A valve stem connector comprising: a first half and a second half secured to the first half, each of which includes a top section adapted to receive a portion of an actuator and a bottom section adapted to receive a portion of a valve stem; a pair of cut-away sections disposed in each top section of the first and second halves, each pair of cut-away sections having a first cut-away section disposed left of center of the first and second halves and a second cut-away section disposed right of center of the first and second halves; a third cut-away section disposed in each bottom section of the first and second halves; a pair of shear web installation sites disposed on each of the first and second halves, each pair of shear web installation sites comprising a first site disposed between the first and third cut-away sections and a second site disposed between the second and third cut-away sections; a force measurement device disposed in each shear web installation site of the first and second halves; and a first pair of holes disposed on the top sections of the each of the first and second halves and a second pair of holes disposed on the bottom sections of each of the first and second halves, each hole adapted to receive a fastener for securing the first half to the second half, the pair of cut-away sections disposed below the first pair of holes, wherein each shear web installation site has a shear strain measurable by the force measurement device and at least one of the first, second and third cut-away sections creates a bending beam near each shear web installation site to minimize deflection, and wherein each bending beam and each shear web installation site is disposed outside of the holes, allowing the first and second halves to be secured together without changing stress on the shear web installation sites. a first half and a second half secured to the first half, each of which includes a top section adapted to receive a portion of an actuator and a bottom section adapted to receive a portion of a valve stem; a pair of cut-away sections disposed in each top section of the first and second halves, each pair of cut-away sections having a first cut-away section disposed left of center of the first and second halves and a second cut-away section disposed right of center of the first and second halves; a third cut-away section disposed in each bottom section of the first and second halves; a pair of shear web installation sites disposed on each of the first and second halves, each pair of shear web installation sites comprising a first site disposed between the first and third cut-away sections and a second site disposed between the second and third cut-away sections; a force measurement device disposed in each shear web installation site of the first and second halves; and a first pair of holes disposed on the top sections of the each of the first and second halves and a second pair of holes disposed on the bottom sections of each of the first and second halves, each hole adapted to receive a fastener for securing the first half to the second half, the pair of cut-away sections disposed below the first pair of holes, wherein each shear web installation site has a shear strain measurable by the force measurement device and at least one of the first, second and third cut-away sections creates a bending beam near each shear web installation site to minimize deflection, and wherein each bending beam and each shear web installation site is disposed outside of the holes, allowing the first and second halves to be secured together without changing stress on the shear web installation sites.