Executive Chairman
Washington Network Group
Phone: 202-455-4504 (office)
Email:

Member: WNG Board of Advisors

Bill Stokes works with leaders to improve their professional performance, and advises clients on executive search and business development strategies. Bill is an executive leadership coach, and concurrently serves as Executive Chairman of the Washington Network Group (WNG), an association of senior-level executives in private sector firms, nonprofit organizations, multilateral institutions, government agencies, the Congress, foreign embassies, and the media. He founded the WNG in 1995.

Previously, Bill worked as a consultant to corporations and emerging companies, non-governmental organizations and economic development agencies, designing and executing business development strategies with an emphasis on sales and marketing implementation. His client work included counsel on business intelligence; political, economic and country risk assessment; government relations and  public affairs; media relations and corporate communications; foreign market entry; and trade and investment promotion.

Bill is a seasoned non-profit leader, having served as Director of Development at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), Additionally, he was Chief of Staff to the President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in Washington, D.C.; and Program Director at the National Council for International Trade Development (NCITD).

Bill pursued graduate studies in business and European politics at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He holds an undergraduate degree in international affairs from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he minored in German studies. Bill also attended the Universität Trier in Germany and Georgetown University.

Bill's personal leadership commitments have included board-level work with RecruitDC (founding steering committee); the International Business Council (IBC) of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (founding steering committee); the Institute of Entrepreneurship at Shenandoah University Business School (advisory board); the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C. (board of directors, executive committee); the Phillips Exeter Academy alumni/ae association of Washington, D.C. (president); First Tuesday Washington, D.C. (city leader); the German American Business Association (GABA) in Washington, D.C. (founding board member); and the Manfred-Wörner-Seminar for German-American Understanding (director). Additionally, Bill is a member of The Metropolitan Club of Washington, D.C.

Bill has coached youth soccer for many years, and led his team to an undefeated season and division championship in 2010.



Relevant Presentations and Interviews:

 2011-October 14: "International Trade Career Roundtable: Networking - Old Style and New Style" (presenter)
           Washington International Trade Association (WITA)

 2010-April 13: "Networking in Washington, D.C." (presenter)
           Hope Fellowships

 2010-April 7: "Networking Strategies for Business Executives" (presenter)
           Women in Business

 2010-February 1: "Networking & Job Seeking in the Policy World" (panelist)
           Washington International Trade Association (WITA)

 2009-October 29: "Networking Tips from a Pro"
           DC Works

 2009-October 25: "Go Back to School to Smooth Career Changes"
           The Washington Post

 2009-September 13: "Networking 101: Build Relationships and Advance Your Career"
           The Washington Post

 2009-September 10: "The Power of Networking: Building a Strategy that Works"
           CXO Forum

 2009-July 9: "The Importance of Networking and How to Be Successful at It"
           National Albanian American Council (NAAC)

 2009-March 25: "Social Media & Career Transitions" (moderator)
           Washington Network Group (WNG)

 2008-December 2: "Managing Your Next Career Transition" (moderator)
           Washington Network Group (WNG)

 2008-September 29: "The Power of Networking"
           Association of Women In International Trade (WIIT)