Moniker Group, begun in East Village to support artists, has since branched out to Liberty Station and is now eyeing expansion outside San Diego.
The company’s founder/CEO, 40-year-old Ryan Sisson, has managed to turn his passion project into a multifaceted brand with more than a dozen blockbuster businesses. Those enterprises specialize in everything from interior design and custom-made furniture to co-working spaces, a cocktail bar and catering, coffee company, retail store, and a slew of unique event properties.
Part-business, part-dream factory, today Moniker Group encompasses four main subsidiaries: Moniker Hospitality, Moniker Events, Moniker Design and Moniker General. In total, eight companies and 10 brands.
Sisson explained why Moniker has been a successful business incubator. “Moniker has come to life basically through relationships,” he said. “It really is an expression of the people that are part of it. It has allowed us to have several different businesses all working under one set of missions and values, but doing lots of different things.”
Sisson added the idea behind Moniker was to “bring people together in public spaces,” which led to formation of the company’s headquarters in East Village before moving to Liberty Station.
Asked how Moniker businesses have been able to co-exist under one umbrella, Sisson answered: “The brand was intentionally ambiguous, even our logos, so it could be part of just about anything. It is fill in the blank, so we could say yes to anything.”
The entrepreneur discussed how Moniker’s businesses complement one another. “It’s like hands and feet, arms and fingers – all have their role,” he said adding they’ve designed spaces for individual businesses accordingly.
Concerning how Moniker could evolve in the future, Sisson replied, “We are currently looking actively to expand both in San Diego and outside of California, doing feasibility designs on opportunities. We believe that our company’s mission has value beyond San Diego.”
A local resident, Sisson and his family have roots here and intend to stay.
“My wife and I are raising our family in Point Loma,” he said adding, “It’s been fun to be able to create a business that has true daily impact and value for our neighborhood, gathering people together. We really are very intimately entwined with the neighborhood. It will be a home for us forever.”
RYAN SISSON
An entrepreneur, real estate investor and culture creator, Moniker Group founder/CEO Ryan Sisson has spent more than a decade building a brand out of the California lifestyle. He formed Moniker Group in 2010 through a sequence of serendipitous business opportunities.
Moniker Group stands as a testament to Sisson, who focuses on supporting extraordinary individuals and organizations to design and create, invest in others, pursue new ventures, and challenge the way people view the boundaries of business.
Sisson began his post-college career in real estate development with Corky McMillin Companies, gaining experience in land acquisition and site development. He later transitioned into digital marketing.
Overseeing daily operations, new projects, and brand partnerships for his collective, Sisson has served on the boards for Downtown San Diego Partnership, San Diego Chamber of Commerce Small Business Roundtable, San Diego Creative Foundation and Mosaic San Diego.
