Our Team

Richard Zona, Owner/President

Richard Zona, owner and president of Zona Properties, Inc., has been investing and managing real estate in the Rochester area since 1984. He was born and raised in Rochester New York and knows every street, neighborhood and business development in the area. His background is diversified running the gamut from teacher, musician, Real Estate broker to property manager. In Rochester he attended the prestigious Aquinas Institute, received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and has continued graduate studies at the University of Rochester. He has a real estate broker’s license and has worked for Century 21 Cardinal in the past where he has been a broker associate, as well as managing a property management division for the company. His training as a property manager has come from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) where he holds the designation of Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) and also from the National Apartment Association (NAA) where he holds the designation of Certified Apartment Manager (CAM).

He has appeared as a guest speaker at the 2002 Multi-World Housing Conference in Las Vegas Nevada, where he spoke on ‘quality management for the small property owner’. Richard Zona has acted as a court appointed receiver in the past and has quite a bit of experience in the legal aspects of managing properties and tenants.

Office Staff

Syrtraina Gause
Team Member since 2006

Oversees all aspects of the operation including managing the maintenance function and office staff, supervises workmen & inspects all work done. Reviews all work orders for payment. Works with rental agents, office staff and coordinates all QHI building inspections. Works with City of Rochester on  C of O and violation issues. Oversees & plans for capital improvements. Works with clients and makes recommendations for increased profitability of their investment

Syrtraina is also a Rental Agent. All rental agents work as independent contractors, showing vacant units, accepting and checking submitted rental applications and turning them into the office for final approval 

Brenda Weiser
Team Member since 2006

Answers phone, assigns maintenance work, responsible for all accounts receivable and payable, balances, examines and processes all bills for materials, utilities and services, contacts tenants after repairs are finished to verify customer satisfaction. Works with utility companies to set up service on managed properties.

LaKeysha Mays
Team Member since 2007

Answers phone, assigns maintenance work, contacts tenants to verify customer satisfaction, follows up on maintenance work done, assists rental agents in scheduling appointments. Collects all rents and balances daily deposits. Oversee entire move-in process with new tenants including orientation & schedule. Updates lease renewals & rent increases. Facilitates paperwork for Social Services and Section 8.

Ajoya Gause
Team Member since 2012

Answers phone, makes tenant calls to verify satisfaction with recent maintenance items, Assists with putting tenant files together to send to collection company. Monitors prospective tenant applications.

Maintenance Staff

All maintenance personnel are independent contractors with experience in all phases of maintenance including painting, repairing plumbing, heating and general maintenance. They all are lead paint certified. All assignments from Zona Properties, Inc. are verified before payment is approved for work finished.

Al Bethel
Team Member since 2011

Phill Forte
Team Member since 2007

Donovan Johnson
Team Member since 2019

Sean Kavanaugh
Team Member since 2012

Carl Holmes
Team Member since 2013

Pete Eckerd
Team Member since 2019

Phone/Email

Phone: (585) 506-9430
Fax: (585) 506-9432
Email: dick.zona@zonaproperties.com

Mailing Address

Zona Properties, Inc.
P.O. Box 17937
Rochester, New York 14617

Office Address

251 Joseph Ave./Wilson Commencement Park 
Rochester, NY 14605