M P R B News Release: Park Board Commissioners Appoint Interim Superintendent; Select Search Firm
The following MPRB news release was disseminated on March 18, 2010:
MPRB NEWS RELEASE: PARK BOARD COMMISSIONERS APPOINT INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT; SELECT SEARCH FIRM
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners has moved ahead on its search for a new superintendent. The Board appointed an interim superintendent and selected a search firm at its March 17 regular meeting.
The Board approved an agreement with David L. Fisher to serve as the interim superintendent from July 1, 2010, to Oct. 31, 2010. Fisher’s contract takes the MPRB through the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Congress and Exposition being held in Minneapolis Oct. 25-29. The MPRB has a host role in the event, which is the largest exposition in the park and recreation industry, and is expected to draw between 4,000-6,000 attendees from around the country.
About David Fisher
Fisher is no stranger to the Minneapolis park system. He spent more than 30 years with the MPRB, including serving as superintendent from 1981-99. He also worked as Assistant Superintendent for Operations (1977-81), Director of Park Operations (1974-77) and Park Operations Planner (1970-74).
His notable accomplishments at MPRB included partnering with the Walker Art Center and University of Minnesota on the development of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden; inaugurating the first urban National Scenic Byway, the Grand Rounds; leading concept and collaboration efforts for Neiman Sports Complex; and completing the development of the neighborhood park system concept that guaranteed that no resident would live more than six blocks from one of the city's parks. As superintendent, Fisher hosted the last NRPA Congress held in Minneapolis in 1994.
From 2001-2010, Fisher served as executive director of the Great Rivers Greenway District in St. Louis, Mo.
Search Firm Selected
By unanimous vote, the MPRB Commissioners selected Waters-Oldani Executive Recruitment, Dallas, TX, to conduct the search for a superintendent. The other finalists were Alliance Resource Consulting LLC, Long Beach, CA, and Ralph Andersen & Associates, Rocklin, CA.
Waters-Oldani has over 30 years of experience nationwide in executive recruitment for private, non-profit and public organizations, in addition to other units of government.
Waters-Oldani’s tasks in the search process encompass developing the candidate profile through interviews with the Board and public input sessions. Waters-Oldani will also screen candidates, conduct initial interviews and test semi-finalists.
More information on the search process can be found at minneapolisparks.org – 2010 Superintendent Search.