This episode of Around the Upstate, hosted by Steve Davis of Patmos Marketing, features Stephanie Hoffer of Precision Predator, a trusted wildlife and pest control company serving the Upstate of South Carolina.
Steve Davis, founder and CEO of Patmos Marketing, introduces the common problem many homeowners face—wildlife in attics, walls, and yards—and welcomes Stephanie and Jodie Hoffer, the founders of Precision Predator. Beyond business owners, the Hoffers are entrepreneurs, innovators, homeschool parents, and community builders who also run a local coffee shop. The conversation explores both their business journey and how they balance work, family, and impact.
Stephanie Hoffer grew up in Michigan in a hunting and farming family, giving her early familiarity with wildlife. The idea for Precision Predator began with her husband Jodie, an Army veteran of 26 years who originally aspired to become a DNR officer. While working in wildlife control as part of that path, Jodie started Precision Predator as an LLC during a deployment. Stephanie describes Jodie as the visionary and herself as the detail-oriented workhorse. The couple met six months after the business began and grew it alongside starting their family.
In the early years, the biggest challenge was a lack of business systems and experience. They created estimates in Word documents and learned processes as they went. Precision Predator began as a wildlife-only company, but later expanded into general pest control after realizing customers wanted ongoing service beyond one-time wildlife removal. This expansion created stability and deeper client relationships.
The Hoffers emphasize ethical wildlife practices, following state laws while working with animal rehabilitators when needed and respecting animal life cycles. Stephanie notes that building a reliable team was one of their hardest challenges. Jodie’s deployment in 2023 forced them to step out of daily operations, develop systems, and trust their team. Beyond skills, they hire for integrity, accountability, and adaptability to change.
Family is central to their lives. They have four children and chose homeschooling to stay closely involved and teach life skills like financial literacy and communication. A non-negotiable boundary is family dinner every night. They also prioritize work-life balance for their employees, even during busy seasons.
In addition to Precision Predator, the Hoffers run a permanent and landscape lighting business and a coffee and ice cream shop. Their long-term goal is for Precision Predator to become the number-one provider in the area with a team-led operation, keeping options open for either selling or building a legacy company.
Stephanie’s advice to entrepreneurs is simple: don’t sacrifice your family for your business. She believes steady growth has strengthened their marriage and family more than nonstop hustle ever could.
In the lightning round, Stephanie shares that she enjoys Ed Mylett for motivation, recommends leadership books and conferences, and notes that the worst wildlife calls involve long-dead animals. Her favorite coffee is a cold brew with sweet foam, while the shop’s most popular drink is the “Salty Sailor,” a caramel truffle coffee.
Precision Predator primarily serves the Upstate of South Carolina and focuses not just on trapping, but on sealing homes properly to ensure wildlife problems are solved for good.
