Aftermarket distributor Tri-State Enterprises has announced the appointment of David Prater as executive vice president, corporate development.
Prater will lead Tri-State’s acquisition efforts as it looks to expand into new markets, the company stated in a press release.
“I am extremely happy to welcome David Prater to the Tri-State team,” said Tristan Taylor, CEO of Tri-State Enterprises. “Tri-State has a lot of history with David through our affiliation with Parts Plus. He has always been a valued adviser and I am confident that his addition will help us identify companies that share Tri-State’s values, and we hope to add some of those companies to the Tri-State family.”
Before joining Tri-State, Prater served as president of the Automotive Distribution Network. Prior to being named president, he spent more than 20 years as the network’s executive vice president.
In his previous role, he managed purchasing, marketing, sales and technology, according to the company. At Tri-State, Prater will manage vendor relations and purchasing.
“I am honored to join Tri-State Enterprises. I have known the Tri-State team for years and watched them grow into the company they are today.” said Prater. “I look forward to assisting them in taking the Tri-State model into new areas of country.”
Tri-State is a family-operated automotive aftermarket distributor headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with locations throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. It specializes in automotive hard parts, consumables, truck accessories, car audio/electronics and paint.
