership, including an executive event series on the most pressing issues in private business; organizational capacity building, through faculty-guided student consulting and capstone projects; and leadership development, delivered via bespoke non-degree programs designed for executives at privately held firms.
“Privately held businesses are the backbone of regional economies, yet they’ve been underserved by academic institutions,” said Ian O. Williamson, Ph.D., Dean of the Paul Merage School of Business. “This initiative changes that. Thanks to the visionary support of American Lending Center and Sunstone, we are building a dedicated platform that will connect the intellectual resources of the Merage School directly to the needs of private business leaders. We are proud to launch this in partnership with organizations that share our commitment to the Southern California business community.”
The initiative will launch publicly with the Future of Private Business event on May 6, 2026, a high-profile thought leadership gathering featuring a panel of senior private business leaders moderated by Dean Williamson. The event will include a VIP reception and a broader panel discussion open to founders, CEOs, and C-suite executives from firms ranging from $10 million to $1 billion in revenue. Additional events and programming are planned across the full five-year platform.
“Private businesses are the engines of job creation and community investment, and they deserve a dedicated resource that meets them where they are,” said Stella Zhang, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Stella and John Foundation and Chief Operating Officer at American Lending Center. “The Merage School has built something exceptional here. This initiative will give private business leaders access to world-class faculty, talented students, and a peer network that can genuinely move the needle. We are honored to help bring it to life.”
“Sunstone was built on the belief that strategic support and access to capital can unlock the potential of great businesses,” said John Shen, founder of Sunstone and Secretary of the Stella and John Foundation. “Partnering with UC Irvine and the Merage School allows us to extend that mission in a meaningful way. Together, we can help the private businesses that define this region grow stronger, lead better, and plan smarter.”
The initiative draws on a deep bench of Merage School faculty experts spanning corporate governance, strategic management, private equity and debt, technology strategy, supply chain, leadership development, and economic impact analysis. Through student consulting engagements and capstone projects, private businesses will gain direct access to top graduate talent guided by faculty researchers.
About the Future of Private Business Event
The inaugural Future of Private Business will take place on May 6, 2025, at the Paul Merage School of Business in Irvine, California. The evening will include a pre-event VIP reception followed by a moderated panel discussion with senior private business leaders. Registration is now open. For more information, contact sharon.nakamura@uci.edu.
About American Lending Center & Sunstone
American Lending Center (ALC) is a mission-driven financial services organization focused on supporting economic development and expanding access to capital for small businesses. ALC works with businesses across the United States, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Sunstone Investment Group (“Sunstone”), headquartered in southern California, is the holding company for the Sunstone family of entities, including: Sunstone Investment Management Services, responsible for administrative services; Sunstone Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser, which oversees Sunstone Venture Partners LLC, a private capital fund manager; Sunstone Cities, a government economic development consulting firm; and Sunstone Community Fund, a charitable organization that supports entrepreneurship. Sunstone is dedicated to enriching lives through investment, entrepreneurship, and community.
Email us at contact@sunstoneinvestment.com. Both organizations have been active partners in supporting small business growth and economic development in the region.
About The Paul Merage School of Business
The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked, world-class business school committed to developing leaders for a digitally driven world. Located in the heart of Orange County, the School offers unparalleled access to a thriving business ecosystem. Through innovative teaching, an AI-infused curriculum, industry engagement, experiential learning, and career-focused support, the School prepares students from all backgrounds to thrive.
