95. Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA), on B2B Networking, Nuanced Advocacy, and Membership Being a Business Imperative

How do you distill your organization’s signature member benefits to create focus in your association? How do you make membership a business imperative?In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA). Jennifer discusses:How her members are contract chemical manufacturers or divisions within larger companies that create small batch specialty chemicals for a huge spread of industries across the country.How SOCMA focuses on three things:B2B NetworkingAdvocacySafetySOCMA has different ways to connect members, including:On online directory that lets companies find contract manufacturers based on the most specific of capabilities.Lead sheets that allow companies to specify their needs, with help from a SOCMA members; these lead sheets are circulated to all members. To date, nearly 300 lead sheets have gone out to members, and an estimated 55% have resulted in business for members.A tradeshow that connects companies with members.SOCMA had sold its tradeshow many years ago and when they did, they realized that the industry lost a critical way to network, share and find partners. Many years later, SOCMA bought a tradeshow and is on the way back to a thriving show.How SOCMA advocates to regulators around the special circumstances of contract manufacturers, who manufacture different chemical on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.How SOCMA provides members with a suite of safety trainings and guidance documents.SOCMA membership is growing and the organization is thriving.The new SOCMA strategic plan calls for SOCMA membership to become a “business imperative” - we love this bold thinking and messaging!References:SOCMASOCMA Show