Founders

John Shen and Stella Zhang helped form the A Perfect Love charity foundation in 2019. That foundation provides financial support to American families with financial difficulties after adopting Chinese children with disabilities. Then in 2022, they launched the Sunstone Community Fund with significant personal donations. 

John Shen founded American Lending Center, LLC in June 2009. As a passionate small business advocate, John spearheaded the effort of the organization to build a successful lending practice primarily based on the SBA 504 program. He also integrated the EB-5 immigration investment program with the ALC operation. John obtained his master’s degree from Duke University in 2006 and his undergraduate degree from the Law School of Peking University in 1992. He launched diversified private capital firm Sunstone Management, Inc., in 2015 in Long Beach, and served as an Economic Development Commissioner there. He also co-founded the first ever Long Beach Accelerator™ to support tech startups. 

In October 2017, John received the Coleman Report’s “SBA 504 Lender of the Year Award” for his outstanding leadership and contributions to small business community. 

Stella Zhang was born and raised in China and obtained her MBA from the University of California, Irvine. Stella has over 15 years of experience in the immigration services. Since 2011, Stella has been the Chief Operating Officer of Regional Centers Holding Group and has led the company through rapid growth and success.  Stella has taken primary responsibility in managing and coordinating the development and implementation of many SBA projects in the U.S. She is also one of the cofounders of Sunstone Management. In 2017, Stella won the Coleman Emerging Leader Award from prestigious media outlet, the Coleman Report. In 2021, she made a significant commitment to support the New Venture Competition for startup entrepreneurs at her alma mater, UCI, and the school renamed the event the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition.