Indiana’s Connie Lawson will lead the National Association of Secretaries of State for the next year.

The Hoosier Secretary of State was officially installed as president Monday as the group wrapped up its annual conference, held this weekend in Indianapolis.

Lawson says her new role in the organization is an extension of her commitment to Hoosiers.

“I mean, it’s important, obviously, for Indiana to have a seat at the table. If you don’t have a seat, you don’t have a voice, so it’s important for us to have that voice on the commission,” Lawson says.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch joined the conference at the Statehouse to celebrate Lawson’s work in state government.

“She believes that government should be taken to the people, and people shouldn’t have to be taken to their government,” Crouch says. “It has been a pleasure to host you, it’s even more of a pleasure and even more of an honor to be here for Connie and call her a friend.”

Lawson, a Republican, replaces Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill, a Democrat.