Connections Matter

2 min read | August 28, 2024 | Jenny Gaines, SOCMA Vice President of Membership

Have you ever heard, “It’s all about who you know?” This truth has never been more evident to me than in connections I’ve witnessed this past year within the SOCMA membership.

I’ve seen industry colleagues come together to tackle regulatory and policy challenges, leading to positive outcomes. Members have shared best practices, strengthening their manufacturing and operations, while direct business connections have been forged through our SOCMA Show and commercial tools. 

In a time of significant upheaval in the business and regulatory landscape, the connections your company can make within SOCMA are vital to the health of not only your business but also the specialty chemical sector. Now is the time to lean into your trade association and connect with your peers and industry colleagues to navigate and overcome these challenges and identify opportunities for growth.  And there’s no better place to do this than at the upcoming SOCMA Summit, taking place on October 29-30, 2024. The Summit is where the power of connection truly comes to life. It’s your chance to engage directly with senior-level executives and exchange ideas and information that will benefit and significantly impact your company.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this industry, people like to do business with people they know! Here are just a few examples of what I’ve witnessed and the impact they’ve had on our members and the industry: 

  • Earlier this year, SOCMA released a Lead Sheet through our B2B matchmaking service at an industry trade show. One member attending the show expressed interest in the project immediately. SOCMA shared this with the requesting company, which was also on-site. Within an hour, the two companies were discussing the project, and the member later commented, “I don’t know who I need to thank, but that’s what you call customer service!”
  • Recently, a longtime SOCMA member had an opportunity to attend an event with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. To prepare for the meeting, he immediately reached out to our SOCMA Government Relations team. That same day, our team provided a concise one-pager on key issues to present to the Secretary. The member later shared, “With SOCMA, we can pick up the phone and get the advice and information we need. The staff is passionate, thoughtful, timely, and accessible.” 
  • Two members, who previously didn’t know each other, met through SOCMA and are now doing business together. They noted that without SOCMA’s connectivity, they might never have crossed paths. 

These are just a few examples of how SOCMA connections make a tangible difference. I encourage you to leverage these relationships and see for yourself the impact they can have on your business and industry. 

I will leave you with this final thought from a longtime SOCMA Board Member that I believe sums up both the power and exclusivity of SOCMA connections: 

“SOCMA is big enough to make a difference in DC, but “intimate” enough to develop meaningful relationships with industry partners.” 

Dave Mielke 
President & CEO 
ChemDesign

 

 

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