Meet Our Panel:

Liz LaCava
Director of Business Development
Powerstation Events

Liz has been with Powerstation since 2001, with areas of expertise in business development, sales and customer service.

Liz opens the line of communication between clients, customers, and businesses to get events done successfully. With more than 20 years of working with both public and private sectors, Liz has experience in management consultation, team building, professional development, strategic implementation, and company collaboration. In addition to her full-time role with Powerstation Events, Liz has been on the Board Of Directors for Meeting Professionals International Connecticut River Valley Chapter for over five years and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Easterseals of Greater Waterbury and Northwest Connecticut region.  Balancing the everyday demands of our growing business, Liz handles her responsibilities with grace and a smile. 



Tom King
Corporate Event Manager
Powerstation Events

Powerstation Events & 2020:

In 2020, Powerstation Events quickly pivoted to providing virtual and hybrid event services.  Some of their long time clients, such as HARC and the YWCA of Greater Hartford, had to transition from live events to virtual.  Powerstation Events assisted their clients with videography services, editing of new and existing footage, storyboarding out a scripted “show”, along with integrating fundraising services and streaming platforms to help their clients stay connect with their constituents during a very challenging year.


Powerstation Events has provided production services to four out of the last five sitting Presidents of the United States as well as special event for the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.

Working with corporate and nonprofit clients for their largest events and fundraisers, Liz and the corporate/ nonprofit team at Powerstation events do over 400 events per year:

• Trinity Health New England - Multi Hospital Gala
• ESPN
• Webster Bank
• TD Bank
• XL Center Hartford
• UCONN Athletics
• UCONN Office of the President
• HARC Annual Auction
• The Alzheimers Association: Walks, Galas & Educational Sessions
•  Yale University

John Washko
Vice President of Expo & Convention Sales
Mohegan Sun

John Washko is the Vice President of Expo & Convention Sales at Mohegan Sun, located in Mystic Country, CT.   In this role, he is responsible for leading the Expo & Convention sales team, setting the overall strategic direction and goals while achieving revenue targets for Mohegan Sun. 

Washko is a veteran in luxury hospitality sales and marketing with over 25 years of experience. Most recently, Washko was the Vice President of Group Marketing and Sales for Atlantis, Paradise Island. Prior to that role, Washko was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Elite Meetings International, a hospitality marketing and technology company.   Prior to that role, Washko was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the historic The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Washko currently sits on HSMAI’s Americas Board Executive Committee as Chair Elect as well as the board of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. Past roles include chairing HSMAI’s Resort Marketing Advisory Board. Additionally, for the Colorado Springs CVB, he chaired both the Board as well as the Marketing Committee. In 2010, Washko received The Resort Marketer of Year award from HSMAI; and in 2015, HSMAI recognized him as one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing. Washko received his BS from James Madison University.

Kristin Beth Ferris
President & Chief Creative Officer
Ferris Events

Kristin Beth Ferris is highly regarded in the event planning industry and currently serves as President & Chief Creative Officer of Ferris Events – a full-service event planning, marketing, sponsorship & promotions company based in Connecticut.  Her 27-year event career began in the family interior design business and transitioned to Riverfront Recapture where she was the Events Coordinator and ultimately the Director of Events & Marketing.

Kristin’s wealth of knowledge and experience from Riverfront Recapture provided her with a first-class foundation to start a business of her own in 2005. With a diverse client base and many successful events to her credit, Kristin is considered an expert in the industry. 

Ferris Events & 2020:

This years’ pandemic proves to be challenging, yet Kristin has been able to successfully pivot from planning, in-person events to virtual, hybrid events as well as other strategies. Her technical expertise, creative problem solving, and reassuring demeanor, have helped her clients relax and reinvent their events & strategies for 2021 and beyond.