MONMOUTH, N.J. (March 28, 2001)—Jeff Stafford, president and owner of Stafford Tire in Monmouth, N.J., recently was named business person of the year by the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce.
The award is presented annually to a local business owner who "rises above all others" by fair and honest business practices and a commitment to the community, according to the Chamber of Commerce. give back to his customers and community.
Stafford Tire, based in Middletown, N.J., is known for sponsoring local events, charities and sports teams including a men´s softball team that won a national championship in men´s modified pitch softball in 1992. That team also took home a gold medal in the 1993 Men´s Major Modified Fast Pitch Softball World Series in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Stafford founded his dealership, a three-bay store, in 1975 at the age of 21. It carries Goodyear, Firestone and Summit brands and performs brake, shock, strut and wheel alignment services.
Family members involved in the business include Mr. Stafford´s wife, Pam, a bookkeeper, and teenage sons, Gary and Mark, who occasionally help out with computer-entry work.