Melissa Koenigsberg, currently serving as finance director for Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, has been named chief financial officer and finance director of the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee.

She was named by executive committee members including Gov. Bill Ritter; U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado; Congresswoman Diana DeGette, D-Denver; Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper; Denver City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, and Steve Farber, a partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck.

Wedgeworth, president of the Host Committee, said in a release, "We are very fortunate to have an individual of Melissa's caliber and experience for this historic event in our city."

In her role as CFO, Koenigsberg will implement and manage a plan to raise $40 million in cash necessary to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"Fundraising is our number one priority and Melissa's qualifications make her the ideal candidate to lead the Host Committee in our efforts to raise the funds necessary to host a great Convention," Farber stated. "I couldn't be more pleased that Melissa has agreed to join our team for this exciting endeavor."

Previous to working for Gov. O’Malley, Koenigsberg served as finance director for Sen. Salazar and as southeast regional finance director for Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential bid.