Justin Wilson
President / Chairman
As President and Managing Director of Plains Ventures, Justin is responsible for day-to-day management of Plains’ investment activities. He leads an experienced team that sources, evaluates, structures, and closes new investment in high-growth companies and engages with portfolio companies’ post-investment to maximize their chances for success. With a background in private equity, medicine, federal government, Tribal finance, and non-profit leadership, Justin brings a variety of perspectives to the firm. He is a proud Tribal Member of the Choctaw Nation, where he served as Director of Strategic Investments at Choctaw Global.
Prior to his time with his Tribe, he served as Advisor to the Special Trustee for American Indians in the Federal Government. Justin holds a BS in Physiology from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with his wife, Brooklyn, and two sons, Rhett and Ryder.
JoAnn Kaufman, MPH
Secretary
Ms. Kauffman (Nez Perce) has worked to advance tribal and urban Indian communities in the areas of community development, justice, education, environmental protections, and public health policy for more than 40 years. After leading numerous local nonprofits, including establishing tribal health care facilities in rural Idaho and leading the Seattle Indian Health Board, she founded Kauffman and Associates, (KAI) in 1990. She has grown KAI over 33 years impacting tribal communities nationwide and supporting numerous federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Education, Environment, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Interior.
She continues to lead her company as President, overseeing numerous contracts and professionals who share her passion for doing work that matters. She currently serves several boards, including: the Governing Council for the University of Toronto’s M.S.W. Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency Program; the International Indigenous Council (IIC), which oversees the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference; Craft3 a regional CDFI; Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund a 501 C-4; the Nez Perce Wallowa Homelands Project; and the Sovereign Equity Fund.
She holds a master of public health degree from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2017 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Eastern Washington University, after completing 12 years on its Board of Trustees, including two terms as Board Chair of the regional university.
Vincent Logan
Treasurer
Full bio coming soon!