By / Natalie Bruckner
Contrary to what the thousands of media influencers may have us believe, creating, building, and maintaining a successful business doesn’t happen overnight; it’s about taking that first step and then making sure every step thereafter counts.
For Wayne Hofer, owner of Hofer Mechanical Insulation & Firestopping Inc., the day he stepped into Freedom’s Door in Kelowna, BC, back in 2012, was the day his life changed forever.
“I’m not sure what drew me into Freedom’s Door on that day, as I wasn’t a religious man, but I knew something needed to change,” says Hofer of the non-profit addiction recovery program for men.
Today, looking at Hofer, seeing his drive and passion for the industry, his zest for life and family, and the successful business he runs whose motto is to be “Okanagan’s finest,” you would never think he is a recovering addict, and yet Hofer is proof that no matter how dark times get and what life throws at you, you can turn your life around…you just need to take that first step and find the right support system.
Hofer’s first introduction to the trade was 20 years ago when his stepfather, Karl Niederreuther, introduced him to the world of mechanical insulation. Hofer was intrigued. He loved figuring out how things worked, how to improve… always striving to be better. His stepfather secured him his first job with Dave Mclane, who would, many years later, become his mentor in business.
Those first few years were somewhat turbulent as Hofer battled with his addiction, but somehow he always remained focused on being the best at his job and had a feeling deep down that one day he would be running his own business.
“After I joined the recovery program I started working for a mechanical insulation company,” he says. “I worked there for three years with my stepfather and my brother Rob. I loved learning new things and would soak it up like a sponge.”
However, as is life, along came another speed bump. In 2015, Hofer got married to Jeanette (who he incidentally met through his mother: “She was my mum’s hairdresser, and I distinctly remember her telling me to ‛stay the hell away from her,’” he laughs) and after a two week break from work, Hofer was told he had been laid off.
Not knowing which direction to take, he called his mentor (and now estimator) Dave McLane, who advised him to take the plunge and start up his own business. Within a short time Hofer was inundated with work and reached out to those he trusted to join him.
“I remember sitting opposite my wife and saying, ‛What have I done?’ We just started laughing. So I called my brother and he was my first hire. My stepfather came onboard a few weeks later, and then later on my wife joined us,” he says.
Today, Hofer runs a team of 14 and his reputation within the Okanagan is second to none. Just take the UBC OK project as an example—this catapulted Hofer Mechanical Insulation & Firestopping Inc. into the big leagues. “I am playing in my competitors’ sandbox now. I feel like we’ve made it!” Hofer enthuses.
Running a business is truly a labour of love for Hofer, and alongside doing the best quality work, his top priority is making sure his team always has food on the table.
However, part of what drives him is an urge to give back. When he’s not working, you will find him on his motorcycle, a 2016 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, riding along with other members of the Bondslaves Motorcycle Club—the oldest International Christian MC in the world who ride and minster to other riders that are facing troubles in their life.
“I couldn’t have turned my life around without my support network,” Hofer says. “Whether that’s my sister Debbie or mother Lorraine, who always told me I could be anything I wanted to be, or the rest of my family, like Dave McLane who continues to mentor me in business or Freedom’s Door where I met Brad Gamble, who is now my project manager and who was one of the facilitators and introduced me to Bondslaves MC. I have them to thank for my success.”
It goes to show, anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. ▪
