Month: April 2015

Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno announces Hire Heroes USA as featured charity

BRASELTON, Ga. — The American Junior Golf Association’s Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno will partner with the Hire Heroes USA national nonprofit organization as the featured tournament charity. Money raised from the tournament will go towards the nonprofit, as well as the AJGA’s Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant.
Hire Heroes USA seeks to empower veterans, veteran employers and the community at large to turn obstacles into opportunities. They empower veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses by building the confidence and skills necessary to seek civilian employment through free, individualized programs delivered through online and telephone career coaching and transition workshops.
Hire Heroes USA focuses on developing enduring relationships with respected businesses and nonprofits throughout the country to hire 25 to 50 veterans per week, and confirmed nearly 2,000 hired veterans in 2014.
The services provided by Hire Heroes USA are possible only with the continued and generous contributions of compassionate individual and corporate donors and are vital to the continued success of their mission.
The Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno will return to Johns Creek, Georgia, for the seventh year in-a-row when The Country Club of the South hosts the tournament, April 17-19, 2015. Top junior golfers from around the country will travel to compete in this 36-hole, stroke play event. During the tournament week, some of the top juniors participating in the Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno will also take part in the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament on Friday, April 17, 2015. For information on how to participate in the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament please contact Ryan Tahara (rtahara@ajga.org).
An excellent opportunity to entertain clients, reward employees or enjoy a tournament round with friends, the Junior-Am allows amateurs to play alongside the future stars of the game. Tiger Woods, Charles Howell III, Lucas Glover, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel are just a few of the thousands of talented players who participated in AJGA Junior-Ams when they were teenagers.

About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 6,300 members from all 50 states and more than 51 foreign countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the ACE Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex, which is in its fourth decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Vicky Hurst, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.
For more information, please contact Tim Jackman (tjackman@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1788 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.

Selected from 10 Videos, Three Come to Dallas for CEO Interview

Dallas – The public, friends and relatives of 10 military veterans competing for a 7-Eleven store somewhere in the U.S. cast more than 30,000 votes in the company’s national Operation: Take Command competition that ended Sunday night with the selection of the top three vote-getters.

The finalists are Salil Gautam of Chesapeake, Va., Robert Kemna from Miami, Fla., and Mark Anthony Page of Granbury, Texas.

The three will be flown in late this month, all expenses paid, to interview with 7-Eleven, Inc. President and CEO Joe DePinto who will make the final selection.

 Among steps for the semi-finalists was a 7-Eleven Facebook video competition.  The public narrowed the 10-person field (nine men and one woman) to three. They are:

Salil Gautam of Chesapeake, Va. — Gautam served in the U.S. Army for 4 ½ years, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. When he came to the U.S., the Nepal native’s first job was with a 7-Eleven store in northern California. After leaving the Army, he used the same leadership skills and work ethic learned in the military to establish a small corporation and manage a gas station and convenience store with success. His goals include mentoring others and providing financial support to assist veterans.

Robert Kemna from Miami, Fla. — A former Army captain, Kemna says it’s time to pass on what he has learned and stand up for his future. He lists his qualifications as being a talented hard worker with commitment and leadership skills.

Mark Anthony Page of Granbury, Texas – Page has served in both active and reserve duty with the Navy and has traveled a great deal in his current profession. He believes a 7-Eleven franchise is just the ticket to be closer to home and family. He boasts that his strengths are being a proud veteran and loving family man with a passion to lead.

“Each of the semi-finalists exhibited the qualities we are looking for in a 7-Eleven franchisee,” said Greg Franks, 7-Eleven vice president of franchise systems. “They possess a can-do attitude, exude professionalism, demonstrate leadership qualities and have the kind of background that could make them a success.  But any one of them would make a good choice in my book.”

As promised, 7-Eleven will contribute $1 for every vote cast – $30,110 — to Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit organization that works with transitioning service members, veterans and spouses from military service into civilian success .To learn more about the organization, visit www.hireheroesusa.org.

Collectively representing all branches of military service, more than 1,700 veterans and soon-to-be vets applied for the competition that ran from Veterans Day last November through Jan. 25.

The winner will receive a waiver of the franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000, to franchise any of the company’s 7-Eleven convenience stores available in the continental U.S. at the contest’s culmination.

To qualify for the contest, entrants had to be 21 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, an honorably discharged veteran, have excellent credit and at least three years of leadership, retail or restaurant experience. Contestants went through the same qualification process as all 7-Eleven franchise applicants including interviews, credit evaluation, a leadership test, preparing a business plan and budget.

7-Eleven has been recognized by veterans’ organizations and publications for its military-friendly business opportunities, hiring practices and philanthropic support for military families. Military veterans serve in every level of the company from store sales associates to headquarters personnel.  The retailer also has supported military assistance organizations including Hire Heroes USA, the USO, Reserve Aid, Warrior Gateway and Operation Mend.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses nearly 10,500 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 55,400 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2013, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies for 2013; #1 on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2014 Top Global Franchise list; #10 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2015, and #3 in Forbes magazine’s Top 20 Franchises to Start. 7-Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine’s 2013 list of the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail.” 7-Eleven places among Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2014 by U.S. Veterans Magazine and is among GI Jobs magazine’s Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2014. Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.