Josephine M. Colacci of Golden, Colo., has been hired as the Financial Planning Association’s public policy counsel, the FPA announced.

Colacci joins FPA after spending the past six years as the director of government affairs for the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management in Chicago. Prior to that, she was manager of government affairs for the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses in Denver.

In her new role, Colacci will work with FPA Advocacy Director Karen Nystrom and will oversee the development and implementation of FPA’s public policies and advocacy strategies, specifically as it relates to current and proposed federal legislation and regulations that impact Certified Financial Planner professionals.

She will also serve as FPA’s primary liaison to the Financial Planning Coalition and to the FPA Advocacy Committee, which vets key issues and recommends organizational positions.

“Advocacy at the federal and state levels has become much more of a priority for FPA over the past few years and I am excited to add Josephine to the team,” says Lauren M. Schadle, FPA CEO and executive director. “Josephine’s standing as an attorney and as a seasoned government affairs leader will help FPA further advance one of our core objectives -- to be the voice of CFP professionals.”