NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 13, 2007) – Denny Mariola, Manager of Mileage Sales, is retiring from Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) after 41 years of distinguished service. His last day at his Akron-based office will be July 31.

"The offices in Akron won’t be the same without Denny’s warm wit and energy,” said Singh Ahluwalia, BFNT President, Commercial Products Truck and Bus Tires.  ”Denny is a great leader and is well respected not only by his colleagues in Nashville and Akron, but also by his peers in the industry. We are sorry to say goodbye to Denny, but we are happy for him and his wife, Vicki.”

“I am very excited, but also have a bit of apprehension. It will be strange not to get up in the morning and go to work at Bridgestone Firestone,” said Mariola of his impending retirement. “Sometimes I think I’ve spent more time with my Bridgestone Firestone family than I have with my own. But I can hardly wait to spend time with my ten-year-old daughter, Madison.”

Mariola already has plans to keep busy. He’s throwing his hat into the political ring this fall and running for school board in his hometown of Stow, Ohio. The mayor recently appointed Mariola to the Summit County Board of Health, and he wants to get further involved in city politics.

“My wife jokes that I have the attention span of a four-year-old. She knows I can’t sit around the house and watch TV,” said Mariola.

Mariola started with Firestone in 1966, working in data conversion and earning the princely sum of $2.02 per hour. In 1988, he joined the Mileage Sales Group and was promoted to his current position as head of mileage sales in 1997.