No small influence on derby

Mr. Derby, We applaud you! Thanks for all your hard work and commitment to the Soapbox Derby!!*grins*

Jeff, thank you for all of the hard work and dedication over the years. You have made the Soap Box Derby what it is today. You have made generations proud to say they are a part of this special family the Soap Box Derby Family. Kudos my friend. Job well done.

Thank you.

Jeff Iula for CEO of the Soap Box Derby. Let's start a campaign!

A Fan wrote:

Jeff Iula for CEO of the Soap Box Derby. Let's start a campaign!

Count me in to be on the bandwagon. He makes the derby. We may loose him after this year. This will be ashame. JEFF for CEO of the DERBY

Be careful what you wish for

he certainly didnt fall 'short'

Jeff certainly has been there at the Derby,working???that's a whole other statement. Yes, the little man knows his history and can recite all the info about the Derby and everyone's birthday, but those of you who are suggesting he be the CEO REALLY WANT THE DERBY TO DISAPPEAR!!!!

It takes much more than 'hanging around' a company to run a company. His management abilities leave a lot to be desired. His title is General Mgr, but I am not sure if he has ever managed anything.

Ask the "expert" Bob Early, who was quoted in the paper this morning, what amount of "work" he has ever seen Jeff do!

The Derby is made possible through the hard work of all the Derby staff and the hundreds of volunteers.

Keep Jeff...but as Historian!

Derby Insider.... many of us on the outside looking in wonder the same about Huntsman... what ever qualified him to be a CEO?

Running his own successful business, accounting and finance background. Negotiating contracts, speaking in intelligent sentences

All us little guys are waiting for him to snag the big contract to save the day... thank goodness for the hand outs from the city of Akron.

He's lacking in the running of the derby business. There's no excuse for parts not to be on hand during the busy season of April, May and June. Other times of the year are acceptable, but not during the derby's Christmas season in late spring.

Derby insider you truly are just plain ignorant.Akron is known for rubber while the derby is known for iula. Im not saying he should be the CEO but the program has NO better public relations giant. He can be used in a much better capacity than he is now. Your closed door policy will get you sooner or later. The only way the derby is solvent is because the city ADVANCED revenues for the next two years. lets see what happens this season.

The Cleveland Indians have Slider, Arkon U has Zippy and the All American has Jeff Iula. The common factor in all three is nothing more then a paid mascot.

Angelic wrote:

<quoted text>
Count me in to be on the bandwagon. He makes the derby. We may loose him after this year. This will be ashame. JEFF for CEO of the DERBY

It will be a blessing when he leaves.

I have known of Jeff for years - when he and my Dad used to bowl in the church league on Tuesdays up at the old Northgate Lanes.
The personal attacks seem petty - like it or not - Jeff has participated in the Derby for a long, long time.
What bothers me most is that no company will step up and be a national sponsor for the Derby.
In this day of instant gratification, computer games and disfunctional families - can there be anything more wholesome or family oriented than the Soap Box Derby?
I remember those races as a kid very well - we would frequently have the Phillipines champion at our house.
How about those great Oil Can Derby celebrity races??? All the "big" stars came out to participate.
The Soap Box Derby is Americana at it's best - rather than diss Jeff Iula - why not put the Akron energy into helping find a national sponsor?

Derby Insider wrote:

Jeff certainly has been there at the Derby,working???that's a whole other statement. Yes, the little man knows his history and can recite all the info about the Derby and everyone's birthday, but those of you who are suggesting he be the CEO REALLY WANT THE DERBY TO DISAPPEAR!!!!
It takes much more than 'hanging around' a company to run a company. His management abilities leave a lot to be desired. His title is General Mgr, but I am not sure if he has ever managed anything.
Ask the "expert" Bob Early, who was quoted in the paper this morning, what amount of "work" he has ever seen Jeff do!
The Derby is made possible through the hard work of all the Derby staff and the hundreds of volunteers.
Keep Jeff...but as Historian!

Amen!!!! The derby is successful do to the staff and all the volunteers. Historian??? Well, between him and Bob Early they have made plenty of money selling derby artifacts on ebay which were donated to Jeff for a
museum.

lisa kay wrote:

Derby insider you truly are just plain ignorant.Akron is known for rubber while the derby is known for iula. Im not saying he should be the CEO but the program has NO better public relations giant. He can be used in a much better capacity than he is now. Your closed door policy will get you sooner or later. The only way the derby is solvent is because the city ADVANCED revenues for the next two years. lets see what happens this season.

Wrong. The most negative force has been Iula. How many more times can he whine about his office downstairs. All he does is complain. Think about this.....this was a day for all the racers and families to shine in Akron not Jeff. This was their day. Shame on the reporter for the story. Derby is not about Jeff it's about the racers and families which make this a successful program. I am certain the Beacon could certainly have captured a wonderful story about several of the families from near and afar. It is not a surprise this newspaper will bite the dust soon.

Angelic wrote:

Jeff, thank you for all of the hard work and dedication over the years. You have made the Soap Box Derby what it is today. You have made generations proud to say they are a part of this special family the Soap Box Derby Family. Kudos my friend. Job well done.

Proud? Embarrassment is more like it. This is a man who dress like a leprechaun and and elf. Sad what some will do for attention

Outsider wrote:

The Cleveland Indians have Slider, Arkon U has Zippy and the All American has Jeff Iula. The common factor in all three is nothing more then a paid mascot.

This derby mascot makes 45,000 a year. Talk about wasted money.

That $45,000 wasted ranks up there with the $171,549 (per latest tax information on file) forked over to a CEO who cannot snag a title sponsor for the race