GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Colorado Oil and Gas Association's West Slope Chapter Thursday named David Ludlam as its new executive director.

Ludlam replaces former executive director and Mesa County Commissioner Kathy Hall, who had served WSCOGA since the groups' inception.

As executive director, Ludlam will be responsible for promoting and enhancing oil and natural gas production in the Piceance Basin.

In this role, Ludlam will represent the member companies throughout western Colorado who operate in or provide services to natural gas and oil production in the Piceance Basin.

“Ludlam brings the right mix of thoughtfulness and enthusiasm to our organization. We believe his deliberative and measured approach makes him the right person to represent our interests moving forward,” said WSCOGA President Kenneth G. Leis of Laramie Energy.

Prior to his new position, Ludlam worked as a public lands consultant in the energy and tourism sectors. Ludlam is a graduate of Mesa State College and resides with his wife and daughter in Grand Junction.

The Associated Press reports that COGA has named as its new president an executive from an environmental consulting and engineering firm. The trade group said Thursday that Tisha Conoly Schuller from Tetra Tech will succeed Meg Collins, who resigned in July.

Schuller was a vice president for regional operations at Tetra Tech and worked on environmental permitting for oil and natural gas projects across the country.

Schuller says she wants to focus on how the oil and gas industry can increase its contribution “to economic and energy solutions in Colorado."

The oil and gas group has been at the forefront of opposing stricter oil and gas regulations that took effect in April and is suing to try to overturn them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.