I assure you all that there are many other tasks calling my attention that I would rather be working on currently. But, with the release of the Sentinel DAC imminent, there has been a resurgence of rumors and messages and it has become an unfortunate distraction. I usually respond to these messages on a case by case basis with a similar message to what is written below. Reactions are always kind and often lead to friendships where there were none. I can’t, however, respond to this topic on a public scale without a public response. Jonathan and I feel we are both in a place where that time has come.
This is a deeply personal step for us. We ask for kindness and understanding.
-Dan Francis
Official Letter: Why Larry Gullman is No Longer Part of MSB.pdf (45.9 KB)
Why Larry Gullman is No Longer at MSB
Some of you may know him personally or likely have at least heard of Larry Gullman at some point as part of MSB. You also may have noticed he has disappeared from the conversation. He has been scrubbed from our company history. We’ve refrained from divulging the details because our reasons for doing so are personal and painful, but Jonathan and I have decided to share a bit of our story with the sincere hope for empathy and understanding. We want nothing more than to move forward from this with a stronger relationship with our community and we know this can only happen with open honesty.
Larry Gullman, our biological father, purchased MSB from the original founder and became the sole owner early in the company’s history. Nearly a decade ago, Larry was arrested and registered for molesting one of our sisters. On top of this, he was an abusive parent to Jonathan and I. These are deeply traumatic experiences that have left many scars from which our families will never recover. Jonathan and I have completely removed Larry from our lives. Even now, I no longer carry his family name. With time, therapy, and distance, we have found some small measure of peace in our lives, but we will carry these experiences with us for life.
At the time these events came to light, Jonathan, Dustin, and I had already been designing and running MSB for years. We had a passion for this work and at its core, we were MSB. While CEO, Larry often travelled to shows and dealers where he took credit for our designs, but as long as he stayed out of our way, we were able to focus on making great products. After Larry was arrested, there were two options: to walk out and start a new company, or to remove him. Thankfully, he willingly departed MSB because without us, there was no MSB. As of July 2016, Larry was no longer involved with MSB or any adjacent business.
We occasionally get threatening emails or forum posts regarding Larry’s crimes. Every time, I choose to believe this comes from a good place of wanting transparency on who buyers are supporting. I agree and have more personal motivation to see justice dealt than most. But the great irony is this harassment is solely targeting and harming the victims of the abuse, not the abuser. I am happy to answer further questions directly if anyone needs further clarification.
Going forward, we ask for an end to the threats and harassment. While we understand the concern, it has done more harm than good and is simply targeting the wrong people. We really do hope the community has the empathy, compassion, and understanding to move forward with us as we heal. Larry is not the founder of MSB, he is not the owner of MSB, and will certainly not be the legacy of MSB. He is a tiny blip in the rich tapestry of artistry, and engineering that makes up this company. Ultimately, your support means taking a stand against abusers and bullies, and takes us one step closer to a kinder world.
MSB has a brilliant future ahead of it, and we will continue to serve our community with expert craftsmanship and groundbreaking design. This is our passion. We hope you join us for the journey.
Sincerely,
Dan Francis
