Our Team

We’re Invested in Rochester

The Rochester locals behind Hinge Neighbors come from backgrounds galore, but we have one thing in common–we’re deeply connected and invested in this city. It’s through these roots that we’ve chosen to volunteer our time and help our neighbors. We could not do this alone, nor do we want to–we’re strongest as a team. Meet us, connect with us, and join us!

Suzanne Mayer, President

As founder of Sirius Change LLC, Suzanne has led organizational change initiatives in the banking, professional, and manufacturing industries for more than 30 years. She has experience with the life cycle of organizations–from startups to those that are fully mature. She continues to coach executives.

Presently dedicated to Hinge Neighbors, she continues to practice all those skills learned in the corporate world. The placemaking environment of today requires constant study about zoning, design, and urban planning, and it extends into corporate behavior in understanding how cities do or don’t work. Living in an activist’s world requires a sense of humor she shares with our co-founder, activist, and artist, Shawn Dunwoody.

She lives with her husband, Sandy, in Rochester, NY. She takes no credit for the success of her husband, children, and grandchild but participates in their joy. She raises hops and lavender and likens activism and community participation planning and execution to gardening and farming. There is no way of avoiding getting your hands dirty, but the results are amazing!

David Dunwoody, Vice President

A native of the Rochester Public Market area, David is a retired City of Rochester Firefighter who has been decorated for his life-saving work. He has served as a Fire Investigator, participated in the ATF National Response Team, and worked as a Fire Inspector.

Amy Hecker, Secretary

As a Real Estate Specialist, primarily in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Amy has a strong working knowledge of private, publicly-traded, governmental, and not-for-profit real estate sectors. She also has substantial experience in marketing and master planning. She has been a lifelong historic preservationist and brings both professional practice and personal passion to the table.

Debora McDell-Hernandez

Debora is the Senior Director of Public and Community Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, providing leadership in advocacy and public affairs. She has a history of community building as an institutional stakeholder for the Memorial Art Gallery and was the 2017 Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts and the 2017 University of Rochester Presidential Diversity award winner.

Heidi N. Zimmer-Meyer

Retired President, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation Retired Executive Director, Rochester Downtown Partnership

Until her retirement in June 2022, Heidi Zimmer-Meyer served as President of RDDC for 18 years, where she held a number of positions over her 38-year tenure. In addition, she also served as Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Partnership, Inc., formed in late 2021. She also oversaw the creation, development, and downtown construction of The Commissary, the region’s first and only food business incubator and shared kitchen.

Ms. Zimmer-Meyer served on ROC2025’s Economic Development Leadership Team, Arts in the Loop, and the Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center Management Corporation Board. Ms. Zimmer-Meyer also served concurrently for 21 years as Executive Director of Downtown Special Services, Inc. (DSSI), the charitable not-for-profit corporation that operated the “Red Shirts” program using retired and off-duty law enforcement personnel to provide on-street safety services downtown.

Ms. Zimmer-Meyer was also engaged on a number of local boards and leadership groups, including the Digital Games Industry Association of Rochester; RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship (CUE) Advisory Board; The Community Foundation (RACF); ROC the Riverway Management Entity Working Group; the original ROC the Riverway Advisory Board; City Planning Commission (10+ years); and the Rochester Police Chief’s Council (10 years). She remains very involved with RACF, leading its Mission Related Investing work and serving on its Program Distributions (grantmaking) Committee. She was also active on the New York State Urban Council, serving as a Vice President for more than 20 years.

Prior to joining RDDC, Ms. Zimmer-Meyer was Special Assistant to the State Director for the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development in Greensboro, North Carolina; a consultant to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and staff assistant to the Buffalo Landmark and Preservation Board in Buffalo, New York. She holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning, a joint degree in Economic Development and Real Estate Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a B.A. degree from the University of Rochester with a double major in Anthropology and Urban Sociology.

Shawn Dunwoody, Vice President

As the Creative Public Engagement Director for Rochester, Shawn is a multi-disciplinary creative force for change. His experience as a director, producer, designer, maker, influencer, developer, and artist has helped him to establish a cutting-edge practice in innovative implementation and planning. Shawn focuses on urban interventions and community forms of urban development and has been featured on podcasts and television, and awarded for his long-standing commitment to the community.

Tanner Cheek, Treasurer

Tanner Cheek is the Director of ASW Receivers and Site Lead for the Victor, NY, facility at Ultra Maritime. Ultra Maritime designs, builds, and delivers intelligent solutions across surface and subsurface platforms to protect the US and allied navies and is home to more than 2,400 employees in North America, the UK, and Australia.

Before this role, Tanner led international programs and sales for L3Harris Technologies Communications Systems. Here, he led a team of program managers, sales, operations, and security; implementing communication solutions for the U.S. Army and partner forces in the Middle East and Central Asia. Before that, he held various positions of increasing responsibility, including systems engineer for the FAA NextGen Testbed and program manager for Hewlett-Packard.

Tanner also served in the U.S. Army for five years and received multiple awards for valor for deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Mr. Cheek received an Executive-MBA from the University of Rochester and a bachelor’s degree in Human Factors and Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He proudly serves as treasurer on the board for Hing Neighbors, supporting equality in the revitalization of Rochester’s Inner Loop Project, and is a contributing member of the Army Sniper Association, providing support to the U.S. Army sniper community and financial support to sniper-qualified soldiers injured while in service.

Kevin Graham

Kevin is a local business professional with strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills. Currently, he is the Deputy for Energy Programs in the Home Rehabilitation and Energy Services at PathStone Corporation. Kevin comes to PathStone with over 27 years of customer service and program management experience from Rochester Gas and Electric. In his role as the Manager of Low Income and Advocacy Group, he supervised teams who lobbied for energy assistance funding for our most vulnerable citizens. Kevin’s volunteer service includes co-hosting “Soul-stainable Living Radio,” which provides a platform for issues impacting the Black community. He also served as Treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 293, which was housed in the historic New Bethel CME Church.

John Rodriguez, MA

An accomplished leadership coach and culture change consultant, John has been consulting and facilitating change for more than two decades. His skills as a group facilitator and coach have taken him to 37 states and allowed him to work with organizations both big and small. As a Systems Theory practitioner, he works with leaders on high-impact and high-performing team development.

Scott Ashley

In addition to serving as a fundraising professional for non-profit organizations for over two decades, Scott has built volunteer management programs and taught leadership development in both academic and professional settings. Scott is the Assistant Director of the Office of Advancement at the Eastman School of Music where he works to forward the School’s mission to develop musical leaders who will shape music’s future.

Kathryn Kleist

Leaning on her 9+ years of marketing experience, Kat is a strategic content and website creator passionate about crafting narratives that connect. From driving brand awareness to generating leads, she’s built a successful track record in digital marketing. Her passion, however, extends beyond just results.

Serving on the board of Hinge Neighbors allows Kat to combine her marketing expertise with a deep desire to empower others. She believes that everyone deserves to be heard, and is dedicated to helping residents raise their voices and be recognized by the city of Rochester.