A Navy veteran from Laurel is one of the 10 semi-finalists nationally to receive a 7-Eleven store without paying franchise fees in a give-away contest that ends this month.
Three finalists in Operation: Take Command will be decided by public voting on 7-Eleven's FB page. Voting began Monday and runs through March 29. The finalists will then be interviewed by 7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto. The winner will be announced in May.
The Laurel semi-finalist, Raymond Kempisty, a retired Navy lieutenant commander, joins four other semi-finalists who are from Virginia and Maryland. He retired from the Navy in 1994 and is currently the deputy chief operating officer for the Veterans Health Administration Procurement and Logistics Office.
As part of the competition, entrants created videos to pitch their cause of becoming 7-Eleven franchise owners. In his video, Kempisty sits on a mechanical bull, shares the story of his extended family's military service and says he is "ready for the ride" of starting a new career as a store owner.
To see videos created by the 10 semi-finalists, including Kempisty, go to facebook.com/7ElevenFranchising.
The 10 semi-finalists, all military veterans, were selected from 1,700 entries, and include one woman. The winner receives a waiver of the franchise fee, as much as $190,000, and can choose from any 7-Eleven stores that are available in the U.S.
"We have been amazed at the huge interest and outstanding quality of those who have applied for a franchise fee-free 7-Eleven store in our Operation: Take Command contest," 7-Eleven vice president of franchise systems Greg Franks said in a released statement. "Choosing a winner will be tough because of the high caliber of these 10 individuals and we are counting on the public to make the decision on who advances to the final round."
The corporation will donate $1 for every vote cast to Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit that helps service members and spouses transition to civilian life.