Joe Mazur is trading in derby cars for trains.
The president and chief executive officer of the International Soap Box Derby is leaving the Akron nonprofit for the same position at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
The Peninsula-based railroad announced his appointment Thursday, saying he will take over March 21.
Mazur, 51, who lives in a log cabin less than 2 miles from the railroad, has served as the head of the International Soap Box Derby for the last six years and is credited with turning around the once struggling organization.
While he loves the derby and said he wasn’t seeking a new job, the pull of working for the railroad and inside the Cuyahoga Valley National Park was too strong.
“To be able to live and work in the park is a dream,” Mazur said. “The national park is one of the greatest treasures of Northeast Ohio.”
Formed as a hobbyist railroad in 1972, the popular excursion railroad runs through the park and generates annual revenue of more than $3 million.
Last year, it reported having 214,000 passengers, the highest ridership in its history.
Railroad board Chairman Ray Labuda said that Mazur’s mix of nonprofit and private sector experience was attractive.
Early in his career, Mazur worked at Thistledown Racetrack, the thoroughbred facility in North Randall where his father trained horses. He rose to assistant controller there.
The Thistledown post led to 14 years of progressively more responsible jobs at SMG, a Pennsylvania company that manages sports facilities and arenas around the world. He started as finance director at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center before moving on to manager and senior regional positions.
“His commitment to Northeast Ohio will help to move CVSR to the next level,” Labuda said.
The former railroad president, Craig Tallman, retired in January.
Mazur recalled having lunch with Tallman about five years ago and being fascinated with the idea of running the railroad — a rolling events venue.
The railroad hosts everything from daily trips to beer and wine dinners to the popular winter Polar Express trips for children.
Mazur thought at the time that when Tallman retired, he would be interested in the position.
He said he’s looking forward to working with the railroad and park staff, and raising money for the nonprofit.
One of the challenges ahead will be raising money to purchase an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible dining car.
Even though Mazur is thrilled with his new opportunity, he said it was a difficult decision to leave the derby, which puts on the All-American Soap Box Derby each summer in Akron and has expanded into school STEM programs in recent years.
“I wasn’t a derby racer but, man, I fell in love with this organization,” Mazur said.
He also refused to take sole credit for the rebound of the derby, which was losing money before he took over but made a profit every full year he was in charge.
He credited the derby team and volunteers for the improvements.
He’s also proud that he’s leaving the derby on sound financial footing.
“The sky’s the limit on how big this organization is going to get over the next five years,” Mazur said.
When he departs the derby on March 10, Vice President Bobby Dinkins will oversee day-to-day operations while the board searches for a permanent successor.
The search process is underway.
“Joe has played an instrumental part of our organization’s turnaround,” derby Chairman Kevin Thomas said in a prepared statement. “We owe him a debt of gratitude for what he has accomplished and for his passion and commitment to growing and strengthening our portfolio of programs and offerings, stabilizing our base beyond our signature FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby racing program, as well as positioning us for exciting opportunities to significantly expand our STEM and education outreach.”
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .