She spent the last five years as Executive Director of the MercyOne Dubuque Foundation, raising money for a new cancer center.
"I have truly enjoyed what I've done here at MercyOne Dubuque and have enjoyed the relationships and connectivity. But I was really looking to take that next step in my career and get back involved in community development and this seemed like a great opportunity to be able to do that."
After graduating from Loras College, Hafkemeyer went to work for the Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau. As its director she led fundraising efforts for the Dubuque Riverfront Re-development Project.
"So that included the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the Grand River Convention Center, the Grand Harbor Hotel, and the Mississippi Riverwalk and amenities. And that was the 188 million dollars that really transformed the downtown Dubuque area and really leveraged another half-billion dollars in investment by the private sector as a result."
She also spent nearly ten years leading communication and marketing efforts for Loras College.
At the Quad Cities Community Foundation, she'll succeed Interim President and CEO Randy Moore. He replaced Sherry Ristau who resigned last summer.