The Backstory With Kasey Covaleski, Events Manager

Events Manager Kasey Covaleski 's UTA journey is one of perseverance and a testament to the power of networking. A chance connection at a sorority event launched her career at UTA, and years later, another connection brought her back. 

As a senior at UC Santa Barbara, Covaleski started working as an intern with the UTA Foundation, commuting three days a week from Santa Barbara to Beverly Hills. After graduating, she joined full-time and spent several years on the social impact team before leaving to deepen her events experience at marketing agencies. But when she learned in 2023 that the events team at UTA had an opening, Covaleski jumped at the opportunity to return to the place where her career began.

We spoke to Covaleski for “The Backstory,” our Q&A series with UTA “boomerangs,” about how she got started and what led to her rejoining UTA in a new department.

What drew you to UTA when you were still in college? 

I was a dance major at UC Santa Barbara, figuring out what I wanted to do. Desiree Flores, who is now UTA’s vice president of social impact, came to speak at my sorority and seemed so well-spoken and well-respected. She worked in entertainment and events at the time, and I said to myself, “I want to do whatever she's doing.”

I kept in touch with Desiree, and she let me know about an internship for UTA Foundation to work on Project Impact, our global volunteer day. I jumped at the opportunity and commuted from Santa Barbara to Beverly Hills three days a week while I was finishing school. 

I graduated on a Sunday, and started working full time as an assistant to Rene Jones (Partner and Chief of Social Impact), on a Monday. I was like, Who needs a break? I'm obsessed with this place.

What was your first full-time position at UTA?

I worked very closely with Desiree on all of our employee engagement work, which was a lot of volunteerism, mentorship programs, and onsite events. We have a great theater on our campus, and we partnered with nonprofits to co-produce events. I was given a great opportunity, even as an assistant, to work on projects and have a big hand in bringing them to life.

What led you to explore other opportunities beyond UTA?

I wanted to pursue events work even deeper and discover what goes on behind the scenes of putting on a concert or a full-on movie premiere or a store opening. 

I went to a small marketing agency, then eventually landed at another agency as an account manager, working on projects with major brands like Netflix and Spotify. I got that experience of putting on a concert and doing an FYC screening and after-party.

What brought you back to UTA?

I realized that I thrive better at a large company, and I missed my colleagues at UTA. Back then, the LA office only had maybe 500 people — now we're more than double that — and I used to know literally every single person's name. Even when leaving, I had so much love for UTA. I think I knew deep down that I would come back if it made sense, if I could find a role in events. In 2023, a former colleague who I kept in touch with called me when a position on the events team opened up. It all came to be very organically.

How did it feel to come back?

The culture and office camaraderie were big parts of what I missed. The company grew so much in the past few years, so there are more people to get to know and build relationships with. On my first day back, walking from the West building to the East building and seeing familiar faces was really special. 

What's your role like now as events manager?

I oversee all on-site events for our campuses — everything from staffing security, workplace services, and projectionists to managing catering for receptions. Then there are our marquee off-site events, like hosting an Emmy Awards pre-party. Our team plans the whole thing, and then I'm the on-site person during the actual event. I’m always wearing a lot of different hats.