Kreg Kauffman Profile

In 1995, Kreg Kauffman—trial lawyer and sports enthusiast—accepted his first traumatic brain injury case and began working regularly with people with disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.

In 2007, Kreg was asked to participate in The Consortium to provide pro bono legal services to victims of the I-35 bridge collapse and worked with some of the best trial lawyers in Minnesota. His outstanding work and service earned him the Professional Excellence Award from the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Today, after 45 years as a trial lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and 25 years as the owner of the Kauffman Law Firm, Kreg continues to regularly represent and advocate for survivors while also volunteering on non-profit boards. As a part of the disability community, he learned non-profit laws and procedures which were helpful to many boards of directors. Kreg stated, “I learned to focus on abilities rather than disabilities: what we can do, not what we can’t do.”

From the time he first learned to walk, it was his dad and his brother that sparked his interest in sports. When he wasn’t in school, Kreg was playing sandlot baseball, football or basketball. From that time forward, he has continually participated in sports as a player, a coach, a referee or a fan.

Although Kreg is still passionate about high school and college sports, especially the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, he has learned there is more to life than sports and law.  He married his wife, Georgia, in 1973 and together they raised two children, Kate and Alex. They are also proud grandparents of two grandsons. As a tight knit family, they love to get together to enjoy water skiing, tubing or just spending quality time at the family cabin on the Mississippi River.

Kreg was originally hired by the Rochester Sports Commission to revise the by-laws but as a result of his outstanding work, he was asked to join the board of directors and later the executive committee where he was president from 2018-2022. In 2018 Kreg helped to form the Rochester Sports Foundation (RSF) becoming a charter member and director. He retired from RSF this year.

As a graduate of the University of Iowa in 1972 with a degree in political science, Kreg went on to the University of Iowa Law School to obtain his Juris Doctorate with honors in 1977. But it was his high school English teacher and debate coach that most inspired him to do the best in everything he did. Kreg received further inspiration from a quote by Christopher Reeve, “Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things.”

Kreg has inspired us with his dedication of time and talent to the Rochester sports community. He has demonstrated fairness, honesty and a committed passion for excellence. Without question he has left his mark by elevating the commission and the foundation to the respectful position it receives today.

(photo - outgoing RSF/RS Liaison Kreg Kauffman accepts his plaque for years or dedication from Becca Tesch - the incoming RSF/RS Liaison)