Our CEO & Founder

Josh Kauffman, MBA, APR, OCM

With more than a decade of public relations and marketing experience at small, mid-size, and Fortune 50 companies, Josh has worked in all major industries, including broadcasting, entertainment and sports, health care, information technology, government, political campaigns, insurance and financial organizations, and nonprofits and association management.

Prior to founding KCG, Kauffman most recently served as the System Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Midwest-based Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a 14-hospital system with integrated physician groups and 15,000 colleagues across Illinois and Wisconsin.

In this role, Kauffman led reputation management, media relations, crisis communications, marketing campaigns, vendor management, and Key Performance Indicators for the system’s team of 25 communications and marketing directors, managers, specialists, print and web designers, and videographers. Kauffman helped position the communications and marketing department, especially involving crisis communications, marketing, PR and digital strategy, advocacy and mergers. He maintains mutually-beneficial relationships with top-tier national and regional media outlets, and has worked on Emmy and Telly-award winning ad campaigns.

Prior to HSHS, Kauffman was a Senior Communications and Organizational Change Management Consultant for NTT Data – a subsidiary of a NTT’s $100 billion Fortune Global 29 company. At NTT Data, he was responsible for leading teams and initiatives for Fortune 50 companies involving change management, communications, training, and SharePoint development projects in cybersecurity, insurance, and financial fields.

Before NTT Data, Kauffman served as the Global Director of PR and Marketing for Zukunft Group Worldwide – a management consulting firm focusing on healthcare, process management, real estate, campaign management, international trade and logistics. At ZG Worldwide, he created and led the company’s public relations, marketing and business development department for consultants in more than 10 countries, and supported the CEO’s expansion opportunities.

Before ZG Worldwide, Kauffman was the Senior Public Service Administrator and Public Information Officer at the Illinois Department of Transportation – one of Illinois’ largest government agencies.

At IDOT, he was responsible for leading and managing crisis communications, and external communication efforts involved with the state’s unprecedented $31 billion capital construction plan, and the Midwest’s first high-speed rail corridor. Frequently, he was interviewed by CNN, NY Times, MSNBC, Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, PBS, and radio stations across the country based on historic natural disasters, the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, traffic safety, and new transportation initiatives involving roadways, rail, aeronautics, and Illinois river channels.

Kauffman earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Southern Illinois University and double minors in Journalism and Business, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Illinois. He also received his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) – the gold industry standard of PR, and certificates in organizational change management, agile software management, and project management.Kauffman served as the lead communications consultant on a successful mayoral campaign, and has been heavily involved with grass root efforts for governor’s gubernatorial and U.S. Congress’ campaigns.

Kauffman serves as the President of Public Relations Society of America – Central Illinois chapter, and is a board member and nominating committee member for the PRSA-Midwest District. He is a board member on the Illinois Society of Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations, and was previously on the board of the Salvation Army, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, SPARC, and chaired two committees for Downtown Springfield Inc.