Tara Barney, Quad Cities Chamber

Posted by Chris Lunardi 
 

Tara Barney is CEO of the newly merged Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.  She was the President/CEO of DavenportOne, a 1,200 member organization encompassing the Chamber of Commerce for Davenport, Iowa, as well as serving as an economic development and downtown redevelopment entity for Davenport.  She supervises a staff of 23 and reports to a 37 member Board of Directors comprised of CEO's representing all sectors of business. 

 

In her previous position as Senior Vice President, Downtown Partnership, Tara led the downtown Davenport revitalization and development initiatives from August 2002 to February 2007. The Downtown Partnership is responsible for administration of the Downtown BID and for the judicious use of the voluntarily levied real estate tax increment within the district.  Highlights of her tenure include:

  • Development of the River Music Experience
  • Development of Downtown Davenport's new residential neighborhood
  • Development of the Market District plans
  • Development of Downtown Davenport Culture and Entertainment District, bringing many creative businesses to downtown Davenport
  • Assistance to various Davenport commercial areas with redevelopment strategies
  • Development of new office space in downtown
  • RiverVision, the regional bi-state plan for the Mississippi River relationship with the downtown

Tara received her B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University in 1974, and her MPA from Ohio State University in 1976.  She was the recipient of the School of Business Administration Pace Setter Award in 1976.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Figge Art Museum and is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, International Downtown Association, and the International Downtown Association.