Throughout her service of 22 years as a public servant on the local and state government level, Renee Unterman has focused on health and social law, consumer issues, and has given special attention to the young and vulnerable, as well as the elderly citizens of Georgia. With each legislative session, Sen. Unterman has championed legislation that has sought to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children. She continues to fight for a change in Georgia law and policy that will allow children to be assessed, receive therapeutic services, and be given the opportunity to have a normal, successful life.

Also an advocate of public health, Sen. Unterman has twice been named a "Public Health Hero" by the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA). GPHA President Russ Toal has cited her dedication to a healthy population with a pragmatic approach to lawmaking as one of the numerous reasons for honoring her with this distinguished title. She has been a devoted contributor to the Aging Services of Georgia which is a statewide association that represents numerous non-profit organizations. Sen. Unterman assists this group as they seek to provide quality housing, health care, and community based services that many Georgians depend on in the latter stages of their lives. With the establishment of two private charitable organizations, Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services and Aid Gwinnett, she remains committed to serving the needs of senior citizens and those families and individuals who are affected by the AIDS virus. She has received numerous awards from various women's organizations.

Sen. Unterman grew up in Gwinnett County and graduated from Berkmar High School. She earned her Nursing Degree at Georgia State University  and trained at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Georgia, as a clinically trained social worker. After graduation, she worked as an emergency room and critical care nurse. 

After serving three terms as the Mayor of Loganville, Georgia, she then went on to serve four years as a Gwinnett County Commissioner, followed by her service in the Georgia House of Representatives for two terms. She served as Chairman of the National Association of State Legislature's Committee on Human Welfare, Honorary Chairman on the Hunger Partnership Initiative, and has been a member of the American Legislative Exchange Committee for many years, serving on the Health Committee. Sen. Unterman has always demonstrated strong pro-life, conservative family values.

She is a native Georgian and has lived in Gwinnett for many years, currently residing in Buford with her husband Phil.