Contact Info:
Deanna Laureto: (313) 636-DINK (3465)  ext. 40001

Deanna Laureto is an entrepreneur, community builder, and lifelong athlete whose passion for pickleball led her to bring the Dill Dinkers brand to Michigan. She is also a seasoned pharmaceutical marketing leader with over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and brand strategy, bringing a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational discipline, and people-first leadership to her entrepreneurial ventures.

Deanna holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, with concentrations in Finance and Economics, and an MBA in Management and Marketing from Wayne State University. Her professional career spans leadership roles across the pharmaceutical industry, where she has helped build and launch brands, translate insights into strategy, and drive growth in highly complex and competitive markets.

Deanna and her husband, Grant, began their business journey in 2016 through local real estate investments, building a foundation rooted in long-term vision, teamwork, and shared values. As their desire to create something meaningful together grew, they sought a business that would not only thrive financially but also strengthen community and promote healthy, active lifestyles for families of all ages.

In 2024, Deanna discovered pickleball and quickly fell in love with the sport’s accessibility, competitiveness, and social connection. As her passion for the game grew, so did her desire for more opportunities to play and connect with the pickleball community. In early 2025, a series of events led Deanna and Grant to explore Dill Dinkers. While vacationing in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, a hurricane unexpectedly redirected them to a Dill Dinkers location in Satellite Beach—a moment that made it instantly clear this was the right brand, business model, and community-driven opportunity to bring to Michigan.

Deanna is dedicated to creating welcoming, high-quality pickleball spaces that promote connection, competition, and community. She is passionate about building an environment where beginners feel comfortable, experienced players feel challenged, and families can spend time together around a sport that truly brings people together.

Deanna resides in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, with her husband, Grant, their three children, and their three dogs. Outside of her entrepreneurial work, she enjoys traveling with her family, spending time at their lake house, playing and watching sports, and volunteering with a local animal shelter. Above all, she is driven by the opportunity to build something lasting—for her family and for the pickleball community she proudly serves.

“Pickleball has a unique way of bringing people together—across generations, skill levels, and backgrounds. Bringing the Dill Dinkers vision to the Detroit area isn’t just about building courts; it’s about creating a place where community, connection, and an active lifestyle come together. I’m passionate about building something that families, friends, and players of all levels can truly call home.”