THE INTERSECTION OF PURPOSE AND PROFIT.

Dave Weaver
President, Founder

Dave Weaver, Founder of We Impact Group, LLC is a passionate entrepreneur, focused on possibility and the opportunities to change industry, the lives of those he works with, and his community. 

Early Education

Dave Weaver grew up in a family of entrepreneurs in Elkhart, Indiana. He started in the family restaurant at eight years old -- washing tables for a dime a table and scrubbing potatoes. He could also be frequently found at his grandfather’s bakery -- sneaking in the back door for a glimpse of the day’s production.  

Dave stayed in Elkhart through his college career at Indiana University in South Bend so that he could help support the family business. In 2003, Dave and his sister started their first restaurant alongside their father. However, after three years, the restaurant did not survive, which lead to an expensive yet priceless learning experience.  

Corporate Leadership

After graduating with degrees in business finance and economics from Indiana University, Dave joined Kem Krest in an ambitious move to help purchase the company. This dream came true on February 8, 2008, when Dave and his business partner were able to acquire the organization from private equity during the Great Recession. Against all the odds, Kem Krest grew through the recession. In his 14 years at Kem Krest, Dave started or acquired more than five businesses and led the organization’s growth from a small midwestern company of 30 employees to an industry-leading team of 600 working with 30 OEMS in four market segments, including automotive, agriculture/industrial, power sports, and defense.

Community Transformation

Dave continues to instill his leadership tenents by continuously striving to do more to positively impact and improve the lives of others. Today, he practices this through his organization, We Impact, where he continues to explore and activate teams who build traditional businesses and influence several transformational and generationally impactful community projects.

• Elkhart Health and Aquatics - Dave was part of a core team of private individuals responsible for bringing the fifth-largest aquatics and community center in the United States to Elkhart, Indiana. This $70M private-public project is an unprecedented collaboration between the local school system, health system, community foundation, and private community leaders who are demonstrating the vision of what’s possible with at the intersection of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

• The Elkhart River District - Continuing the momentum gained, Dave joined forces with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the City of Elkhart, and private members of the community to establish the River District. The River District Implementation Team is a cross-functional group of public/private partners responsible for planning and deploying $30M within 105 acres of public infrastructure investment. This project will rally $300M in private investment to revitalize their hometown. Described as the “big bet” on Elkhart, these projects are receiving national recognition, such as coverage in the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and national community planning awards. The River District Implementation Team’s goal is to make Elkhart more relevant and sustainable for generations to come – versus being a headline of ground zero at the height or trough of economic cycles. In just two short years, more than $160M is committed to projects with shovels in the ground. 

• Elkhart Opportunity Fund - As a member of this team of private investors, Dave and his partners are developers of two projects representing $45M in private investment within one of Elkhart’s Opportunity Zones which are designed to overcome Elkhart’s market-rate housing shortage, lack of Class-A commercial office space and need for urban, walkable residential areas with parks and amenities which will cultivate a living destination for future generations.  

Dave also sits on the board of directors for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the second-largest community foundation in the state of Indiana, with approximately $300M endowed. Dave is an instrument-rated private pilot and enjoys traveling with family and friends.