About Me

Hi! I’m DawnMarie Vihrachoff, but you can call me DMV—my nickname and my initials! I’m a passionate, energetic problem-solver who loves brainstorming and building community. Along with my family—husband Dan, daughter Mari, and our sweet old dog Sofie—I’ve called Hastings home for nearly 20 years. I love our Rivertown and am committed to making it a great place to live, work, raise a family, and retire. One of my favorite things about Hastings is the way neighbors help neighbors.

I’m the oldest of four kids, raised by a single mom who worked as a waitress while earning her journalism degree. Growing up in New York and Florida, I had a front-row seat to the local news my mom wrote about – like the school board that ignored radon contamination and the city cemetery that only provided upkeep to the graves of white people.  My mom’s work ethic and her teaching us to always stand up for what was right had a huge impact on me and my siblings. Through my mother’s work I learned that the people who show up care the most, and that good government exists to help people and improve communities.

DawnMarie, Dan and Mari

DawnMarie with her mom, Karen (at her college graduation ceremony), and siblings Nick, Kim, and Chris. 

I worked for the Florida Legislature for years before moving to Minnesota, where I’ve spent my career strengthening and growing nonprofits so they can do more good in the world. Currently, I serve as a Vice President for Fund Development—a fancy way of saying I’m in charge of grant writing, donor relations, communications, and finding creative ways to meet the needs of a senior living community. I’m a dedicated volunteer, swim-and-dive team mom, Board of Directors chair, fundraiser, Catholic, and avid reader. I live in Cowtown, love the color pink (check out my lawn signs), and have a weakness for anything chocolate. Ensuring Hastings has clean water is something that keeps me up at night. I believe in the power of community and that we all do better when we all do better.

Fun DMV Fact: I’m an aunt to 13 nieces and one very quiet nephew.