Jo Ann Kauffman, MPH, company founder and president, established Kauffman & Associates, Inc. (KAI) in 1990 to provide government relations services for Native American organizations and tribes. Later, the company shifted its focus to management and professional services for regional, state, tribal, and federal governments; foundations, national associations, and private-sector businesses. Today KAI employs nearly 80 talented and diverse professionals and maintains service lines in communications, training and technical assistance, meeting and event planning, research and evaluation, web and database development, peer review support, and management support.

KAI has offices in Spokane, WA and Silver Spring, MD with additional employees stationed in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, and Oregon. It also maintains a nationwide network of expert consultants to offer clients a tailored approach, matching staff skills and resources to client needs. The company is proud to be recognized as one of the nation's most successful American Indian-owned small businesses.