A high-ranking leader at the state Department of Economic and Community Development has been picked to step into the shoes of outgoing Capital Region Development Authority Executive Director Michael Freimuth.
CRDA’s Board of Directors, on Thursday, announced that David Sinko Steuber, chief of staff and director of strategic initiatives for DECD, will take over CRDA’s leadership. He starts in the new role Oct. 31.
“As a lifelong resident of the capital region, it’s a real privilege to step into this role at an organization that’s as impactful, indispensable and well-respected as CRDA,” Steuber said at Thursday’s meeting.
Steuber said it is humbling to follow after a leader as well regarded as Freimuth, but noted it means he is taking up the role from a standpoint of strength.
Steuber is intimately familiar with Hartford and surrounding communities involved in the CRDA, having served two and a half years as chief of staff to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. Steuber also worked at Connecticut Innovations/CTNext. He spent 10 years on staff at the state legislature, where he was instrumental in designing the fiscal “guardrails” that helped transform the state’s finances from deficits to record surpluses.
Steuber holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Connecticut, the latter in business analytics and project management.
“Dave is a highly skilled public sector executive with over 15 years of experience, creating and executing complex strategies to promote economic development and improve communities at a city and state level,” said David Robinson, CRDA board chairman.
Robinson noted that “dozens and dozens” of candidates had been considered for the post, and at least 10 had been interviewed by the search committee.
Steuber begins his new role with a $275,000 annual salary. That, Robinson noted, was decided following a survey of comparable roles in Connecticut government.
Steuber’s appointment comes about a year after Freimuth announced his pending resignation. Freimuth has led the agency since its creation in 2012, building it into the most potent force for economic development inside the Capital City and the town of East Hartford.
Under his leadership, the agency provided low-interest gap financing and tax breaks that have led to the construction of about 3,500 apartment units in the region, overwhelmingly clustered in downtown Hartford.
Freimuth will remain with CRDA until the close of this year to aid the transition.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam praised Freimuth’s contributions during a recent ribbon-cutting at a nearly completed, $67 million, conversion of a century-old office complex at the edge of Bushnell Park into 160 apartments. The mayor said no one in government has had a greater impact on housing creation in the Capital City.
CRDA also oversees important regional entertainment and tourism assets, including Rentschler Field in East Hartford, as well as the Connecticut Convention Center and PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, along with parking facilities with about 17,000 spaces.
Under Freimuth’s leadership, the CRDA engineered an ongoing $145 million renovation of the PeoplesBank Arena, formerly known as the XL Center.
Widely respected among local and state political leaders, Freimuth managed to wrangle difficult budgets and political support for development. He leaves the 12-person agency with no immediate plans beyond taking a respite and spending quality time with family.
Arulampalam and others CRDA board members continued to heap praise upon the outgoing leader Thursday.
“There are few people I’ve met in my life who are so universally liked and respected and valued the way Mike is, certainly in the capital region, but really across the state and, frankly, across the country,” Robinson said.
Other members thanked Freimuth for his skilled navigation of the agency, his guidance in their decisions and even his trademark wry humor, which continued to be on display.
“I want affidavits to give to my wife from each of you,” Freimuth quipped following a string of compliments from the board. “But, honestly, I want to thank the board. It’s been a pleasure working with you guys and ladies over the last decade-plus. It’s been a learning experience every day. It’s been kind of melancholy to say goodbye but at the same time, one knows when its time to take on new worlds.”