General Parts International, Inc. Honored by NCTA for Excellence in Leadership and Innovation

General Parts International, Inc. today announced it received the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) Corporate Citizenship Award at its 15th annual NCTA 21 Awards gala Thursday night, which celebrated the patriotic theme "The Election of 2008."

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) November 19, 2008 -- General Parts International, Inc. today announced it received the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) Corporate Citizenship Award at its 15th annual NCTA 21 Awards gala Thursday night, which celebrated the patriotic theme "The Election of 2008." The awards program annually honors companies and individuals from North Carolina's technology industry for excellence in leadership and innovation. More than 450 industry executives and thought leaders attended the event. The awards program was presented in conjunction with Grant Thornton LLP, a leading accounting, tax and business advisory organization, which also directed the awards selection process earlier this year in collaboration with past and present NCTA chairpersons.

General Parts International, Inc. goes to market as CARQUEST Auto Parts and has a long history of supporting communities where its employees live and work by providing time, talent and resources. This year, the Company sponsored its second annual CARQUEST Technology Camp where 24 youth between the ages of 14 and 18 were given the opportunity to experience and explore today's technology in a real world setting on the Company's Corporate Campus.

"Technology Excellence has become a standard in most industries and we are delighted to be recognized as a 2008 NCTA 21 Awards recipient," said Joe Zucchero, President CARQUEST Technologies. "Today there is a widening "technology gap" between youth who have access to technology and those who do not. Our youth are our future and we not only have the responsibility, but an obligation to provide them with a chance to pursue their abilities to the fullest. "

NCTA's 21 Awards program is segmented into five categories: technology industry, stage of development, functional, leadership and excellence. At the CARQUEST Technology Campy, the future leaders assembled their own personal computer and particpated in technology labs to learn how to program switches, routers and telecom equipment.

"The 2008 NCTA 21 awards was by far our most competitive with an outstanding list of finalists and a group of award recipients who distinguished themselves through outstanding achievement and superior performance," said Brooks Raiford, president and chief executive officer of NCTA. "I congratulate General Parts International, Inc for receiving an NCTA 21 award and for the passion to lead, innovate and create."

About NCTA

The North Carolina Technology Association's mission is "Making North Carolina #1 in Technology and Technology #1 in North Carolina." The organization does this through three main focus areas: executive engagement, public affairs, and enabling member transition to a technology-enabled workforce. For more information, visit our website at www.nctechnology.org.

About CARQUEST Auto Parts

CARQUEST Auto Parts is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and has more than 3,400 locations throughout North America. It is the premier supplier of replacement products, accessories, supplies and equipment for virtually all makes and models of automobiles, as well as light and heavy-duty trucks, off-road equipment, buses, recreational vehicles and agricultural equipment. Additionally, CARQUEST distributes and sell tools, equipment, chemicals, paint and accessories.

For more information, please visit CARQUEST.com

CARQUEST, in all CAPS, is a registered trademark and should always appear in capital letters.

###