Through her active membership with the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Barbara Oldums, president and CEO of Industrial Solutions Company, built successful connections for her business and gained impactful mentors.

“Being a Chamber Member gives you automatic recognition and an instant connection with people in the community,” Oldums said. “When you invest in a membership at the Chamber and start getting involved, your business will grow.”

Founded in 2011, Industrial Solutions Company distributes janitorial and safety supplies, including portable toilets, jobsite trailers, hand wash stations, traffic barriers, and more. Their business took off when they joined the Chamber in 2017, Oldums said. Their Chamber connections generated successful business referrals including the Texas Rangers, the City of Arlington, DFW Airport, Tarrant County and the University of Texas at Arlington. 

“We wouldn’t be able to get the referrals we have if we had not connected with Chamber Members,” Oldums said.

Her connections also helped develop her business through collaboration and mentorship. Chamber relationships provide a deeper connection because these are people who have experienced the same struggles and difficulties as each other.

“Through the Chamber, I created a network of friends,” she said. “We don’t feel like we’re doing it by ourselves. If we get stuck or run into problems, we have people that we can look to as mentors, who can give us advice and suggestions to fix the situation.”

The advice Oldums received from Chamber Members exponentially changed her business, and now she’s become one of the advice-givers.

When Oldums first joined the Chamber, she committed to go to as many events as she could because she wanted to get involved and build her contacts. Business Over Breakfast and Chamber After Hours provide great networking opportunities because you typically see the same people but also have the chance to create new connections, Oldums said. She attended what she described as her “staple events” each year: Annual Dinner, State of the City and State of the County. These Major Events allowed her to meet people she may not see anywhere else while also staying informed on news in the community.

From the beginning of her membership, Oldums joined the Women’s Alliance, one of the six Member Groups. 

“The women you get to know in the Women’s Alliance are incredible,” Oldums said. “They have so much knowledge and wisdom to share that will directly impact you and your business.”

After several years of membership at the general level, Oldums recently upgraded to a Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) member.

“When we decided to reach for the next level with our business, we knew we needed to invest in a CLC membership,” Oldums said. “It’s one of the best decisions we’ve ever made because through Major Investor events, we’ve been introduced to the decision makers in the City and in the County.”

The Chamber also provides Oldums the opportunity to give back to the community through the annual school supply drive and the annual toy drive.

Oldums’s biggest advice to new members is to consistently attend events, introduce yourself and build those relationships.

“Don’t join and get discouraged when nothing happens immediately,” she said. “You have to be involved and build those relationships. It takes time, but the opportunities will come.”

The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce is the catalyst for growing our members’ business, fostering economic prosperity, amplifying the voice of business and developing our community’s future. Through year-round events, members build lasting relationships and learn crucial strategies to grow their business. Interested in becoming a member? Contact Bryan Weatherford, Director of Member Recruitment.

Learn more about how Industrial Solutions Company can provide your company  janitorial and safety supplies here.