The Domestic Violence Prevention Network announced a new interim director April 15 amid staff allegations about a toxic workplace culture, especially for Black employees.
Mariann McGee Bernlohr, a local consultant, will temporarily lead the Indy nonprofit, which trains community members and organizations to recognize the signs of abuse. DVPN’s board is searching for a permanent executive director, according to a news release, with the goal of hiring someone later this year.
“I recognize the weight of this moment and the responsibility it carries,” Bernlohr said in a statement. “My priority is to listen — to the staff, to the survivors we serve and to the community partners who know this work best.”
Her appointment comes in wake of former executive director Kelly McBride’s resignation. McBride was at the center of staff complaints, a Mirror Indy investigation found, about years of mismanagement and mistreatment.
What’s happening at DVPN?
Since 2022, two Black employees have been fired by McBride and there have been at least four resignations, including by two Black employees. One of them filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint.
The conflict came to a head in February, when nine unnamed employees submitted a nearly 70-page letter to the nonprofit’s board, detailing allegations and calling for McBride to be fired.
“We cannot, in good conscience, continue to promote inclusivity, equity and healthy relationships if those principles are not genuinely reflected within the organization itself,” staff wrote.
In a statement to Mirror Indy, McBride defended herself: “These claims are false and inconsistent with my character and leadership style,” she wrote March 17. “At no time did I behave in an illegal, improper or unethical manner.”
McBride did not specifically answer Mirror Indy’s question about why she resigned. But in an email to supporters and community members, the former executive director said she “decided to embark on a new chapter in my professional journey.”
In response to the letter, DVPN’s board opened an internal investigation and told staff it would provide harassment training and update discrimination policies.
In a prior statement emailed to Mirror Indy, board president Kristen Moreland said McBride’s resignation was a “personal decision” and noted the internal investigation found no evidence of illegal activity.
“Our priority remains clear and focused: supporting victims of domestic violence, promoting prevention efforts and enhancing the services we provide to our community,” the statement said, in part.
Mirror Indy interviewed about a dozen current or former employees about the situation. When DVPN’s board learned about this story, emails show, Moreland threatened staff with terminations for speaking to the media. The organization also hired a PR firm for crisis communications.
What’s next for DVPN?
This is the landscape Bernlohr will inherit when she starts her new position April 21.
She is the founder and president of Iris Consulting in Indianapolis, which supports nonprofits with staff development and strategic growth.
Previously, she was a senior director at the education nonprofit Horizons National, where she provided consulting and supported more than 70 affiliates across the country.
“Mariann brings a calm, steady presence and a values-driven approach to her work, which is exactly what we need during this time of transition,” Moreland, the board president, said in a statement.
In her statement, Bernlohr said she was excited to start the role.
“I’m committed to walking alongside this team with humility, accountability, and a deep respect for the lived experiences that shape this organization,” she said.
Mirror Indy reporter Mary Claire Molloy covers health. Reach her at 317-721-7648 or email maryclaire.molloy@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @mcmolloy7.
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