Our commitment is to support our clients' entrance into international markets.  We help ensure that clients understand what will be required for entrance into the target market, assist in preparing them for that effort, and then identify target customers or partners. Our role includes seeking in-country appointments with prospective partners on our clients' behalf.  We also develop and lead trade missions, both inbound and outbound for government and non-profit entities.

With close to twenty years of experience in international trade, we are well positioned to support companies expanding into the international arena. Our solid international business and financial background gives us the unique ability to effectively analyze different options and their financial impact, as well as define next steps for moving into international markets.  Because of the successful entrance of many of our clients into different industries from various regions, we know what to expect and how to prepare our clients.

Van Vleet Associates has a deep background in finance, with extensive experience in developing and tracking operating budgets, capital plans and pro formas statements. This familiarity with numbers, overlaid by our experience in creating business plans, give us the unique ability to assist in the development of a strategic course of action, substantiated by figures that reflect the client's anticipated levels of activity.

Additionally, our team has led several inbound and outbound trade missions for different government agencies and non profits. Our missions are unique given  the caliber and scope of program we put together, and truly reflect the client's needs.

Tara Van Vleet, Director, Van Vleet Associates has worked in international business for private and public entities for more than 20 years.  In her most recent position as Director, US Market Development for the Australian Government, her main responsibilities included the support and successful entrance of Australian companies into the US market. Her programs included the development and coordination of successful software missions, in different verticals segments into the USA, as well as supporting companies from a wide variety of industries: bio-technology, food, retail, etc. Prior to that, as Manager Trade & Economic Development, Port of Seattle, one of her responsibilities was to lead outbound missions of US-based companies into South East Asia to seek vendors, introductions to foreign governments for access to markets, and manufacturing opportunities. Her responsibilities also included working with local municipalities to identify different ways to attract foreign direct investment/(FDI) into their communities. Throughout her career, Tara has always utilized her strong analytical background to create and track financial activity for projects that she has been involved in, including the preparation of yearly budgets and creation of capital/investment project analysis (IRR, NPV, etc.). She has also been involved in the development of many business plans, domestic and foreign, which included financial projections based on reasonable operational assumptions.

Tara has a Bachelor of Finance and Accounting, as well as a Masters in International Business from Thunderbird. She is based in Seattle and lives with her husband and two children.