Newsline
OBITUARY
LEON ZANGER, FOUNDER OF WALKER ZANGER PASSES AWAY AT 93
With heavy hearts and sadness, we share with you that Leon Zanger, one of the founders of the storied American stone and tile design resource, Walker Zanger, has died at the age of 93 due to complications of COVID-19.
Born in Belgium, Zanger and his family fled Europe during the 1940 German invasions and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 12 years old. Before the family arrived in the U.S., they settled in Portugal for a few years, where Zanger watched in awe as workers paved the streets with marble. This first experience with this extraordinary material, which Zanger had only seen used at museums and palaces of Belgium, never left his mind. It would lead to the Walker Zanger brand’s inspired beginnings.
Zanger revolutionized the use of the material within North America. He started Walker Zanger in 1953 with partner Marvin Walker, importing marble from Portugal and pioneered the use of the material for tabletops. In 1963, Zanger began importing stone tiles to the U.S., breaking open the stone tile market in residential settings. The company grew from there, expanding to find unique products so designers and homeowners can create their boldest visions and unconventional designs. This pursuit has led Walker Zanger worldwide to find the most unique, original and thought-provoking tile and stone materials that open the door to exciting new design possibilities. Zanger was an integral role player in some of Walker Zanger’s most famous projects, including sourcing historically-accurate Italian stone for J. Paul Getty’s Villa in Malibu, CA.
Leon Zanger’s son, Jonathan Zanger, and daughter, Claudia Springer, said: “He founded Walker Zanger almost 70 years ago, and although the great love of his life was our mother, Hanna, and his family, his second love was the company he built, the people he employed, and the friendships he made among clients and suppliers, around the world. He always told us that his proudest achievement was that the company that bears his name supported countless hundreds, and even thousands, of families, over the decades.”
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2021 WOMEN IN STONE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
OBERLIN, OH -- Registration is open until February 26, 2021 for the Women in Stone (WIS) Mentorship program, which was established in 2015 and has led hundreds of women through a unique learning experience designed to help build confidence and advance their careers. Participants are paired based on their experience and goals, which are collected through a registration form. They meet for one hour per month throughout the six-month program. No travel is required.
There are three ways to participate in the program:
• Mentor
• Mentee
• Peer-to-Peer
Participants will prioritize four categories to focus on during the program:
• Leadership and Career Advancement
• Sales, Marketing and Communications
• Stone Industry Knowledge
• Technical Knowledge
To register, please select the appropriate role below and complete the registration and pairing survey. This process will take 15+ minutes. Please ensure you have enough time before you begin.
• Mentor Registration
• Mentee Registration
• Peer-to-Peer Registration
• Career Development Goals Worksheet (for mentees and peer-to-peer participants)
NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
OBERLIN, OH -- The Natural Stone Institute has announced the recipients of the 2020 Natural Stone Scholarship and Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship. Both recipients will be celebrated during the association’s awards ceremony at The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas, NV, this June.
Jim Buth, production manager for Lakeside Surfaces in Muskegon, MI, is the recipient of the 2020 Natural Stone Scholarship. The Natural Stone Scholarship provides a trip to TISE, where the recipient will gain valuable technical and practical knowledge regarding the natural stone industry and will meet and network with leading stone professionals. “Over the next five years, I have goals to continue my education in natural stone, develop processes to improve fabrication, continue to improve quality, and develop processes and procedures to help lead the natural stone industry in innovation and improvement,” said Buth. “Ultimately, I want to grow into an expert in natural stone fabrication.”
Nicole Renko, estimator for Colorado Custom Stone in Denver, CO, is the recipient of the 2020 Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship. The Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship provides a trip to one of three major industry events: TISE, Coverings or a Natural Stone Institute study tour. The recipient is given the opportunity to shadow industry professionals within different sectors of the stone industry and explore her potential for leadership and her commitment to a career in the stone industry. “I enjoy being a leader, coming up with new ways to improve our functions and the overall development of the company,” said Renko. “My career goals are to continue learning, sharing knowledge with others and promoting Colorado Custom Stone, the Natural Stone Institute and the stone industry to the highest levels of professionalism and standards in the commercial market.”
