Team

Dr. Joni Buffalohead is KAI’s Vice President of Behavioral Health Transformation. She possesses over two decades of experience in urban and tribal health care across Indian Country, including work in policy development, traditional practices, food and nutrition, and strengthening the boundaries of Native sovereignty on issues of health care, data collection, and public policy. She … Read Now

Holly Echo-Hawk (Pawnee Nation) serves as KAI’s Senior Behavioral Health Advisor. She has more than 35 years of senior-level experience in supporting all aspects of system and service transformation for vulnerable youth and family populations. She is a former behavioral health director of both tribal and non-tribal programs, where she was responsible for overseeing child … Read Now

Jennifer Gillissen is KAI’s Vice President for Meeting and Event Planning. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), and a Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), in addition to being Virtual Event & Meeting Management–certified.  This expertise allows Ms. Gillissen to … Read Now

Anna Whiting Sorrell (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) is KAI’s subject matter expert on the complex Indian health care delivery system and has more than three decades of experience working with in health care delivery systems at the tribal, federal, including Indian Health Service (IHS), state, and local levels. She began her career with CSKT … Read Now

Dr. Aaron Payment serves as KAI’s Vice President for Tribal Relations and Learning. Dr. Payment has spent over 30 years working to improve the well-being of Native communities. His national experience includes nearly a decade on the executive committee of the National Congress of American Indians, a Presidential appointment to the National Advisory Council on … Read Now

Dr. Soultana Macridis serves as KAI’s Vice President for Research, Evaluation, and Planning. Dr. Macridis has spent the past 15 years working in public health, where she’s used her background in social research to address the complex challenges impacting AI/AN communities through a uniquely socioecological lens. Her role at KAI has seen extensive work with … Read Now

Josephine Keefe is KAI’s Vice President of Communications. Ms. Keefe has over a decade of experience in the creative field, specializing in developing culturally competent, targeted communication products that support outreach to vulnerable populations on public health topics. Her extensive creative background ensures that all of KAI’s clients receive the best products possible and allows … Read Now

Crystal Tetrick is KAI’s vice president for systems and policy. She has more than 20 years of experience supporting health equity in Indian Country, including working diligently to address the issues of maternal, child, and infant health. Her real-world experience in community health, public health, health care operations, and community strategic planning grounds her subject … Read Now

Jo Ann Kauffman (Nez Perce) has built KAI from a one-woman shop into one of the most well respected and influential Native-advocacy organizations in the country. As president and founder, she remains actively involved in all aspects of KAI operations, where her experience, perspective, and insight ensures high-quality management support. Since founding KAI in 1990, … Read Now

Kevin Ollokot Keefe (Nez Perce) has been the CEO of Kauffman and Associates, Inc. since 2020. Mr. Keefe brings more than a decade of experience in strategic planning, operational improvement, and private sector management consulting. Mr. Keefe frequently leads strategic planning, operational improvement, and financial forecasting engagements with KAI’s tribal clients. He holds a master’s … Read Now