Mary Kate Gulick, a former chief marketing officer at Carson Group, recently filed a lawsuit against the firm for allegedly retaliating against her and ultimately firing her after she voiced concerns about how its handling of a reported sexual assault by a Carson employee.
Gulick's lawsuit alleges that the assault occurred at an industry conference in 2022 and that the assailant was not fired by Carson Group, a decision made by then-CEO Ron Carson.
A series of difficult conversations between Gulick and other executives at Carson, as well as other developments at the firm, took place before and after the assault — making for a complicated set of circumstances.
Before the conference and the alleged assault, Gulick discussed the "toxic leadership culture at Carson Group" and informed her supervisor, Managing Partner Jamie Hopkins, that she planned to resign.
She stayed with the firm until June 7, 2023, continuing to raise the issue of the alleged assault and emphasizing how she believed it was affecting her health and the working climate at the firm. She became CMO at FiComm Partners in August.
In addition, Gulick alleged that in November 2022 a human resources executive told Gulick that "she disagreed with the decision Carson [Group] made not to fire the alleged assailant, but as the decision had been made by Ron Carson himself, she had to support it," according to the suit.
Also, after the conference in 2022 when the alleged assault occurred, Gulick exchanged Microsoft Teams messages with Carson executive Burt White, who has since been named CEO.
In the messages, White "criticized the 'founder based culture,' said Carson Group's leadership had 'driven the car' into a 'metaphorical ditch' and insisted he did 'not want to be associated with so much [Carson Group] does and stands for,'" the suit states.
The following timeline is largely based on Gulick's lawsuit and includes many quotes that appear in the suit. It also highlights key events at the firm that happened from mid-2021, when Gulick was hired by Carson Group, through this month.
2021
June 22: Carson Group hired Mary Kate Gulick as its chief marketing officer.
July 14: Carson Group announced an investment from Bain Capital, which took a 29% stake in the RIA and valued it at $1 billion. At the time, Carson Group's RIA had some $17 billion in assets and its advisor network had 110 partner offices, including 30 Carson Wealth locations.
Oct. 19: Carson Group officially opened its new $80 million headquarters in Omaha.
2022
Late June: Gulick told her direct supervisor, Jamie Hopkins, about "her dissatisfaction with the toxic leadership culture at Carson Group and informed [him] that she planned to resign. At that time, Hopkins informed [her] that Carson Group's minority investor no longer wanted her to be CMO, and he wanted her for a different role. She expressed her intent only to stay until Hopkins could find a new CMO."
Mid-July: Hopkins presented Gulick with "other ideas for a Senior Vice President role, and [she] reiterated her intent to leave Carson once Hopkins could find a replacement CMO."
Aug. 8: Gulick asked Hopkins about the CMO search and was told that "no search had begun." He presented her with another leadership position, and she gave her formal notice of resignation.
Sept. 13-15: Carson Group held its Excell Conference in Las Vegas.
The court case does not state the dates of this event, nor that this is the industry conference where the alleged assault took place. It states that "in late 2022 … [Gulick] represented Carson Group at an industry conference. [She] had a leadership role in organizing and conducting the conference that year. An employee of Carson Group allegedly sexually assaulted an attendee at that conference."
Soon afterward, the suit says, "A Carson Group Executive called [Gulick], as he felt he needed a female executive to provide him with emotional support as the Carson Group Executive responded to the victim."
Next, Gulick called Kelsey Ruwe, Carson Group's chief of staff and human resources leader, to inform her of the alleged sexual assault.
A week after the alleged assault, Gulick "was assured by Teri Shepherd, Carson Group's President, that the sexual assault would be handled appropriately. It was not."
Sept. 21: Burt White, Carson Group managing partner and chief strategy officer, and Gulick exchanged messages via Microsoft Teams.
Oct. 7: Gulick told her therapist that she was not doing well following a "major work-related incident. She was struggling to maintain self-care and especially struggling to sleep. … She did not feel comfortable with the leadership of Carson Group or how Carson Group handled its employee's alleged sexual assault of its client at the conference now that it was clear that the alleged assailant would be staying with the company.
"She was deeply troubled by Carson Group's complete lack of concern about having an alleged sexual predator working there, where he was interacting and traveling with Carson Group's female employees."
Oct. 14: Gulick decided to stay on at Carson Group as senior vice president, Advisor Marketing and Sales Enablement, "a lesser role with less responsibility, which required her to turn down an outside role that she had already accepted. … [She] felt she owed it to the women on her team to stay at Carson Group, push for change and accountability, and do her best to protect them."
Oct. 21: Gulick discussed her concerns about Carson Group's judgment with Shepherd. "The following week [she] also discussed her concerns with the alleged assailant's supervisor."
Oct. 28: Carson's general counsel, Kevin Miller, and Ruwe "reprimanded Gulick for discussing her concerns about the alleged assailant putting female employees at risk and the danger it posed if he was allowed to travel to conferences.
"Miller and Ruwe informed [her] that an investigation was being conducted, there were legal considerations involved, and she was not permitted to speak about what happened at the conference, how it had been handled, or express concerns or objections."
Early November: Gulick met with Ruwe. "Ruwe told [Gulick] she disagreed with the decision Carson made not to fire the alleged assailant, but as the decision had been made by Ron Carson himself, she had to support it."
2023
Jan. 11: Gulick "told Ruwe she wasn't eating, was barely sleeping, and was experiencing physical health issues as a result of how the alleged sexual assault at the conference was being handled. … [She] told Ruwe she was sure this was not the first time Ruwe had dealt with someone being traumatized by something that had happened at Carson Group. Ruwe responded by saying 'You have no idea.'"
Jan. 13: Gulick "told a Carson Group Executive she was having some neurological issues related to the work stress she had been dealing with from the past year."
Jan. 24: Gulick asked that Ruwe "provide her with guidance on how to apply" for intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act leave.
