Rhett Hintze is a Pennsylvania business executive who served as Chief Operating Officer of Bravo Group — a leading independent strategic communications, marketing, and lobbying firm in the state — for over two decades. He now leads StateSource, a firm advising companies on state-level government procurement strategy.
Table Of Content
In 2023, Pennsylvania State Police charged Hintze with failure to report alleged child sexual abuse under the state’s mandated reporter statute. Those charges were formally withdrawn by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office in June 2024. No conviction was entered.
This profile covers his career, the legal case from filing to resolution, his community involvement, and his current work.
Quick Facts
| Name | Rhett Hintze |
|---|---|
| Location | Pennsylvania |
| Education | B.S. Business Administration, Brigham Young University; MPA (Public Finance), Syracuse University |
| Languages | English, Spanish |
| Former Role | COO, Bravo Group (2001–2024) |
| Current Role | Founder, StateSource |
| Key Metric | 130% workforce growth; 15% cost reduction at Bravo Group |
| Legal Status | Charges withdrawn, June 7, 2024 — no conviction |
Early Life and Education
Wisconsin Roots
Rhett Hintze grew up in Wisconsin with three siblings. His father worked as an electrical engineer in the paper industry; his mother focused on raising the family. Both parents emphasized discipline, integrity, and self-reliance — values that show up in how Hintze talks about leadership in professional interviews. He consistently frames management around listening, patience, and team buy-in rather than top-down directives.
Brigham Young University and Syracuse University
Hintze earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Brigham Young University, followed by a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance from Syracuse University.
The combination gave him fluency in two distinct worlds: private-sector business operations and the mechanics of how state government manages money, procurement, and policy. That dual foundation shaped every career move that followed.
Bilingual Background
Hintze is fluent in English and Spanish, a skill that broadened his reach in both government and private-sector contexts, particularly in stakeholder communications and cross-cultural engagement.
Career at Bravo Group
From the Governor’s Office to the Private Sector
Before entering the private sector, Hintze worked in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Governor’s Office of Administration. There, he focused on technology policy and e-government initiatives — learning how state agencies adopt (and resist) new systems, how procurement decisions get made, and how bureaucratic structures function from the inside.
That operational knowledge became the foundation for his private-sector career.
Running Operations for Over Two Decades
Hintze joined Bravo Group as COO in 2001. The firm — which handles strategic communications, marketing, and government affairs — was expanding from its Harrisburg base into other Pennsylvania markets, eventually opening offices in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and Wayne, a suburb of Philadelphia.
During Hintze’s tenure, the firm grew its workforce by 130% while simultaneously cutting annual operating expenses by 15%. Achieving both at the same time — scaling headcount while reducing costs — is the operational challenge a COO is hired to solve. His work included overseeing technology adoption, streamlining internal processes, and managing the firm’s physical expansion into new office spaces.
Bravo Group, under the leadership of President and CEO Chris Bravacos with Hintze running operations, became one of Pennsylvania’s top independent firms in its sector.
Leadership Philosophy
In a CEOWORLD magazine interview, Hintze described his management approach as rooted in integrity and agility, with a strong emphasis on collaborative teamwork and empathy.
“The most underappreciated skill in public relations is listening — actively listening to clients, stakeholders, and the public can provide invaluable insights that drive more impactful and meaningful campaigns.”
He was placed on administrative leave from Bravo Group following the 2023 legal charges and departed the firm in 2024.
StateSource: The Next Chapter
What StateSource Does
StateSource is Hintze’s current venture. The firm helps companies develop and execute strategies for entering or expanding within state government procurement markets — a space that is complex, relationship-driven, and often opaque to outsiders.
Hintze’s background makes him suited for this niche. He spent years inside Pennsylvania’s government learning how procurement works, then spent two decades at a private firm engaging with that same government from the outside. StateSource merges both sides of that experience.
The Leadership Blog
In October 2024, Hintze launched a personal blog focused on leadership strategy, public relations, and communications industry topics. The blog targets professionals at different career stages — from newcomers learning the industry to experienced managers refining their approach.
The 2023 Legal Case: Charges, Timeline, and Resolution
What Is a Mandated Reporter Under Pennsylvania Law?
Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), originally enacted in 1975 and significantly expanded in 2014 following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, requires certain professionals to report suspected child abuse. These professionals are called mandated reporters.
Under the CPSL, mandated reporters include school employees, healthcare workers, social services staff, law enforcement officers, foster parents, and — critically for this case — clergy members. The statute specifically lists “a clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization” as mandated reporters.
A mandated reporter must file a report if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim of abuse. This is a low threshold — it does not require proof or direct evidence, and the reporter is not expected to investigate. Reports go to ChildLine (1-800-932-0313) or the state’s Child Welfare Portal.
Failure to report under this statute is a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania.
What Is a Stake President in the LDS Church?
A stake president is a volunteer leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A “stake” is a geographic grouping of multiple congregations (called “wards”). The stake president oversees the spiritual and administrative needs of those congregations, which in Hintze’s case included seven area churches in Pennsylvania.
