For more than 40 years, Bill Shook has helped companies evaluate international opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, negotiate with foreign partners, develop buyers and suppliers, and move cross-border business forward.
Opening Doors in Markets Most Consultants Have Never Visited.
Experience across China, Poland, Cambodia, Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, Portugal, Belgium, Mongolia, Ethiopia, Mexico, and other international markets.
If you are unsure about a foreign buyer, supplier, distributor, market, quote, shipment, or business opportunity — get experienced eyes on it before you commit.
Bill Shook has worked across decades of international business development, helping companies and organizations evaluate opportunities, build relationships, negotiate terms, open markets, and avoid costly mistakes in unfamiliar business environments.
"I would like to express my appreciation for your help in arranging the discussions between the China State Economic Planning Commission delegation and the World Bank, UN, Department of Commerce, and the Los Angeles Mayor's office. Again, thank you for your work in helping increase U.S. exports."
— Robert E. Rubin
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
The White House, December 13, 1994
This recognition reflects Bill Shook's long-standing role in helping connect international business opportunities with U.S. export, trade, and commercial development objectives.

Need More Than a Consultant?
If you are entering China or another international market, a consultant may help you with import or export.
But you may also need someone who understands the business realities behind the contract.
Bill Shook and his team of experts help companies evaluate international opportunities, develop business relationships, review risks, coordinate strategy, and avoid mistakes before money, inventory, reputation, or years of effort are put at risk.
If legal support is needed, we can help connect you with qualified legal professionals.
But our primary value is practical business judgment built from decades of real international work.
Bill Shook has spent more than four decades working at the intersection of international business development, trade facilitation, and cross-border commercial strategy. His career began during China's early economic opening and has expanded to include work across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and emerging markets worldwide.
His background includes direct experience with import/export operations, international sourcing, buyer and supplier development, market-entry strategy, cross-cultural negotiation, and commercial project coordination. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, government-related trade initiatives, financial institutions, and private-sector businesses of all sizes.
Bill Shook's approach is practical and commercially grounded. He does not write theoretical reports. He helps clients understand what is actually happening in a deal, what the risks are, and what to do next.
Historical Experience That Few Advisors Can Claim
Bill Shook's China and international business experience reaches back to the early opening of U.S.–China commercial relations. He is often referred to as a "China business pioneer." His work has included helping Honda understand and enter the China market before its major 1994 investment, assisting China-related decisions connected to more than $4 billion in U.S. exports, helping Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) purchase their first U.S. ATM equipment, exporting some of the first donut-making equipment to China, launching one of the early authorized franchise businesses in China, and serving as U.S. Chief Representative for one of China's largest machinery and equipment import-export corporations.
He also helped coordinate high-level training, meetings, and institutional introductions involving the United Nations, U.S. Congress, the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, and other organizations used by Chinese officials studying international economic development.
This is the difference between ordinary consulting and lived international business judgment. Bill helps companies understand the deal, the people, the risks, the relationships, and the strategy behind the opportunity.
International business rarely fails because of one obvious problem. It usually fails because of misunderstood expectations, weak local verification, poor negotiation structure, unclear responsibilities, unreliable partners, payment misunderstandings, quality-control gaps, or cultural misreading.
Bill Shook helps clients think through the deal before they commit money, inventory, reputation, or executive time.
Evaluate whether a market, partner, product, or opportunity is realistic before major commitments are made.
Help structure business conversations, commercial expectations, buyer/supplier terms, and relationship strategy.
Support companies seeking to export U.S. products, source products internationally, or build cross-border trade channels.
Review practical business risks before clients rely on a supplier, distributor, buyer, agent, or local partner.
Provide experienced judgment when communication breaks down, terms shift, shipments stall, or expectations become unclear.
Help clients understand how business decisions are actually made in different markets, not just how they appear on paper.
Bill Shook's background extends beyond one country or region. His work has included international business development, trade facilitation, market-entry support, commercial introductions, negotiations, sourcing, export development, and project coordination across multiple markets.
China remains one important area of experience, but the broader value is international business judgment developed across many markets, industries, and deal environments.
In Poland, Bill Shook supported early international business and investment discussions during the country's transition into global markets, including work connected to Polish economic and trade officials and joint venture development.
