Suzanne Bolstad has been a member of the religious order at Golden Era for over two decades. She has been the Audio Division Office Administrator since 2007 and worked with Ron Miscavige for five years.

As the Audio Division Office Administrator, I was at the beck and call of the Music Department staff at Golden Era Productions, and that most definitely included Ron Miscavige.

I organized the Golden Era Musicians travel arrangements, special training programs, tutoring, counseling and care. For every piece of new equipment, new software programs and new music libraries, I did the research and acquired what was needed. I was the one who organized getting any broken equipment or upgrades handled, either at our facilities or with outside companies. I was the one who made sure the musical instruments and music mixing equipment arrived operational and safely packed for any overseas events the musicians performed—none of them had to even worry about it. It all got taken care of for Ron and the rest of the band. It was all done in an effort to help make it easier for staff to fulfill their duties and achieve their goals. And yet Ron is complaining about the working conditions here. While the rest of the band would make appreciative comments for such service, Ron never once even said “thank you,” not once.

While the rest of the band would make appreciative comments for such service, Ron never once even said “thank you,” not once.

As the Office Administrator, I spent quite some time trying to help sort out conflicts between Ron and other Music staff. I never once complained to Ron or made him wrong for such, I did not assume he was wrong and they were right, such as when Ron had screaming fights with the Music Director. Not once did I complain to Ron about his actions. Instead I spent hours trying to sort things out for him. It is interesting that since he took off unannounced (and never wrote me or communicated back to the band in any way), I have not spent a single minute of my time sorting out conflicts in this area. The staff are just happily working.

To help Ron improve his skills as a musician, I spent many hours searching through L. Ron Hubbard materials, six different times, putting references into packs and study assignments for Ron in an effort to help him be more able at his job.

Anywhere else, Ron would have been fired.

During one video project, there were several melodies and scores that had to be redone as a result of Ron’s shoddy work. It cost an additional $25,000 to get those videos remixed and final mixed. There was no real or imagined “punishment” for this. We simply got Ron to study up on different types of music and see what he missed, in an effort to help him do his job properly. Anywhere else, Ron would have been fired. But out of respect for his son, we treated Ron with kindness and care and helped him understand. His son did not know this occurred. The problem was, in looking back, that Ron did not actually change his ways and continued to be found not doing music research before creating music scores. I found Ron on numerous occasions failing to properly use the many musical instruments, music scoring equipment and a huge music library that was at his disposal to perform a good job.

Through all the years Ron was in the Music Department he was allowed to keep his own schedule, going home early, time allotted for exercise, job training, medical attention any time he asked for it. The food and living arrangements Ron had access to were superior and never ever denied him. He got away with his office and living space being kept in any state he felt like keeping it in, and he had very low standards with both spaces kept dusty, unclean and untidy. No one ever denied him any facilities or service. He could have left here any time he wanted to in any manner of ways—the rooms here are not locked up.

Now it appears Ron has viciously twisted that help and service into something wicked.

Many of us serviced and helped Ron to the hilt—we wanted him to do well, we wanted him to succeed. It was a thankless endeavor at the time. Regardless of this, the service and help was always given—over many years. Now it appears Ron has viciously twisted that help and service into something wicked.

Ron is someone who could not accept help and use it to the benefit of himself and others. Instead he turned on a group of people and his own son who all spent years trying to help and service him.

Suzanne Bolstad
Audio Division Office Administrator