Sally G. Rideout is a recognized and respected public affairs professional with more than 30 years of public and private sector experience. She became the 2nd youngest woman ever elected to the Indiana House of Representatives when she defeated the Speaker of the House in an upset election in 1994. After her term in office, she worked at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the University of Evansville, the Evansville Chamber of Commerce, and the global aluminum manufacturer, Alcoa, before launching Rideout Public Affairs, Inc. (RPA) in 2013.

Rideout serves on the University of Evansville Board of Trustees and led the Search Committee for the University’s 24th President. She recently completed a term as President of the Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Board and has been active with the Women’s Fund of Warrick County.

Rideout’s community work has been recognized with the 2007 Evansville area ATHENA Award, the University of Evansville 2008 Outstanding Young Alumna, and the 2007 Business Leader of the Year from the Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity at the University of Evansville.

Rideout earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Evansville and is a graduate of the US Chamber's Institute for Organizational Managment (IOM). She now lives in Newburgh where she spends free time on the golf course, traveling, and tending to her cats, who frequently make guest appearances during virtual meetings.

For nearly 30 years, Patrick Bennett has represented business interests as a lobbyist before state government. In both the legislative and regulatory arenas, he is known as a trusted source of information and a tireless advocate. Bennett joined Rideout Public Affairs in January of 2023 when the opportunity to work with long-time friend, Sally Rideout, came up.

Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science from Ball State University and a Juris Doctorate from the IU McKinney School of Law School. He has represented trade associations for manufacturing, home building, waste and recycling.

A native Hoosier, raised in Crawfordsville, Bennett resides in Brown County. There he enjoys hunting, fishing, kayaking and spending time with his wife and the family dogs.

Before merging with RPA, Blake successfully managed his own association management firm for 25+ years, representing multiple state and national organizations. He serves as the director of each group and manages all aspects of the association business, including financials, communications, website development, membership needs, event planning and more. His clients have included the Indiana Cast Metals Association, the Association of Medical Diagnostic Manufacturers, the Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Assocation, and several others.

Prior to starting his own firm, Blake was the director of environmental affairs at the Indiana Manufacturers Assocation (IMA) and had lobbied for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He spent four years in Washington, DC where he worked with the National Association of Counties and was the assistant vice president of governmental affairs for the National Assocation of Commercial Real Estate. Before moving to Washington, DC, Blake was a 1985 Indiana Governor's Fellow.

Blake holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Anderson University and a Master of Arts in legislative affairs from George Washington University. He received his Certified Association Executive (CAE) professional designation in 2004 and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE). He was a mayoral appointee to the Indianapolis Air Pollution Control Board for four years and also served on the boards of the YMCA at the Athenaeum and the Government Affairs Society of Indiana. He also served as a member of the Chatham Arch Neighborhood Foundation, as Vice President and Treasurer, which has one of the largest foundation endowments in the State of Indiana.