About Us
Our History
Our agency was founded in 1957 by John Weed. In the 1980’s Gary Ross became the agency’s president, which led to the name, the Weed Ross Group. Gary Ross retired in March of 2016 and Sean D. Cornelius became the agency president. We are currently licensed in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota.
When you purchase a policy through the Weed Ross Group, you’ll be working with someone who is familiar with your current area as well as the full offerings of the companies we are partnered with.
We’re your local agent who is there for you
Let Us Take Care of That for You. – When you purchase a policy through the Weed Ross Group you have the peace of mind knowing that we will take care of the hassle. Let us sit on the phone with the billing department at your insurance company, let us assist you with your claim, and know that we are here for you. At the Weed Ross Group we are a locally owned and operated independent insurance agency. We are in a position to offer a level of service that you won’t receive anywhere else.
One of our agents can customize an insurance package based upon your needs by discussing what is important to you and what you are looking to protect.
Sean D. Cornelius
President
Licensed Insurance Broker
Sean started his insurance career while he was still in college working summers for his father at his insurance agency in Erie, PA. Sean attended St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, NY and received his B.A. in Philosophy/Pre-Law in 2003.
Sean then went on to work for Crawford and Company as an independent adjuster handling hurricane losses in Florida arising from the 2004 Hurricane season. In 2005, Sean was hired by State Farm Insurance in Jacksonville, FL. Sean worked as an in-house adjuster, handling high-level first contact claims for the entire country. Sean was quickly promoted to an adjuster for State Farm’s Catastrophe Team, a group of elite claims adjusters that travel throughout the country to handle losses such as hurricanes, tornadoes, severe water losses, snowstorms, hail storms, and wildfires.
In 2008, Sean was hired by Travelers Insurance as a field insurance adjuster in Miami, FL. Sean managed a high volume of complex losses for both commercial and personal lines in South Florida. In 2010, Sean moved back to the northeast and eventually settled in Ellicottville, NY. Sean went to work for The Putnam Record Agency in Dunkirk, NY as an insurance producer. In 2011, Sean facilitated the acquisition of the Becker Agency in Brocton, NY. Sean joined the Weed Ross Group in 2014 as a producer and took over as President of the agency in 2016 upon the retirement of Gary Ross.
Sean enjoys living in the village of Ellicottville with his wife, Erin, and their two sons, Harrison and Finn. In his free time, Sean is an avid snowboarder who also enjoys hiking and boating.
Sean then went on to work for Crawford and Company as an independent adjuster handling hurricane losses in Florida arising from the 2004 Hurricane season. In 2005, Sean was hired by State Farm Insurance in Jacksonville, FL. Sean worked as an in-house adjuster, handling high-level first contact claims for the entire country. Sean was quickly promoted to an adjuster for State Farm’s Catastrophe Team, a group of elite claims adjusters that travel throughout the country to handle losses such as hurricanes, tornadoes, severe water losses, snowstorms, hail storms, and wildfires.
In 2008, Sean was hired by Travelers Insurance as a field insurance adjuster in Miami, FL. Sean managed a high volume of complex losses for both commercial and personal lines in South Florida. In 2010, Sean moved back to the northeast and eventually settled in Ellicottville, NY. Sean went to work for The Putnam Record Agency in Dunkirk, NY as an insurance producer. In 2011, Sean facilitated the acquisition of the Becker Agency in Brocton, NY. Sean joined the Weed Ross Group in 2014 as a producer and took over as President of the agency in 2016 upon the retirement of Gary Ross.
Sean enjoys living in the village of Ellicottville with his wife, Erin, and their two sons, Harrison and Finn. In his free time, Sean is an avid snowboarder who also enjoys hiking and boating.
Joe Palumbo
Vice President
Licensed Insurance Broker
Joe started his insurance career at Iroquois Group during college. He was a financial analyst there before moving on to join Weed Ross in 2016 part time and full time in 2018. He attended St Bonaventure University earning a degree in Business Information Systems with a minor in Accounting.
Joe currently resides in the city of Buffalo and primarily works in the Orchard Park location. In his free time, he is an avid golfer that enjoys to ski & play basketball as well. Joe also volunteers some of his time to different things such as the Dr. Lyle F Renodin Foundation Board & St Joe’s Varsity basketball in Kenmore.
Our Staff
Ellicottville
Roseann J. Hintz, AAI, ACSR
Licensed Sales Representative/
Office Manager
Kelly Wakelee, ACSR
Licensed Sales Representative
Lindsay Hintz
Licensed Sales Representative
Brenda Wiktorowski
Licensed Sales Representative
Orchard Park
Camille Wachowski
Office Manager/
Licensed Sales Representative
Wendy Crino
Licensed Sales Representative/
Quality Control
Batavia
Laurie Lyons
Licensed Sales Representative/
Office Manager
Melissa Howard
Licensed Sales Representative
Josh King
Commercial Lines Account Manager
Randolph
Holly Musall
Licensed Sales Representative/
Office Manager
Courtney Lynn
Licensed Sales Representative
Saving You Time and Money
Unlike agents who can only sell you the insurance of one company, as an independent insurance agency, we represent over twenty companies. Partnering with many insurance companies gives us the ability to quote your home and auto insurance, as well as a variety of other insurance products across a broad spectrum of providers.
Essentially our agency will do the shopping for you, saving you time and money. We collect your information and work directly with our partner companies receiving quotes. We then work with you to determine which company or companies best meet your insurance and budget needs. And over time our agency will also do periodic reviews of your policies to ensure that you are still getting the best coverage to protect you and your family. We also make sure your rates remain competitive when compared with their partner companies.
Essentially our agency will do the shopping for you, saving you time and money. We collect your information and work directly with our partner companies receiving quotes. We then work with you to determine which company or companies best meet your insurance and budget needs. And over time our agency will also do periodic reviews of your policies to ensure that you are still getting the best coverage to protect you and your family. We also make sure your rates remain competitive when compared with their partner companies.