When retired veteran Marine Staff Sgt. veteran Jean Cetoute couldn’t find a government job he wanted, he began dreaming about looked into the idea of becoming his own boss.
The retired staff noncommissioned officer sergeant Cetoute thought owning a franchise might be the best thing for his family. After some a lot of research, he noticed that there was one company that kept popping up 7-Eleven was always in the Top 5 on lists of top best franchises: 7-Eleven.
It was right around this time that 7-Eleven was holding a contest for military veterans like Cetoute who were searching for their next mission. The Dallas-based convenience store chain — and home of the Big Gulp — was awarding a franchise to a lucky vet as the top prize in its second annual "Operation: Take Command" contest. He was visiting went to the company's 7-Eleven website to get find more information, and that’s when he saw there was a contest specifically for veterans.
"I thought, ‘We might not have to buy it because they’re giving one away.’" he said Cetoute, who served as an electrician and hazardous material specialist during his 20-year career in the Marine Corps.Cetoute, a retired staff sergeant, was right.
Out of 11,000 entries, veterans who applied to Operation: Take Command, Cetoute was officially announced as the Operation: Take Command winner on Thursday. June 23 His prize was with a 7-Eleven store valued at $190,000 the prize.
Cetoute, who retired from the Marine Corps in 2014, said he's looking forward to feeling that sense of community again.
"I feel like I just signed a new contract — I'm back in," he said.
A new kind of leadership
Cetoute said he was drawn to He said he’s fascinated by the way 7-Eleven because he saw similarities between the way the chain operates and because its concept matches that of the military culture.
"When I succeed, they succeed," he said. "[And] they give you so much support to make that happen."
Retired Marine Staff Sgt. Jean Cetoute, left, meets 7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto, an Army veteran. Cetoute was this year's winner in the Operation: Take Command contest, which awards a veteran a 7-Eleven franchise.
Photo Credit: 7-Eleven
Brian Mulcahy, the franchise sales representative at 7-Eleven, said the organization will train Cetoute on will be trained on the store's systems and technology that the stores operate on. Company support includes weekly site visits from field consultants.
"They're their individual owners, but we're here to guide them," Mulcahy said.
Cetoute, who lives in North Carolina, chose a franchise in Stony Point, New York, because it’s near family. He was raised by his aunt in Brooklyn, New York, after moving to the U.S. from Haiti when he was 13. He plans to and he said he will eventually relocate move back to the state with his wife and children to run his new store.
With 20 years of service in the Marines, Cetoute he said he’s eager to bring his military experience to his new business. "I've been doing this system for 20 years," he said. Cetoute said hHaving 12-15 employees in his store is similar to leading a small unit."Beyond just paying them, it’s to care for the person," he said.
His goal is to be more than just a boss, though — he wants to be a leader and mentor, too.
"If you can do that for everyone that works in your store, you're going to have quality individuals," he said.
Call from the Corps
Cetoute grew up in Haiti until he was 13 and moved to Brooklyn to be raised by his aunt.
"Being a child not from the United States, I was not very familiar with the armed forces from the United States," he said.
After he graduated high school, his aunt wasn't able to afford sending Cetoute to college. Then one night around 10 p.m., he received a phone call.
"I almost got in trouble for it," he laughed. "I wasn't supposed to get phone calls after 9."
The man on the other end of the line was a Marine Corps recruiter who had gotten Cetoute's name from a list of recent high school graduates.
"Thirty days later, I was left, right, left," he said.
7-Eleven seeks vets
Mulcahy said veterans are a good fit for within 7-Eleven because what they learned in the military translates well into the company.
"We are a fast-paced environment, and sometimes decisions have to be made on the fly," he said. "Veterans have good judgment and get it done no matter what it takes."
The convenience store chain 7-Eleven offers a 20 percent discount on the franchise fee for all first-time, qualified veterans.
Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