It is an unpaid, lay clergy role. The stake president does not draw a salary but holds significant organizational and pastoral authority within the stake.
The Allegations and Charges
Pennsylvania State Police charged Hintze with failure to report or refer — a third-degree felony under the CPSL. Police alleged that Hintze became aware of child sexual abuse allegations against another church leader within his stake as early as October 2020, roughly two years before that individual was arrested. The charge was that Hintze knew about the allegations and did not report them to authorities as required by law.
Bravo Group placed Hintze on administrative leave following the charges.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2020 | Hintze allegedly becomes aware of abuse allegations against another LDS church leader in his stake |
| Late 2022 | The accused church leader is arrested |
| Early 2023 | Pennsylvania State Police file criminal charges against Hintze for failure to report |
| 2023 | Bravo Group places Hintze on administrative leave |
| June 7, 2024 | Dauphin County District Attorney’s office withdraws the criminal complaint |
Why Were the Charges Dropped?
The Dauphin County District Attorney’s office withdrew the criminal complaint on June 7, 2024. The specific reasoning behind the withdrawal has not been detailed in public reporting. No conviction was entered, and the criminal case is closed.
Broader Context
Hintze’s case was not isolated. A 2022 Associated Press investigation documented a pattern of abuse reporting failures across the LDS church nationally, including the role of the church’s internal “help line” in routing abuse disclosures away from law enforcement. Multiple legal cases across several states have tested the boundaries of clergy mandated reporter obligations — particularly when religious organizational structures create ambiguity about who holds the duty to report.
Pennsylvania’s law is explicit: clergy are mandated reporters. The question in cases like Hintze’s often turns on what was known, when, and whether the information came through a privileged channel.
Community Involvement and Personal Life
Church Leadership and Volunteer Work
Outside of his professional career, Hintze has been active in his LDS church community, serving in the stake president role that became central to the legal case. He has also volunteered with local food banks and supported educational programs.
Daraja Academy, Kenya
Hintze supports the Daraja Academy, a scholarship school for girls in rural Kenya. The academy provides secondary education to girls from underserved backgrounds who would otherwise lack access to schooling. His involvement reflects a commitment to education access beyond his local community.
Personal Interests
Hintze is an outdoor enthusiast — he enjoys road trips, horticulture, running, hiking, and skiing. He follows Formula 1 motorsports and college football.
“Success professionally is not as valuable if one is not focused on personal success. Maintaining balance and contributing positively in others’ lives, thinking outside of self, and ensuring family relationships are strengthened provides the foundation upon which professional success can be built.”
Career Arc: What Defines the Trajectory
Government-to-private-sector bridge. Most PR executives come up through agencies or journalism. Hintze came through state government technology policy. That background gave him a different perspective on how institutions make decisions and how communications can influence those decisions.
Operations over creative. His title was COO, not CEO or Chief Communications Officer. His value at Bravo Group was execution — managing costs, headcount, and technology systems. In an industry driven by strategy and messaging, he was the person making the organization function.
Consistent community investment. LDS church leadership, food bank work, Daraja Academy support — these appear across his entire adult life, not as a post-career addition or public relations exercise.
A calculated pivot. Leaving Bravo Group after 23 years to launch StateSource wasn’t retirement. It was a focused move — taking the most transferable part of his expertise (understanding how state governments procure services) and building a firm around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rhett Hintze?
Rhett Hintze is a Pennsylvania business executive, former COO of Bravo Group, and founder of StateSource. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and Syracuse University and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
What happened with the Rhett Hintze legal case?
Pennsylvania State Police charged Hintze in 2023 with failure to report suspected child abuse under the state’s mandated reporter law. The Dauphin County District Attorney’s office withdrew the charges on June 7, 2024. No conviction was entered.
Why were the charges dropped?
The DA’s office did not publicly detail its reasoning for withdrawing the complaint. The case is closed.
Is Rhett Hintze still with Bravo Group?
No. Hintze was placed on leave in 2023 and departed the firm in 2024. He now leads StateSource.
What is StateSource?
StateSource is a procurement advisory firm that helps companies develop strategies to enter or expand within state government contracting markets.
What is a mandated reporter in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, a mandated reporter is a professional — including clergy, teachers, healthcare workers, and others — who is legally required to report suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect it. Failure to report is a third-degree felony.
What is Rhett Hintze’s educational background?
He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Administration with a focus on public finance from Syracuse University.
Conclusion
Rhett Hintze built a career at the intersection of state government and private-sector communications. His 23 years at Bravo Group produced measurable operational results. The 2023 legal case — resolved with charges withdrawn and no conviction — is part of his public record. His current work with StateSource reflects a shift toward specialized advisory, drawing on the government procurement expertise he developed across both careers.
The full picture: a career built on operational execution and government fluency, marked by a legal episode that concluded without conviction, continuing into its next phase.
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