Executive Director
karol@freedomfestival.com

Born and raised in Iowa, Karol moved to the Cedar Rapids area in 2003. With a background in radio and broadcasting, she worked for KZIA most recently as Promotions Director where she found her love of our community and special events. Stepping into the Events & Marketing Director role in January 2020 just weeks before the COVID pandemic forced the festival to cancel—the only full cancelation in festival’s history. Now Executive Director, Karol loves to see the community come together and create memories each June/July. Karol lives in Marion with her husband Brent, son’s Easton and Dawson and beagle-boxer mix Rey.

Marketing Assistant
emmaridder5@gmail.com

Emma was born and raised in the Cedar Rapids area and started attending Freedom Festival events at a young age. Emma graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2022. During her time in college, she found a passion for anything related to events and small businesses. Following her junior year at UNI, Emma interned for the Freedom Festival and loved being a part of the behind the scenes work that goes into producing the events she remembers going to as a kid. Emma, now serves as a Marketing Assistant and is excited for her fourth festival with the Freedom Festival team. Emma and her husband, Kelvin, live in Iowa City.

Marketing Assistant brunscheen.emily@gmail.com

Emily was born and raised in Cedar Rapids and has a passion for community, events, and nonprofits. Emily graduated from the University of Iowa in 2023 with a degree in Marketing and Event Management. While in college she interned for the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival and fell in love with the community and mission it brings to Cedar Rapids. As an intern, that worked on all events of the festival, she found her favorite events being DockDogs, Balloon Glow, and our Celebration of Freedom on July 4th! Emily now serves as WHAT AM I and is looking forward to her third year with the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival!