The International Soap Box Derby in Akron has named Dennis VanFossen Jr. as its new CEO.

VanFossen, a former derby champion, has been serving as interim executive director since June, when the Soap Box Derby parted ways with CEO Scott Taylor.

“I'm looking forward to being here for a long time and really getting to be able to make my mark here at the Derby and really give back to a program that's given me so much,” VanFossen said.

As CEO, VanFossen said he’ll work to straighten out the organization’s finances, which he said for a while, weren’t in a “positive scenario.” He said he’s already made significant progress.

"We’ve been doing a good job especially in the last 140 days of changing that narrative and really tackling some of our issues and refocusing on things that actually make s

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