At Valency, we recognize that projects come together through the collaborative effort, time and talent of the teams driving their success.
About Us
Valency is a Construction Industry Institute (CII) Registered Provider and Member company,
and a Recertification Points Provider for the CCM (Certified Construction Manager) designation.
We have supported clients across a broad range of sectors, including:
Manufacturing
Life Sciences
Power
Petrochemical
Transmission and Distribution
Refining
Facilites
Health Care
Federal Agencies
Water and Wastewater
We are a proud Construction Industry Institute (CII) member and a Recertification Points Provider for the CCM designation with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). We specialize in the implementation of CII best practices across all phases of the project process, including front end planning, the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), risk management, portfolio management, scope control and change management.
The Valency Difference
- We are experts in capital project best practises, understanding the impact of organizational change on all project stakeholders.
- We offer an agnostic approach to advising, with no underlying affiliations with third-party technology companies.
- Our team has 100+ years combined experience advising and facilitating in capital projects in both public and private sectors.
- We specialize in keeping processes streamlined and lean, by eliminating waste, in accordance with Lean Construction Institute fundamentals.
- Our team members are experts on the “human variable” aspect of project team alignment. We understand how complex stakeholder dynamics can impact project delivery, and work with our clients to identify issues and risks and transform them into opportunities.
- We are laser focused on proven practises that will improve cost and schedule predictability.
We stand apart in our industry because we stand with you. We instill confidence, nurture team alignment, and help you achieve project certainty and predictability.
Our Team
Our Advisors
Sandra MacGillivray
Managing Director
Sandra founded Valency in 2013. She is an advisor on CII best practices whose interfacing mastery brings sustainability and functional leadership to the lifespan of the capital project. Serving as a member on CII research teams, including front end planning, risk management and portfolio metrics research, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the capital project life cycle. Sandra is a Certified PDRI Facilitator, working with both large capital projects and sustaining projects. She holds a Bachelor of Science (University of Waterloo), an MBA (Wilfrid Laurier University) and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP).
David Mills
Director of Consulting, Commissioning & Operational Readiness
David brings extensive experience in Operations, Project and Program Management across several industries including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Goods, Agriculture, Nuclear Energy and Oil & Gas. Throughout his career, David has delivered proven results through process optimization and continuous improvement and looks forward to working with Valency’s clients to achieve predictable project performance in the transition from Construction to Commissioning and Startup. He holds a Bachelor of Technology (Memorial University), an MBA (Royal Roads University) and is a Project Management Professional (PMP).
John Zhao
Senior Consultant, Canada
John brings over 30 years of major capital project experience, including quantitative risk analysis, PMO governance, project controls and construction readiness to Valency. His experience spans the Oil & Gas, mining, pipelines, public works, pharmaceutical, and buildings sectors. He is also an instructor on project risk management and @RISK Monte Carlo simulation. John holds a Masters in Project Management (Construction) from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle.
Mary Kay Garcia
Senior Consultant, USA
Mary Kay Garcia is an industry expert in commissioning, startup and operational readiness for pharmaceutical facilitates spanning North America, Central America, Europe and Asia. She served as the Global process owner for commissioning and qualification with Eli Lilly and was the Chair of CII Research Team 333 “Transitions Between Pre-Commissioning, Commissioning and Start-up.” Mary Kay holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.
Our Facilitators
Nell van Walsum
Senior Consultant, Canada
Nell is a Certified PDRI Facilitator, delivering services in English and French. She brings over 30 years of leadership experience to Valency from her career in environmental consulting. Nell is an instructor for courses including PDRI, Risk Management and Facilitation Skills & Techniques. She holds a B.A in Geology and a M.Sc. in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo.
Raul Fuentes
Senior Consultant, Chile
Raul is a Certified PDRI Facilitator, delivering services in Spanish and English. He brings over 40 years of global mining experience to Valency from senior positions with Codelco, SNC Lavalin and SKM. Raul is an expert facilitator of workshops in risk management, front end planning, business alignment, construction readiness and operational readiness. Raul is a Metallurgical Civil Engineer (Santiago University) and holds a Master’s in Marketing & Commercial Management (ESEM, Espana).
Tim Podesta
Senior Consultant, UK
Tim is a Certified PDRI Facilitator and advisor in front end planning, investment analysis and project assurance benchmarking. He brings over 30 years of experience in the Oil & Gas, petrochemical and energy industry to Valency. Tim is past team member with multiple CII research projects . He holds an MA in Engineering from Cambridge University and an MBA from Warwick Business School.
Our Staff
Eve Martin
Project Consultant
Eve works closely with our Senior Consultants and is a Co-facilitator for PDRI, Construction Readiness and Commissioning & Operational Readiness Assessments. Eve is also our Quality Assurance Lead for Carve, Valency’s web-based project assurance tool.
Erica Pietroniro
Data Analyst
Erica is a certified Microsoft Data Analyst Associate supporting Valency’s data analytics and benchmarking programs. She also serves as a Co-facilitator for PDRI, Construction Readiness and Commissioning & Operational Readiness Assessments.
Alisia Martel
Marketing Communications
Alisia leads Valency’s communications, marketing and training. She brings extensive experience in training and deployment of enterprise software to Valency. Alisia is a member of CII’s Deployment Committee and past member on CII research projects.
Strategic Vision
We orchestrate large groups with ease, managing cross-functional teams through trusted guidance. Interacting professionally with internal and external stakeholders across all levels of interest and influence, we enhance stakeholder engagement throughout the capital project life cycle. We instill confidence in project teams by nurturing their capacities and managing resources effectively.
Functional Leadership
We are doers who endure. Our disciplined and focused approach to functional execution inspires a smooth transition for teams new to the industry’s latest capital project management practices and procedures. The Valency team’s specialized hands-on capital project management knowledge, Certified PDRI Facilitator expertise, and demonstrated risk assessment abilities help capital project leaders achieve cost and schedule certainty throughout the capital project life cycle.
Our Advisors
With extensive capital project experience and knowledge, our advisors implement proven processes that support the needs of the $100M+ capital portfolio. We advise on portfolio investments with the goal to create value and ensure the greatest return for your organization. Our advisors are attentive to your needs, offering sound, neutral advice aimed at building confidence and trust.
Contact Us
We build certainty into your Capital Project Life Cycle.