Seasoned Colorado politico Maria Handley will lead Conservation Colorado while the search continues for ta permanent executive director, the state’s largest and highest profile environmental organization tells Colorado Politics.

Most immediately, Handley was the executive director of Generation Latino, but she’s familiar in Colorado political circles after 15 years working on campaigns, including those for former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and for presidential candidate Howard Dean.

Pete Maysmith announced in September he was stepping down from Conservation Colorado to be the senior vice president of campaigns for the national League of Conservation Voters.

“Conservation Colorado helped achieve many important victories over the last several years, and we don’t want to lose momentum during this all-important year for Coloradans as the Trump administration attacks critical protections for our environment and public health,” said Diane Carman, who chairs the boards of Conservation Colorado and Conservation Colorado Education Fund.

The board also announced that Jace Woodrum will be the organization’s communications director, succeeding Jessica Goad, who is now Conservation Colorado’s deputy executive director

Woodrum has more than a decade in communications, working as a spokesman for the Gill Foundation and One Colorado.