Um, with all do respect this is exactly what this breed was meant to do. Its liek trying to get a lab from retrieving. Its going to be really hard. I would say you need to find out who your friends are and get them to help you out with some serious visit exercises.
I read a article a while back that was similiar to yours and the behaviorist suggested this:
Have a friend stand a safe distance away from your front door (the trick is getting them to be as close as possible without your dog being on alert) lets say 15 feet. Walk your dog out of your front door to the person, have the person greet them ( no eye contact, just palin ole friendly greeting) and produce one of your dogs favorite treats. All three of you should then start walking back to your front door as the guest contiues to dole out treats and enter the house together. Have them sit and hang out as usual. If at any point the dog starts to growl stop you need to tell them its not ok. As owners we tend to use reassuring tones to calm the dog but in reality they may think you are condoning htem for their actions. Use a firm no nonsense tone.
This exersice should be used no more then two times a day and the guest should gradually get closer everytime. Bottom line is the dog should obey YOUR command over any instincts it may have.
This also works best in conjunction with the NILF program, google it if you have never heard of it. Your dog should never try to proceed through a doorway ahead of you, when you open a door does he bolt through? You can practice this anytime alone. Go to the door, give your dog the sit-stay command and try to open it. If your dog tries to go ahead of you close the door and start over. Reward appropriatly.
Now if your dog dosnt know the sit-stay commadn then general obediance is defintly required before you can address the other issues. A breed as strong, willful, and stubborn as yours needs structure, guidance and needs to know YOU are alpha. That may be why he is trying to establish rank now. A dog has no problem being lower in rank as long as their is no question that you are the boss. I'd love to see a picture, I just love this breed to peices!