KEY TAKEAWAYS: NORD narrowed its CEO search to 10 semifinalists from a pool of 176 applicants. Semifinalist interviews are scheduled for Sept. 8-18. Finalist interviews are expected to be completed by Oct. 7. Finalists will participate in a public forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at New Orleans C ity Hall.   The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission has narrowed its search for a new CEO to 10 semifinalists after receiving 176 applications for the position. Interviews with the semifinalists are scheduled for Sept. 8-18, NORD announced. Finalist interviews are expected to take place by Oct. 7, followed by a public forum that evening at New Orleans City Hall. AMCorp International, the executive search firm selected by the NORD Foundation to assist with the search, conducted an initial screening of the applicants and identified the 10 semifinalists. “The 176 applications received have given the Commission a substantial pool of candidates to consider,” NORD Commission Chair Kyle Walker said. “As the search moves into the semifinalist interview phase, the Commission looks forward to continuing a thorough process to identify NORD’s next leader.” As part of the search process, AMCorp held listening sessions with community members and NORD employees and collected survey responses from residents, staff, commissioners, volunteers and NORD Foundation members. The firm also met with New Orleans City Council members and the mayor. Feedback gathered through that process was used to develop the position profile and criteria for evaluating applicants, according to NORD. Candidates were evaluated in several areas, including executive leadership, organizational management, facility operations, capital projects, financial management, recreation and youth programming, community engagement and public-sector governance. The review also considered candidates’ communication skills, experience working with diverse communities and ability to manage institutional relationships. Following the semifinalist interviews, NORD expects to conduct finalist interviews by Oct. 7. The finalists are also scheduled to participate in a public forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 in the City Hall Council Chambers. Candidates will deliver prepared remarks and respond to questions submitted by members of the community. NORD said additional information about the forum, including how residents can submit questions for the finalists, will be released later. ...read more read less