Where Are They Now? Mitch Jelniker

Behind every trusted face on television lies a story, and for longtime CBS Denver7 anchor Mitch Jelniker, that story begins in the hallways of Niwot High School.

Though born in Oklahoma, Jelniker considers himself nearly a Colorado native, having moved to the state when he was just a few months old. His father, an aerospace engineer, moved the family several times during Jelniker's childhood - from Colorado Springs to Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, before finally settling back in Colorado in December 1976.

"When I got to Niwot, it felt new, it was beautiful," Jelniker recalls of his high school days. He spent 10th grade in Virginia before transferring to Niwot High School, where he would graduate with the class of 1978.

The open spaces and mountain views from every window made an impression on the young student. "It was so quaint and nice and modern," he says. "You felt like you knew everybody in high school."

Jelniker's fond memories of Niwot High include its welcoming atmosphere and dedicated teaching staff. "We were the underdogs, we were the little guys, and there was something fun about that," he said.

Jelniker, as a student council member, approached the principal about organizing a homecoming parade for Niwot High, something other area schools already enjoyed. After securing a permit from the city of Longmont, he helped make the parade down Longmont's Main Street a reality.

His journey into broadcasting began at Niwot when teachers recognized his writing abilities and suggested he consider the Career Development Center in Longmont. There, Jelniker studied broadcasting and earned his radio operator license, a requirement at the time to be on the radio.

He became the program director for KCDC radio station in Longmont, a station owned by the St. Vrain Valley School District and run by students. This experience planted the seed for what would become a distinguished career in journalism.

After high school, Jelniker attended Colorado State University, where he studied broadcasting and journalism, graduating in 1982. His first job opportunity came from CNN, but before he could start, the position was eliminated in a round of layoffs. Undeterred, he secured an entry-level position at a CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City, where he spent the next 13 years.

While working in Oklahoma, Jelniker covered the devastating 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. His work caught the attention of other stations, including Denver7, who offered him a position. Though eager to return to Colorado, Jelniker felt a responsibility to the Oklahoma City community during the tragedy's aftermath and delayed his departure, a decision Denver7 respected.

He eventually made it to Denver in late summer 1995 as a weekend news anchor, beginning what would become a 23-year tenure with Denver7, KMGH-TV. Despite offers to work elsewhere, Jelniker chose to remain in Colorado, unwilling to uproot his family.

Today, Jelniker is Vice President of M&C Communications, a public relations firm, and works from his home in Highlands Ranch, helping clients tell their stories. Before this role, he produced Colorado history documentaries for Rocky Mountain PBS and worked with Food Bank of the Rockies on corporate relations.

Family remains central to Jelniker's life. Both his children are married with children of their own and live nearby, allowing him and his wife (his college sweetheart) to see their grandchildren regularly. In his spare time, he enjoys working out and paddle boarding. Jelniker maintains strong ties to the Longmont community, where his mother still resides.

Although his father was an aerospace engineer, when the family returned to Colorado, he bought into his cousin's construction company located on Boston Avenue, next door to what would become Left Hand Brewery. Today, the former construction company site has been transformed into Left Hand's beer garden, preserving the same address while creating a new purpose.

Looking back on his time in Niwot, Jelniker expressed nothing but pride. "I'm very proud of attending Niwot High," he says. "It was a great experience, and Niwot itself is a great little town."