Business isn’t just balance sheets and signatures for Ned Weaver. It’s about building something that lasts. As founder of Wood Creek Advisors, Weaver has turned Toledo into a proving ground for mergers and acquisitions done with a handshake-and-trust mindset rather than just a calculator.
“The best deals aren’t about price tags. They’re about trust, fit, and outcomes that make sense for everyone,” Weaver says. That’s a philosophy Toledo business owners know well: family-owned, locally rooted, and proud of it.
Lately, Weaver’s focus has turned toward sellers, especially in printing and food manufacturing, who want more than a check when it comes time to move on. They want their legacies intact. Case in point: The Fremont Company, a fourth-generation Ohio food producer known for tomato sauces and sauerkraut, tapped Wood Creek to fuel its next chapter through acquisitions. A heritage brand leveling up with a strategy, not just tradition.
Weaver is also fresh off advising Seneca Printing Express & Label on its sale to Seneca Label & Packaging. The move, led by industry veteran Nizar Elias, did more than merge two printers. It set the stage for a scalable industrial label platform that can punch above its weight nationally while keeping Toledo craftsmanship at the core.
For local owners weighing what’s next, Weaver offers more than dealmaking. He offers a path forward. His mix of buyer and seller perspective, along with his track record in Northwest Ohio, means companies can grow without losing the values that got them here in the first place.
As Weaver puts it: “When the right fit comes together, it’s not just good for the business. It’s good for the community.”
