SFA's Tim Zeng Reflects on 13th Year of Italy Tour
The Stone Fabricators Alliance is in its 13th year of leading fabricators through Italy on its annual tour, and the work behind it never really stops, said Tim Zeng, an SFA executive board director and owner of Zeng Countertops & Surfaces in Lincoln, NE.
Speaking with Stone World during the tour's opening days in Venice, Zeng said planning for the 2027 trip will begin at Marmomac in Verona a few months from now.
"It is work on our end, and as far as the attendees go," Zeng said. "It's just a short week in May, but we actually start the process for next year."
The tour first launched in 2011 and has continued every year since, with a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zeng said the invitation process starts around Thanksgiving and runs into Christmas, with the attendee list typically finalized by mid-January.
Once the roster is set, the SFA leans on its Italian partner, Tenax, to handle logistics on the ground.
"They are more or less our Italian connection to set up the hotels, the bus, the dinners and everything with the stops we are attending," Zeng said. "They're just invaluable to us. We really, really appreciate that relationship."
For fabricators considering the trip, Zeng said the biggest hurdle is the time commitment.
"It's a decision that the fabricator has got to make, that they want to work on their business, not inside of the business," Zeng said. "They have to take a week, eight or nine days, away from their business. But this is a life-changing experience."
Zeng said setting expectations is the toughest part of recruiting attendees.
"Once they're here, it doesn't take but a day or two, and then they're like, why did I not do this sooner?" Zeng said. "I need to tell more people about this tour, because they're already seeing the value out of it."
Fabricators interested in joining a future tour can reach out to any of the eight SFA board directors, contact the organization through Facebook or email the SFA directly, Zeng said.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
Jason Kamery is the Managing Editor and Group Digital Editor of Stone World. With more than a decade of experience covering the stone and countertop industry, he has conducted hundreds of interviews with fabricators, manufacturers, and industry leaders, and hosts the Stone World. podcast. He reports from events worldwide, including TISE, Coverings, and Marmomac, and his coverage extends to worker safety and silicosis, trade policy and tariffs, and fabrication technology. Kamery has also served as a speaker and panel moderator at The International Surface Event (TISE). He graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Mass Communication.
email: kameryj@bnpmedia.com | office: (248) 833-7356
