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International Soap Box Derby Board Of Directors Elects New Officers And Adds New Members

International Soap Box Derby Board of Directors

The International Soap Box Derby’s Board of Directors added new members and elected new officers at its annual meeting November 10.The Board serves as the governing body of the ISBD and provides management and direction for the non-profit organization.

Kevin Thomas, Vice President at AAA Akron Auto Club, will again serve as Chair. Thomas has been a member of the Derby’s Board since 2012, and its Chair since 2014. Thomas will be joined by Gregg Mervis, President & CEO, Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau and John S. Knight Center, who will serve as Vice Chair; Alan Brubaker, Summit County Engineer will remain as Treasurer; and, Mark Mroczynski, Executive Director, Transmission Reliability Enhancement Projects, FirstEnergy, Secretary.

Carole Berry, Dover, N.H., Scott Lazarus, Uniontown, Ohio, Danyelle Sweitzer, Hartville, Ohio and Dr. Don Visco, Canton, Ohio are new additions to the Board. Berry is an Administrative Manager II at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a member of the Derby’s Racing Commission and a longtime Derby volunteer. Lazarus is an Internet Marketing and e-Commerce Team Manager at Summit Racing Equipment. Sweitzer is the Human Resources Director for GPD Group, an architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Akron. Visco is the interim Dean in the College of Engineering and a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Akron.

Outgoing Board members from left to right: Bill
Ginter, Carla Sibley, Bob Troyer and Todd Guilliam

Carla Sibley, Director of Community Relations, Akron Public Schools, William J. Ginter, Principal, Akron Legacy Group, Todd Guilliam, Financial Adviser, Wells Fargo and Robert Troyer, Public Relations Consultant, are leaving the Board. Ginter and Troyer were added as Honorary Board members.

“We will miss our outgoing board members,” said Thomas. “We’ve made significant strides the last several years and the four members who are leaving us have contributed greatly. Although they are gone from leadership positions within the organization we look forward to their continued engagement with the Derby for years to come. We’re also excited with the additions of Carole (Berry), Danyelle (Sweitzer), Scott (Lazarus) and Don (Visco). They each bring a unique skill set to the organization and we appreciate their willingness to help us continue our mission.”

Current Board members include: Chair – Kevin Thomas, VP of Operations, AAA Akron Auto Club; Vice Chair – Gregg Mervis, President & CEO, Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau and John S. Knight Center; Treasurer – Alan Brubaker, Summit County Engineer; Secretary – Mark Mroczynski, Executive Director, Transmission Reliability Enhancement Projects, FirstEnergy; Carole Berry, Administrative Manager II at the University of New Hampshire; Michael Callahan, Senior Partner of Callahan, Greeven, Riley & Sinn, L.L.C.; Jason Dodson, Chief of Staff for Summit County Executive; Scott Lazarus, Internet Marketing and e-Commerce Team Manager at Summit Racing Equipment; Bill Lowery, Retired President, Annaco; Chris Ludle, Deputy Director of Public Service, City of Akron; Pat Roberts, Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts, Malone University; Dominic Rizzo, Vice President and General Sales Manager at Rubber City Radio Group; Danyelle Sweitzer, Human Resources Director for GPD Group; Dr. Don Visco, Interim Dean in the College of Engineering and a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Akron.