
2026 Small Business Grant
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HNG Leadership Team

Maureen L. Werner, Esq.
Partner, Schum & Werner
A lifelong resident and graduate of Hilton High School, Class of 1983 who still resides in her childhood home, Maureen brings a profound understanding of the local landscape to her role as Partner at Schum & Werner where she has played a pivotal role in the firm's expansion.
Maureen holds a diverse range of qualifications. She earned her degree from SUNY Cobleskill in 1985, followed by a degree from SUNY Brockport in 2002. Demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional development, she graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2014 after completing her first year of law studies at the prestigious Thomas H. Cooley School of Law in 2011. Maureen's dedication to legal excellence culminated in her admission to the Bar of New York 4th Department in 2015.
Before embarking on her legal career, Maureen served as a trusted paralegal, adeptly assisting clients with Estate, Elder Law, Trusts, and Real Estate matters, fortifying her legal acumen and fostering enduring relationships within the community.
Maureen's commitment to Hilton extends beyond her professional endeavors. Known for her unwavering dedication, she has cultivated strong ties with individuals, businesses, and community organizations.
Outside of work, Maureen finds joy in family activities and indulging in recreational pursuits, including boating, jet skiing, and leisure time with friends.
Through her multifaceted experiences and unwavering dedication, Maureen Werner exemplifies professionalism, expertise, and a steadfast commitment to serving her community.

Joseph Schlonski
Owner, Platinum Quality Construction
Joe is the owner and President of Platinum Quality Construction, a small, family owned and operated exterior remodeling contractor focusing on new construction. The Platinum team specializes in custom decks, small residential additions, siding, excavation, site work, and land clearing throughout the Monroe County area.
What Joe loves about the HNG is, “We are a great group of local businesses with impeccable integrity.”
Born and raised on the West side, Joe and his family call Hilton home. They are staunch supporters of the community, donating every year in support of Hilton’s many car shows and supporting the local travel soccer teams.
When he isn’t on a job site or supporting the community, Joe can be found at Platinum Driving Range, a hobby, pet project, and side business that he founded in Hilton.
Get to Know Our Members
Meet the entrepreneurs helping the West Side business community thrive and g
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Gretchen Weber
Licensed Real Estate Agent Member of GRAR, NAR
As part of the team at ReMaxplus Gretchen provides clients with individualized attention, decades of experience, and an in-depth knowledge of the market and local community. She especially loves to work with first time buyers - “It's a joy to guide them through the process!”
She recommends the HNG as, “a wonderful group of professionals who all come together to SELL each others specialties, crafts and knowledge. It' a warm, close knit group. Never intimidating. Always supportive!!”
Gretchen has been a part of Rochester’s West side community her entire life - even when her adventures took her out of state. She loves its convenience and the strong sense of community that made it a great place to raise her daughters. When she is not helping clients realize their real estate dreams, Gretchen can be found camping with her husband of 36 tears, Michael, working as a hair stylist, or spending time with her 3 daughters.

Jason Toomey
Big Ash Fireplace & Stove Owner/Operator
A healthy home needs chimney care! Jason and his team at Big Ash fix leaky chimneys, install efficient heating units and perform advanced inspections to protect your investment. From fireplace facelifts to inspections and maintenance, they do it all, including providing support to new home owners unfamiliar with fireplace maintenance and care.
As a business owner, Jason recommends the HNG because, “it is a group of people that believe in each other and believe in betterment of others.”
He loves living on the West side because, “the views are hard to beat, there there is an intimacy from working with real down to earth people and changing their lives for the better.”
When he’s not helping homeowners, Jason loves having adventures with his wife and children - from hiking and boating to snowmobiling, travel, and just being together.

Myke Merrill
Signs, Garments and More
Myke and his team at Signs, Garments and More design, produce and install all kinds of business signage, vehicle decorations, banners, door and wall emblems, decals, magnets, yard signs, etc. They also decorate garments of any kind as well with in-house embroidery, sublimation, heat press and transfers, and can design and recover logos, do layouts and marketing products and help businesspeople grow their companies. They love to work with small business owners just getting started or wanting to upgrade their signage and promotional efforts.
Myke recommends the HNG because, “Almost all of our business for the last 20 years has come through "word of mouth" and personal connections. That is the essence of HNG.”
When he is not supporting business owners, Myke is also a published author, pastor, and active father and grandfather.

