Purpose Before Profit: Jeannine Tilford of Toad Busters On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose-Driven Business
An Interview With Chad Silverstein
In today’s world, while texting is common, communication is key. Spend time speaking to people in person and avoid over-relying on texts and emails. Let your team and clients know that you stand behind your product and beliefs. Share your passion and excitement with them — it drives success.
In today’s competitive business landscape, the race for profits often takes center stage. However, there are some leaders who also prioritize a mission-driven purpose. They use their business to make a positive social impact and recognize that success isn’t only about making money. In this interview series, we are talking with some of these distinct leaders and I had the pleasure of interviewing Jeannine Tilford.
Jeannine Tilford is a South Florida native who has worked for more than 25 years as a science teacher, animal educator, Herpetologist and Veterinary Technician. Jeannine has seen the devastating results of non-native species invading our beautiful state’s ecosystem — including the loss of pets to cane toad toxins. In an effort to help maintain manageable numbers of the Bufo/cane toad and protect others’ beloved, four-legged family members, she founded Toad Busters in 2015. Jeannine also founded Pet Protect Fencing, which installs maintenance-free mesh barriers to block dangerous toads out of a certain area. In addition to Jeannine, the company employs skilled technicians who are background checked and have a protocol to follow in order to ensure professional, thorough and courteous service. Jeannine/Toad Busters is a registered Nuisance Wildlife Trapper (reptiles and snakes) with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Toad Busters was founded when I recognized the need for a service to help remove the invasive cane toad from the environment. At the time, I was working as a veterinary technician in pet emergency care. I frequently had clients ask me what to do when their dog had licked or bitten a poisonous cane toad, or even died from it. The medical help required was often very expensive. Unfortunately, there weren’t many solutions available. Clients didn’t want to touch or freeze the toads, and the only other options were animal trappers, who charged a lot of money and weren’t very effective.
As a single mother working as an environmental teacher and being in a band, I needed to supplement my income and often thought about starting Toad Busters. I was always collecting reptiles at night. During these I noticed a concerning trend: native species were declining, while invasive species, like the cane toad, were increasing due to the actions of trappers removing native amphibians and reptiles. I realized that if the cycle could work one way, it could also work in reverse. By removing the invasive species, we could potentially help native species repopulate, benefiting both the environment and our clients.
Out of necessity, I started Toad Busters. It didn’t take long for the company to become successful and an in-demand a service needed across South Florida.
The most interesting thing that happened early on was when my company appeared on the Love Doctors Radio Show. They’d heard about Toad Busters and spent two days making fun of my business — in a good way! This boosted awareness of Toad Busters and helped me hire my first technician (who is still with us). From that point, we’ve had a continuous stream of new clients signing up for service.
We often learn the most from our mistakes. Can you share one mistake you made that turned out to be one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?
I learned early on, while trying to start different businesses, that it’s best not to take on a partner unless it’s absolutely necessary. I made the mistake before and realized that things can go south quickly if there’s a disagreement. So, when I started Toad Busters, I made sure to grow the company as the sole owner. However, I did hire people who were experts in certain areas and built a solid team as a result.
As a successful leader, it’s clear that you uphold strong core values. I’m curious what are the most important principles you firmly stand by and refuse to compromise on. Can you share a few of them and explain why they hold such significance for you in your work and life?
As a leader, it’s important to stay true to my beliefs, listen to people, and be the kind of person I would want to work for. Customer service is a key priority — ensuring that we do everything possible to keep our clients’ pets safe while also maintaining the safety of our native species. I love this job because we’re not only saving pets, but also helping the environment by removing invasive species. This allows native species to return, preventing native reptiles and mammals that could die from consuming cane toads.
Environmental consciousness is crucial to me, and it has led me on other journeys to help control invasive species that could be harmful to humans, pets and native wildlife. As for the people with whom I work, I strive to maintain a team-oriented, family atmosphere. I’m always available for anyone who needs to speak with me and I sometimes have to make emotionally difficult decisions that are necessary for the health and success of the company. Everyone who works for me is part of a larger mission: creating jobs people can be proud of, where they feel appreciated for keeping pets and families safe, and contributing to the environment by removing invasive species.
What inspired you to start a purpose-driven business rather than a traditional for-profit enterprise? Can you share a personal story or experience that led you to prioritize social impact in your business?
