'Operation: Take Command' Winner Welcomes Customers

MIAMI — U.S. Army Captain Robert Kemna, a winner of 7-Eleven's "Operation: Take Command" contest, and his wife Lily opened their new franchise store Wednesday, reported CBS Miami. The 7-Eleven c-store and gas station is located at 12720 SW 200 St. in Miami.

Kemna is one of three military veterans who received a waiver of 7-Eleven Inc.'s franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000, after the Dallas-based retailer decided that the contest finalists' submissions were too strong to choose only one winner, as CSNews Online previously reported.

"I went through it as a learning experience to see how far I could go," said Kemna, who served 15 years with the Army Reserve and 10 years on active duty, including one tour in Afghanistan.

The married couple decided they wanted to work together after getting married in January, and soon came across 7-Eleven's contest.

"It's a great, challenging experience. I'm learning a lot," Kemna told the news outlet. "I'm learning how to transition all the skills I learned in the military to civilian life, especially when you talk about being adaptable and being able to change."

He hopes to own multiple stores in the near future, Kemna added.