Freedom Festival Executive Director To Step Down After This Year’s Event

CEDAR RAPIDS — The annual Freedom Festival will have different leadership next summer. Executive director Robyn Rieckhoff will step down following this year’s festival after serving in the position since 2012.Carissa Johnson, the organization’s events and marketing director, will serve as the next executive director. Rieckhoff said she has been training Johnson for this role to ensure an easy transition.“I felt like I had someone in place that could handle it, and it was time to pass on the baton,” Rieckhoff said Tuesday.