The Colorado Democratic Party announced Tuesday that campaign and advocacy veteran Pilar Chapa has been hired as the party’s new executive director.

Chapa has most recently worked as the communications and outreach specialist for the Campaign for a Strong Colorado, an advocacy organization associated with ProgressNow Colorado. Before that, she was political outreach director for Democrat Andrew Romanoff’s 2014 congressional campaign challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman in the 6th Congressional District. She also managed Adams County Commissioner Chaz Tedesco’s campaign.

Chapa takes over for the party’s previous executive director, Anne Wilseck, who departed for a consulting gig in early November after nearly three years in the post.

“I’m excited to join the Colorado Democratic Party and get to work electing candidates who will improve the lives of our state’s 5.5 million residents,” Chapa said in a statement. “We are at an important moment in our nation’s history, and we need to turn this moment into a movement. We’re not just looking to the next election – we’re looking to strengthen the party for the long term so we can enact lasting change for hardworking Coloradans, and cement our brand as the party that’s fighting to help middle-class and working families across our state.”

State Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll made a similar point in a statement announcing Chapa’s hire.

“Pilar’s experience and dedication to the Democratic Party will be a valuable addition to our team as we gear up to win in 2018 and beyond,” Carroll said. “The Democratic Party isn’t just about one election, it’s about building a movement so that we can fight for the things that matter to middle-class and working families: a good job with good pay, affordable quality health care, an education that opens the door of opportunity, a secure retirement, and preserving our Colorado way of life. Pilar’s passion for her community and commitment to making the world a better place makes her the perfect person for this job.”