United Talent Agency (UTA) has promoted eight of its coordinators to agents across seven divisions in their Los Angeles, New York and Nashville offices, it announced Friday evening.
Brett Duchon and Sarah Kowaney were bumped up to agents in UTA’s licensing, branding and endorsements division. Kellen Alberstone was promoted to agent in alternative television; Max Karpen in speakers; Jessica Preciado in marketing; Sara Schoch in music brand partnerships; Miae Shin in news and broadcast; and Stephanie Smith in UTA IQ.
“At UTA we take great pride in fostering the industry leaders of tomorrow,” UTA Co-President David Kramer said in a statement. “With these promotions, we’re proud to celebrate the achievements of our colleagues across the agency.”
Kowaney is the first agent to come up through UTA’s University High Mentorship Program, which offers grants, college scholarships and internships for under-represented students in L.A. She began at the agency in high school under a mentor before being offered an internship ahead of college.
She, along with Alberstone, Duchon, Preciado, Schoch, landed a spot in the agency’s mailroom. Kowaney is now a mentor in the program where she got her start.
The agency also promoted 20 assistants to coordinators in music, television literary, digital, speakers, theatre, tour marketing, books, corporate services and UTA IQ across its L.A., New York and London offices.