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Please address all correspondence to: Hartford Business Journal, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103 Stay Connected For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to: www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln:www.linkedin.com/company/the-Hart- ford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend: www.hartfordbusiness.com/enewsletters Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is published bi-weekly, 27x per year — including two special issues in November and December — by New England Business Media, LLC, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at additional entry points. Peter Stanton | CEO, pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Tom Curtin | President, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com Roy its permanent CEO, effective imme- diately, following the abrupt departure of her predecessor last year. Roy had been leading the organiza- tion in an interim CEO capacity since September 2024. According to an announcement, Roy led the organization through a "period of significant change and strategic realignment." Roy has more than 10 years of experience with the arts council, during which time she has proven herself as a leader, community builder and advocate for the arts, according to the organization. "As interim CEO, she spearheaded deeper community partnerships and revitalized the organization's strategic focus, focusing on proj- ects such as the Art Star Mural and Hartford Theater Week," the organization said. Editorial Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139 gbordonaro@hartfordbusiness.com Drew Larson | Web Editor, ext. 121 alarson@hartfordbusiness.com Beat: Energy Michael Puffer | Staff Writer, ext. 145 mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Real Estate, Economic Development, Banking & Finance David Krechevsky | Staff Writer, ext. 702 davidk@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Health Care, Bioscience, State Legislature Harriet Jones | Staff Writer, ext. 145 hjones@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Manufacturing, Cannabis, Professional Services Michael Juliano | Staff Writer mjuliano@hartfordbusiness.com Beat: Fairfield County Stephanie R. Meagher | Research Director Heide Martin | Research Assistant Steve Laschever | Photographer Business Tom Curtin | Publisher, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com Jessica M. Quinn | Associate Publisher, ext. 137 jquinn@hartfordbusiness.com Emily Paskind | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 133, epaskind@hartfordbusiness.com Sadie Bride | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 141, sbride@hartfordbusiness.com Tracy Rodwill | Human Resources Manager trodwill@nebusinessmedia.com Production Bartosz Zinowko | Production Director, ext. 147 bzinowko@hartfordbusiness.com Events Kathryn Pelletier | Events Manager, ext. 136 kpelletier@hartfordbusiness.com A plan for the Pickleball Park development in Middletown. Contributed Photo the state." The city of Middletown is offering Leibenhaut a multi-year tax incen- tive to build the project. Major pickleball development planned in Middletown A developer has planned what may be the state's largest pickleball facility in Middletown. Lennie Leibenhaut is behind the more than $11 million plan to build Pickleball Park, which is slated to begin construction at 100 Centerpoint Road. The 87,000-square-foot facility will include 17 courts, a restaurant, clubhouse, mezzanine and meeting rooms. Leibenhaut has owned the land since 2006, and has been working on the pickle- ball plan for the last two years. Leibenhaut estimates that 950,000 people live within a 25-minute ride of the site. "The location is just perfect because it has visibility and frontage on I-91," Leibenhaut said. "It's easy access. It's the center of Stanley Black & Decker names new CEO S tanley Black & Decker announced that Donald Allan Jr., CEO of the New Britain-based tool- maker, will step down from the company he has led since July 2022. The board of directors selected Christopher Nelson, chief operating officer and executive vice president and president of the company's tools and outdoor business, to succeed Allan, effective Oct. 1. Nelson will join the board of directors as he takes on the role of CEO, the company said. Nelson, who joined Stanley Black & Decker in his current role in 2023, has more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, product devel- opment, innovation and growth transformation, the company said. Previously, Nelson was president of Carrier's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning segment. Before that, he held leadership roles with the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and McKinsey & Co. Allan, who has worked for Stanley Black & Decker for 26 years, will become executive chair of the board until he fully retires Oct. 1, 2026. Chris Nelson will take over as Stanley Black & Decker's CEO on Oct. 1. Contributed Photo Sturm, Ruger acquires Kentucky firearms manufacturer Fairfield-based Sturm, Ruger & Co. has acquired Anderson Manufacturing, a Hebron, Kentucky maker of firearms and firearm accessories, the company announced. Publicly traded Ruger said the "strategic purchase," which includes Anderson's manufac- turing facility and machinery, will allow it to work with a skilled and experienced workforce. Ander- son's factory is located in "a fire- arms-friendly region" and brings valuable expertise in making firearms and aftermarket parts and accessories, Ruger said. "Our plan is to integrate Anderson's capabilities and workforce into our broader operations, which include our existing manufacturing facilities in Newport, New Hampshire, Prescott, Arizona, Mayodan, North Carolina, and Earth City, Missouri," Ruger spokesman Rob Werkmeister told the Hartford Business Journal. "We plan to leverage this acqui- sition to increase production capacity and grow sales of existing product lines that are in demand, accelerate new product launches, and expand our accessories business." The deal's financial terms were not disclosed. Ruger last month also disclosed a workforce reduc- tion without specifying how many employees were affected. As of Feb. 1, the company employed approximately 1,780 full-time employees. Greater Hartford Arts Council names new CEO The Greater Hartford Arts Council has appointed Amanda Continued on next page Amanda Roy