Kathleen Unger

Background

Unger was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated Beverly Hills High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and her JD from the San Fernando Valley College of Law where she was named to Law Review and graduated second in her class. Unger received her MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She is also certified as a Mediator by the Harvard Negotiation Insight Initiative at Harvard Law School.

Unger is part of a family with deep ties in the entertainment industry. She is married to entertainment industry executive recruiter Stephen A. Unger, is the daughter-in-law of film producer Oliver A. Unger, and is the aunt of talent agent David A. Unger. The Ungers have homes in Santa Monica and Carmel.

Professional career

Unger began her career as in-house counsel at MCA/Universal Studios (now NBCUniversal) and remained there for 15 years, rising to Vice President, MCA Services Corporation. Unger then became CEO of the Starbright Foundation, working with Steven Spielberg, Chairman, to improve the quality of life for children with serious medical conditions by providing entertainment, education and family activities.

After Starbright, Unger was the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Talking Heads, the quarterly publication of the Worldwide Entertainment and Communications practice of Spencer Stuart, one of the three largest executive search firms in the world. Subsequently, Unger was the Senior Strategist for Independent World Television. She also provided editorial services to Diana L. Schwarzbein for The Schwarzbein Principle II and for Schwarzbein’s current book.

Election integrity

From October 2002 to the present, Unger has devoted herself to Election Integrity. Starting in latter 2007 Unger developed and ran www.ElectionPreparedness.com, of which she was Co-Founder and Editor, as well as executive-produced related videos and radio spots.

In April 2012 Unger founded and is the President and CEO of VoteRiders. Dedicated to ensuring that eligible Americans can vote, VoteRiders supports on-the-ground organizations that assist citizens to obtain their voter ID and inspires local volunteers and communities to sustain such programs and galvanize others to emulate these efforts. On September 21, 2013 VoteRiders hosted its first Voter ID Clinic in Houston, Texas.

Unger has been quoted in the media on non-profit organizations and in connection with voter rights issues. She has spoken at Pepperdine University and Occidental College.

Political and non-profit

Unger co-chaired Rep. Edward Markey's successful 1984 Congressional campaign; served as Director, Business for California's 1988 Presidential Campaign; and was appointed a National Finance Vice Chair and a Trustee for John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaign. In 2013, Unger served as California Co-Chair for Congressman Markey's successful campaign for the United States Senate (MA).

Unger has served on the boards of the Santa Monica-based KCRW and the Valley Community Clinic of North Hollywood, CA, including as Vice Chairman. Since 1994, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Eagles Charitable Foundation, formerly known as Eagles Youth Partnership, the foundation of the Philadelphia Eagles football franchise.