Kate Chapek started today as national women’s vote director for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, Roll Call has learned.

Chapek is spearheading an arm of the campaign’s Operation Vote, charged with engaging and mobilizing women voters. The program, designed to expand the electorate and maximize participation from crucial constituencies, drives the campaign’s strategy for utilizing paid media and other forms of outreach to communicate with and engage key demographic groups.

“Women will play a vital role this year in reelecting the President, and my experience having mobilized women voters in 20 states will be an asset in empowering and lending a voice to the women across the country who will be a part of this grassroots movement,” Chapek said in a statement.

Chapek, a Southern California native, has worked for the past year at the Baughman Company, a direct mail firm. She previously worked for the now-defunct MSHC Partners direct mail firm during the 2010 cycle, was at EMILY’s List for four years, recruiting and training women candidates, and served on Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Chapek replaces Heather Colburn, who left recently after several months in the job.