AUTO TIRE & PARTS EARNS SALES AWARD

Auto Tire & Parts of Cape Girardeau recently received an award for outstanding sales from Standard Motors Products.

The award was presented during an awards dinner at the New Orleans Restaurant.

Larry Sills, president and chief executive officer of Standard Motors, a Fortune 500 company with more than $500 million in annual sales, presented the award to John Tlapek, president of Auto Tire & Parts.

"We're honored and proud to accept this award," said Tlapek. "We could never have achieved these outstanding sales levels without the dedication and commitment of all Auto Tire & Parts employees."

About 50 of the firm's employees were on hand for the presentation.

Standard Motors Products, based in Long Island, N.Y., manufactures automotive after-market products, which include brake components, air-conditioning parts and equipment, and auto cable and wire accessories.

Auto Tire & Parts, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, has 15 retail outlets in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. In addition, the firm operates an automotive and heavy duty machine shop at 212 S. Kingshighway.

Auto Tire & Parts recently opened a store at Poplar Bluff and plans to open other operations in Missouri and Illinois.