Meet the Partners
Valerie Delaney brings both an entrepreneurial spirit and more than 35 years of operations and project management experience to The Valisade Group team. Her focus on customer service, project management, process improvement, and accounting and financial management has led to her success in working with both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Val has led 501(c)3 and 501(c)6 associations such as The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Construction Owners Association of America, and Association of Destination Management Executives International in the areas of operations and infrastructure, accounting and finance, membership and chapter service, training and education, governance, database management, website development, convention sales, publications, in-house graphic design, visitor center messaging and management, special events planning and execution, warehousing and distribution, facility management, and volunteer and staff training and development. She has planned meetings, conferences, and conventions ranging in size from 25 to 20,000 attendees; developed and managed budgets ranging in size from $400K to $24M; and managed website and technology solutions for both not-for-profit and for profit institutions.
Lisa DeGolyer is a seasoned professional in association and event management, with over 35 years of experience building meaningful relationships and driving success across the hospitality and tourism sectors. Her career includes impactful roles with notable industry organizations like the National Tour Association and the Travel and Tourism Research Association. In 2003, Lisa co-founded DeGolFISH & Company (now the Valisade Group), where she played an instrumental role in developing the Construction Owners Association of America's operations from the ground up. She established key organizational infrastructure, created a corporate sponsorship program, built the staff, developed a chapter organization plan, and applied her expertise in project management to organize and deliver profitable conferences and meetings nationwide.
Now back in the hospitality industry, Lisa oversees the sourcing, planning, and execution of her current client’s annual conference, sponsorship program, certification and accreditation programs, scholarship initiatives, and educational webinar series. Known for her turnaround expertise, she combines strategic insight with genuine compassion, creating lasting value and meaningful change for her clients.