In Belgium, his work was connected to Sepp Group / Sepp Finance Ltd., which maintained European offices and supported international trade, finance, and business-development activity.
Bill Shook was the International President of Bridgecreek International in Westminster, California (known as Little Saigon). It is the largest Vietnamese community in the U.S. He was responsible for running the International Business Development operations with U.S., Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Chinese companies and organizations, in cooperation with the President of Bridgecreek Inc., Mr. Frank Jao. During 1990-1992, he helped arrange many Vietnamese and Chinese companies to meet with companies in the U.S. for potential cooperation and trade. His department was also a conduit for sharing information about the development and opportunities for U.S. companies to resume business in Vietnam. Later, Mr. Shook returned to Vietnam and met with the Central Bank of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam, and represented U.S. companies such as Austin Engineering Inc. for potential cooperation with Vietnamese companies.
In Cambodia, his work included import/export and business-development activity connected to agricultural equipment and industry development.
In Mexico, Bill Shook's international business background includes consulting and business-development discussions connected to Grupo Azteca / Banco Azteca-related interests.
A focused advisory session to review a proposed international business opportunity, export idea, supplier relationship, buyer lead, or market-entry decision.
For U.S. companies seeking international buyers, distributors, agents, or commercial opportunities.
For companies sourcing products internationally and needing experienced eyes before sending funds or scaling orders.
For larger cross-border projects requiring commercial judgment, coordination, introductions, negotiation planning, and issue resolution.
This service is designed for business owners, exporters, importers, manufacturers, investors, product companies, distributors, and executives who need practical international business guidance before making expensive decisions.
Companies that want to export products, develop overseas channels, or evaluate buyer/distributor opportunities.
Businesses sourcing goods, components, food products, industrial products, packaging, equipment, or consumer products internationally.
Companies evaluating overseas opportunities, commercial partnerships, or international sales channels.
Founders or owners considering a cross-border business opportunity and needing experienced review before committing capital.
Lawyers, accountants, consultants, and financial advisors who need business-side international insight for client projects.
Bill Shook brings the perspective of someone who has spent decades inside real international business situations — not just writing reports from a distance. His value comes from knowing how deals move, where they break, how trust is built, and when a client should slow down, renegotiate, verify, or walk away.
"The goal is not to make every opportunity look attractive. The goal is to help clients make better international business decisions before money, reputation, or leverage is at risk."
Over his career, Bill Shook has provided international business information, advisory support, introductions, market-entry insight, sourcing guidance, and commercial development assistance involving major companies, institutions, and private-sector opportunities.
IBM, AT&T, General Electric, Ford, Honda, Diebold, Grumman, Lear Siegler
World Bank, Swiss Bank, KPMG Peat Marwick, First American Title, Prudential Realty
Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Schlotzsky's Deli, Yum Brands, Gallo, Tropicana, Sunkist, Sweet Street Desserts
U.S. Department of Commerce, California Governor's Office, Nevada Trade Department, Municipality of Anchorage, and international delegation-related projects
Representative names reflect historical advisory, market-information, business-development, or related project experience. Engagement types varied by project and time period.
Best for reviewing a proposed international deal, discussing export opportunities, evaluating supplier or buyer concerns, or getting practical next steps before committing resources.
For companies needing ongoing advisory support for international business development, sourcing, export planning, buyer/supplier coordination, or negotiation preparation.
For larger cross-border projects, export initiatives, market-entry work, partner evaluation, commercial introductions, or complex deal advisory.

Clear communication is often the difference between progress and costly misunderstanding. When needed, Bill Shook's advisory work can include support for international communication, presentation preparation, cultural review, and professional Mandarin Chinese communication through experienced specialists.
Mandarin Chinese communication support may be directed by Su Yang, a former international broadcaster with extensive professional voice and communication experience.
Communication support is available as a component of broader advisory engagements when appropriate to the project.
Bill Shook has provided strategic international business guidance to a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to private enterprises and government entities, across key global markets.










Whether you are exporting U.S. products, sourcing internationally, negotiating with a foreign partner, evaluating a buyer, or considering market entry, the right guidance early can prevent expensive mistakes later.
International business development • Export advisory • Import/export strategy • Supplier and buyer review • Cross-border negotiation support
International Business Guidance for Companies Ready to Export, Source, Negotiate, or Expand.