Nick Mieney
Nick Mieney State Farm, Owner
Nick has been a Hilton resident since 2013 and truly appreciates the amazing people in this community. Over the years, as he has grown his business, he has had the privilege of building lasting relationships. Nick grew up in Byron, NY and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from SUNY Brockport 🎓.
His goal? "To ensure that every person we help feels protected, informed, and truly valued."
What We Offer ✅
✔ 🚗 Auto Insurance (Car, Motorcycle, RV, Snowmobile)
✔ 🏡 Home Insurance
✔ 🏠 Renters Insurance
✔ ❤️ Life Insurance
✔ 🏢 Business Insurance
We proudly serve communities across New York, including Hilton, Hamlin, Spencerport, Brockport, the Greater Rochester Area, and beyond!
Nick has been in the insurance industry since 2010, with more than 10 of those years as a State Farm Agent here in Hilton. "Giving back is important to me! I’m an active member of my local church and the Hilton Networking Group. My agency and I love participating in local events and supporting community efforts. Making a positive impact is what drives us! Don’t just take my word for it—check out my Google reviews to see what others are saying!"

James Bauman
Paychex Inc., Senior HR Consultant
As a member of the Paychex team, Jim Bauman supports small to medium size businesses by providing a full suite of Payroll & HR services. He especially loves working with any business that is looking for payroll support or support with processing payroll.
Jim recommends the HNG because, “It’s a great community organization and helps me spread the good word about the work we do at Paychex - and I love the people.”
When he isn’t supporting businesses, he spends his time working on the family farm and coaching his kids’ hockey teams.

Richard & Tammy Maier
Maier Land Surveying, P.C.
Richard, a Professional Land Surveyor, is a retired verteran of the United States Air Force. His 20 years of military service provide him with a strong commitment to excellence that translates into highly detailed and exeptionally accurate land surveys. With over 25 years of land surveying experierience which includes Instrument Surveys using the most technologically advanced surveying tripods, theordolites, digital levels and other instrumentation available to do indvidual boundaries, Topographic surveys, elevation certifications, As-Built Surveys, Easement Preparation and Subdivision of Land.
He and his wife, Tammy, who co-runs the business, both highly recommend HNG: "This group consists of small business owners who are very dependable and trustworthy."
A native of the West side, Richard and his family have been a part of the Hilton Fire Department for over 20 years.

Rachael Burns
Head of Sales & Operations, Mark Burns Contracting
As the head of Sales and Operations at Mark Burns Contracting, Rachael Burns works tirelessly to handle the sale, installation, and service of windows and exterior doors throughout the community. Her favorite part of living on the West Side is engaging with the other residents and making strong, lasting connections with those she meets. She can often be found camping, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time with her husband Mark and their two kids.

Paul S. Rath
Certified Public Accountant
Paul S. Rath is a Certified Public Accountant who specializes in both individual and business taxes. He works with clients ranging from one person to entire corporations, helping to answer any and all questions related to business, finances, and taxes. He recommends the HNG because it is an inclusive group of local business owners who are happy to accommodate others’ needs and help solve problems. Paul is a long time resident of the West side, which has exposed him to the importance and uniqueness of working with local residents and businesses of all varieties.

Bonnie Lupo
Nurse Practitioner, Pathways Forward Consulting LLC
As a Nurse Practitioner for Pathways Forward Consulting LLC, Bonnie Lupo provides healthcare information and resources to adults across the community. She helps individuals and their families to understand every aspect of a complicated healthcare system and ensures that they have access to every detail of their care. She recommends the HNG because of its active support for locally owned small businesses.

Anthony DeRitis
Silvano Electric
At Silvano Electric, Anthony DeRitis specializes in both commercial and residential electric, providing service, remodels, and upgrades to indoor and outdoor devices. He works for a large and diverse clientele across the community, serving everyone from homeowners to big enterprises. He recommends HNG because it provides a trustworthy and reliable network of business owners. Anthony is a long time resident of the West side, having grown up in the area, and he cares very deeply for his community.

Chris Resti
Owner & Operator, Crest Tile And Mosaic Inc.
Chris Resti is the owner and operator of Crest Tile and Mosaic, Inc., where he installs high-quality ceramic and stone tile pieces such as showers, floors, and backsplashes. He also creates custom mosaics that can be framed or permanently installed throughout the home. He loves working with homeowners who not only care about quality but also have an interest in unique and creative decor for their homes. Chris recommends the HNG because of how the group supports and cares about the community. He enjoys working on the West side because of the easy-going and relatable people who live there. When he’s not working on one of his beautiful custom mosaics, Chris can be found woodworking, hiking, and volunteering at Habitats for Humanity and his children’s school.

Bob Conant
President, Bob Kaiser's Repair Inc
Bob Conant serves as the President of Bob Kaiser’s Repair Inc., where he provides repair and maintenance for vehicles of all makes and models. The company most often works with individuals and small businesses, and offers free loaner vehicles and nationwide warranties with every transaction.