I was inspired to start a purpose-driven business because no one was addressing the issue of controlling the invasive cane toad… and it needed to happen to protect pets and the ecosystem. I saw an opportunity to help both people and wildlife.
A pivotal moment came when we had a massive outbreak of cane toad babies in Palm Beach Gardens. Hundreds of thousands of toads were hopping across a community, making it nearly impossible to step outside without squashing them or running them over while driving. The problem was severe and made the news worldwide. During this outbreak, Toad Busters was the go-to resource to remedy the problem and for expert advice. We gained national and international attention and were were featured in magazines, newspapers, podcasts, radio shows and TV stations globally.
Can you help articulate a few of the benefits of leading a purpose-driven business rather than a standard “plain vanilla” business?
One of the main benefits of leading a purpose-driven business is knowing that we are making a meaningful difference. We’re helping solve an environmental issue, not just in Florida but potentially in other regions affected by the cane toad or other invasive species.
How has your company’s mission or purpose affected its overall success? Can you explain the methods or metrics you use to evaluate the impact of this purpose-driven strategy on your organization?
Our company’s mission has significantly contributed to our success. In the past ten years, we’ve grown from a small, one-person company to a team of more than 20 employees. We’re expanding into areas around the world facing similar toxic toad problems.
We’ve also expanded our focus to other invasive species, such as the New Guinea flatworm, which spreads the deadly rat-lungworm parasite to native animals, domestic animals, and humans. We’re testing a product that targets flatworms, repelling them from homes and gardens while being safe for the environment. In the future, we hope this product can be used as an agricultural spray to prevent flatworms from spreading across regions, ensuring food safety from farm to table.
This innovation could potentially save lives — of humans, pets, and livestock — while helping to control the spread of invasive species.
Have you ever faced a situation where your commitment to creating a positive social impact conflicted with the profitability of your business?
Yes, this became an issue when developing first-aid products to help save pets from cane toad toxins after a poisoning incident. As a smaller company, we can’t produce large quantities of the product, so the cost is high. However, I believe it’s important to educate people on how to save their pets and provide them with the necessary tools, even if it’s at our expense. In the future, I hope we can lower costs to make the product more profitable, and distribute these products on a larger scale in the pet trade.
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs who wish to start a purpose-driven business?
The most valuable advice I can give is to set attainable goals and remain passionate about what you do. Always look for opportunities to expand and develop your product or ideas. By setting small, achievable goals, you can continuously build upon your idea and watch it grow. When I started Toad Busters, I never imagined it would grow into an international business. It has been an amazing journey, and it’s not over yet.
What are the five things you need to create a highly successful purpose-driven business?
- A strong team that works well together and provides expertise in areas where you may not be strong.
- Constantly seek new ways to improve or create additional business opportunities. Innovate!
- Set small, attainable goals and keep pushing forward.
- Treat your employees the way you would want to be treated, and let them know their contributions are making a difference in both people’s lives and the environment. It’s rewarding to know you’re doing something good.
- In today’s world, while texting is common, communication is key. Spend time speaking to people in person and avoid over-relying on texts and emails. Let your team and clients know that you stand behind your product and beliefs. Share your passion and excitement with them — it drives success.
Imagine we’re sitting together two years from now, looking back at your company’s last 24 months. What specific accomplishments would need to happen for you to be happy with your progress?
Two years from now, I hope I can say that I played a significant role in controlling the spread of the cane toad, not just in the United States but also in other parts of the world. I’d also like to know that my creation of the flatworm spray has helped protect people and pets from the rat-lungworm parasite, contributed to environmental protection, and saved lives globally.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
I’m currently working on an educational television series about invasive species to raise awareness of global environmental issues. I hope to educate the public on ways to help remove invasive species and reduce our ecological footprint. We need to pay more attention to our planet. Everyone can make a difference — whether it’s removing invasive species or reducing plastic waste. Learning sustainable practices in both business and personal life is crucial. We only have one planet, and every little thing we do to help makes a difference.
How can our readers further follow your work or your company online?
Website: https://www.toadbusters.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bufobusters
Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/bufobusters
Jeannine Tilford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannine-tilford-111184124
This was great. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your business. We wish you continued success!
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Purpose Before Profit: Jeannine Tilford of Toad Busters On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose-Driven… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.