Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has appointed MargueriteSalazar as the state's next insurance commissioner, effective Aug.19.

Salazar will take over the role from Doug Dean, who has beenserving as interim commissioner since July 8, when formerCommissioner Jim Riesberg resigned the position.

Salazar most recently worked for the U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services, where she was responsible for theimplementation of the Affordable Care Act through the six-stateRocky Mountain Region.

As commissioner, she will focus on the operation of Connect forHealth Colorado, the state's new health-insurance Marketplace, andwill continue to oversee other aspects of healthcare-reformimplementation.

But Salazar acknowledges that she will have to address propertyand casualty issues in addition to healthcare reform. “While we areworking diligently to get the Marketplace set up, we as Coloradanshave experienced the highest loss of property including hundreds ofhomes due to wildfires,” Salazar says in a statement. “The Officeof the Insurance Commissioner has to address the fact that manyhomeowners were without adequate insurance and I plan to addressthat issue immediately.”

Salazar began her career as a mental health therapist and laterserved more than 20 years as the president and CEO of Valley-WideHealth Systems in Alamosa, Colo.

Hickenlooper says, “Marguerite Salazar's deep roots in Coloradoand small-business acumen will serve her well in this newrole.”