Linda Barnes, Orchestra Iowa interim CEO

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The CEO of Geonetric will be the interim CEO of Orchestra Iowa while the orchestra’s board conducts a national search for a permanent CEO.

Linda Barnes will be filling in for Jeff Collier, the orchestra’s CEO of eight years, who resigned effective Aug. 31.

“We are thrilled to have Linda join us as Interim CEO,” says Lisa Rhatigan, chair of the Orchestra Iowa board. “She brings a wealth of experience managing teams. Her operations expertise will create an ideal scenario for our permanent CEO.”

Barnes joined Geonetric, a digital health care marketer in Cedar Rapids, in 2006 and became the company’s CEO in October 2016.

An Iowa native, Barnes has been involved with Orchestra Iowa for over a decade, as an audience member, donor, volunteer and board member. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from William Penn University, and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Barnes is a Lean Six Sigma green belt, a certified scrum master, and a Certified Agile Leader. She was a HER Woman of Achievement in 2019.

“I’m honored to serve as the interim CEO for Orchestra Iowa,” Barnes said in a news release. “Both of my sons participated in the Orchestra’s Symphony School for many years.

“I’m passionate about the role the orchestra plays in our communities, and I’m excited to give Orchestra Iowa a great start as it begins its second century.”