A top political strategist to the stars is joining forces with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
On Wednesday the nonprofit, which offers emergency resources and professional and educational development to SAG-AFTRA union members, announced that Jennifer Gonring was coming on board as chief strategy officer. In that role, she will be focused on helping the foundation achieve growth goals through events, industry partnerships and campaigns.
“It’s a big win for us,” SAG-AFTRA Foundation board chairman Courtney B. Vance said in a statement. “Jennifer’s distinctive experience and demonstrated record are a huge asset for our team as we move into our next chapter.”
The move comes as Gonring strikes out on her own with the consulting firm Principle Partner, which is aimed at aiding creative and political leaders and organizations build audiences and strike beneficial alliances. The new firm will offer advice on an in-house basis to select clients and external advice to others.
Gonring most recently served as CEO of powerful political consultancy firm Gonring Lin Spahn after co-founding the company in 2006 with fellow Dreamworks SKG alum Andy Spahn. Clients of the firm, which has offices both in L.A. and Washington D.C., have included organizations like SAG-AFTRA, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Comcast and individuals such as Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams.
Katzenberg, of course, famously co-chaired former President Joe Biden’s failed 2024 re-election bid to the White House, and weathered industry scrutiny for his role in allegedly downplaying concerns about Biden’s age and health.
Gonring is remaining with Gonring Lin Spahn as a principal strategist as she launches her consulting firm and joins the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
Gonring previously helped develop the foundation’s Patron of the Artists Awards, which were held between 2014 and 2019, and worked on raising money for the nonprofit’s support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 strikes.
She is deepening her ties with the foundation at a challenging time for rank-and-file industry workers, who in recent years have weathered a brutal industry contraction. The nonprofit will also soon be changing leadership, with current chief operating officer Charlotte Wells moving up to its top leadership position starting next year as outgoing executive director Cyd Wilson retires.
“Embedding with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is truly a thrilling place for me to launch,” she said in a statement. “We’ve partnered through industry-wide work shutdowns and challenges, and I’ve seen up close what the Foundation does to strengthen skills and careers overall… I’m excited to help build on that success from the inside.”
