We borrowed this week’s question from Luke Haase, publisher of the Traverse City Business News.  The topic is the recent series of mergers or partnerships between local organizations and larger entities from bigger cities:  Munson and Spectrum Health, Greenridge Realty and Keller-Williams, Rehmann and an Ohio accounting firm, and the Wharton Center agreement to run the Opera House discussed here a few weeks ago. 

What might all this mean for Traverse City?  Is it good news that we are on the ‘radar screens’ of big-city companies?  Are we losing a little local control here?  How do we leverage our Traverse City “brand” to attract dollars and jobs here while maintaining our uniqueness? 

Post a comment here, and check out Luke’s story in the Business News.  http://www.tcbusinessnews.com/