The Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s oldest and broadest organization for professional journalists, has named its president for 2025-26, appointed three journalists to its board, and said thanks and farewell to three departing board members. 

Deb Hurley Brobst, who served as co-president of the chapter along with Doug Bell during the 2024-25 cycle, will serve as president in 2025-26. Bell remains on the board as immediate past president.

Beth Potter continues as chapter secretary, and Dennis Huspeni remains treasurer. Potter’s board term ends in 2026 and Huspeni serves until 2027. The chapter has not yet chosen a president-elect for 2026-27.

Joining the chapter board are Michael de Yoanna, managing editor of the Mountain West News Bureau; Thelma Grimes, deputy editor of Colorado Politics; and Michael Karlik, judicial reporter for Colorado Politics and The Denver Gazette. Their terms end in 2027. Learn more about them below.

Continuing board members, in addition to Bell, Brobst, Huspeni and Potter, are Marco Cummings, Mark Harden, Corey Hutchins, Kara Mason and Molly Miller. Cummings’ term ends in 2027; the others serve until 2026.

Those leaving the board are Fred Brown, Cara DeGette and Rhema Zlaten.

Click here to learn more about SPJ Colorado Pro board officers and members. 

And click here to learn how you can join SPJ and the Colorado chapter.

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New SPJ board members

Michael de Yoanna (term ends 2027)

Michael de Yoanna is managing editor of the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration among local public media newsrooms in seven states and NPR. He brings more than 25 years of journalism experience to the SPJ Colorado Pro Chapter. He has previously served as editor-in-chief of two dozen hyperlocal newspapers in the cities and towns that surround Denver (Colorado Community Media) and as news director for KUNC public radio in Northern Colorado. He also worked for many years as an investigative reporter and producer with regional news organizations (Colorado Public Radio, 7News, the Colorado Springs Independent and the Fort Collins Coloradoan) and as a freelancer for Reveal, CBS News programs, and 5280 magazine in Denver. He worked the military and veterans beat for many years and directed the independent documentary “Recovering” about troops healing war wounds through bicycling. He has received more than three dozen awards, including a duPont-Columbia silver baton, five regional and two national Edward R. Murrow awards and a national Sigma Delta Chi (SPJ) award for best investigation. 

Thelma Grimes (term ends 2027)

Thelma Grimes is a seasoned editor and journalist with 25 years of experience leading newsrooms, creating impactful content and fostering strong community connections through storytelling. Currently she is deputy editor of Colorado Politics, and before that she was south metro editor and reporter for Colorado Community Media. Previously she was an editor and reporter for news outlets in Southern Arizona. She has received multiple awards from SPJ, the Arizona Press Club and the Arizona Newspaper Association.

Michael Karlik (term ends 2027)

Michael Karlik is the judicial reporter for Colorado Politics and The Denver Gazette. He primarily covers the work of Colorado’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as the roughly three dozen federal judges for the U.S. District Court and 10th Circuit, which are headquartered in Denver. Prior to that, he produced the investigative podcast “Tear It Down” and was the host of “City Council Chronicles,” a lighthearted podcast about city council meetings worldwide. Michael lives in Denver and is the caretaker/hostage of a 26-year-old cockatoo named Phoebe.