Meet the CEO – Larry Barabino, Jr.

Following a unanimous vote from the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission on December 4, 2018, Larry Barabino, Jr. accepted the offer to become NORD’s next Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that he served as the Section 3 / MDBE Program Coordinator for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) in which he ensured that Section 3 Resident Owned Business Concerns, Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) were afforded fair and equal contracting opportunities on HANO construction and non-construction projects. He also managed HANO’s DBE/WBE and Section 3 Business registration process and database. In this role, he was responsible for the revision of HANO’s Employment, Training and Contracting (ETC) Policy which received National Recognition from the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Larry Barabino, Jr.’s appointment in 2018 would be his second time leading NORD. Prior to being employed with HANO, Barabino, Jr. worked as the Director of the agency under Mayor C. Ray Nagin beginning the summer of 2006; not long after the nation’s largest and costliest natural and manmade disaster which damaged or destroyed 90% of NORD’s facilities. His initial role was to stabilize and jump-start the rebuilding of the department with FEMA estimated total damages of $63 million dollars, a staff reduced from 264 to 16 employees, and an annual operating budget of $87,000.00 to restore programs and facilities in over 165 parks, playgrounds, community centers, pools, stadiums and play spots. Barabino, Jr. forged ahead and launched an unprecedented public and private campaign to restore recreational services for the city’s youth and families. He left NORD in 2009 to pursue consulting and professional opportunities within the City of New Orleans.

Prior to directing NORD in 2006, Barabino, Jr. managed NORD’s St. Bernard Multi-Purpose Community Center, served in Bridging the Gap Mental Health Agency as a Mental Health Specialist, aiding in developing growth- inducing activities for adolescents and adults with psychological concerns.  As Senior Program Coordinator in Tulane University’s National Center for the Urban Community Welfare to Work Program Initiative, Barabino, Jr. successfully executed a strategic plan to engage and motivate local employers, and as a Senior Program Coordinator for Job1 Youth Career Center he continued to inspire individual job seekers and provide them with the necessary tools to secure employment.

Larry Barabino, Jr. is an elected and active Board Member of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Inc. of New Orleans, LA. He is also a member of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Louisiana, Eureka Consistory #7 - 33o Mason, AEAONMS Platta Temple #15 – Shriners, and past Master of New Tuscan Lodge #5. He is an active member of St. Raymond / St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and resides in New Orleans with his wife and their two beautiful children.