After my eight years at TRSA, it’s hard to believe that we continue to hear this as a reason for not joining or participating in TRSA, especially since it couldn’t be further from the truth. This misperception or excuse is very disheartening because independent operators drive the vast majority of initiatives TRSA invests in every year.

TRSA is run by every member. Each company, regardless of its sales volume, has one vote at our annual membership meeting. Each may only have one representative on the Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee. As a result, independents comprise the vast majority ...