Who Is Hydr8?
HYDR8 US is a family-owned and operated beverage company that has been certified by the Small Business Administration as an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).
Our mission is: to offer consumers a superior hydration experience by promoting optimal physical and mental health while fostering a culture of patriotism, community, and social responsibility.
Our priority is giving back to the United States Veteran and their families with premium, domestically sourced beverages. The HYDR8 brand is an homage to my parents' years of selfless service to our great nation and to those like them who serve. 🇺🇸
My father, ret. Naval Captain Mark T. McNally, retired after having been the Commanding Officer of the Dwight D. Eisenhower. He spent over 28 years in the United States Navy as a Naval Aviator, and as his daughter, I am immensely grateful that he returned home from every combat mission, training exercise, and deployment.
The photo above of our family is circa 1977 at a 'fly-in', the name for when a military squadron returns home after a deployment. This particular separation was approximately 10.5 months long.
Despite deployments being really hard on our family, I am cognizant of how fortunate we are. Sadly, some give all during their military career, and my parents lost many friends in service to our great nation. I recognize the sacrifice military families make during their service, and often long after, and wanted to honor our nation's heroes.
Considering 94% of Americans drink bottled water, and 73% of Americans take into account a company's charitable giving when making a purchase, it made sense to take our experience and network in the beverage industry and create a premium, patriotic brand that gives back to our country's heroes.
Once we got the green light from the Gary Sinise Foundation, and after a great deal of research and development, HYDR8 was born!
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HYDR8 represents my family's patriotism and love of country and was created to give back in a significant way to those who have served.
Working alongside Ret. Naval Captain Mark McNally, I am genuinely excited to see the HYDR8 brand make a positive impact.
By choosing HYDR8, consumers will be helping to support our country's Veterans, too! 🇺🇸
With the help of our distribution partners, brokers, and supporters, we are spreading the HYDR8 word and inviting friends to join us in supporting our country's heroes. If you are interested in growing the brand, please e-mail amy@hydr8us.com.
We hope you love our water, brand, and mission as much as we do. 🇺🇸💧
If you have any comments or feedback, a fallen veteran you would like to commemorate on a label, or a military story you would like featured on our blog, please email us at info@hydr8us.com.
Mark McNally, Veteran's Advocate
Mark McNally was born to a Navy family, the third of eleven children. After graduation from the University of Missouri, with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, he was commissioned on 7 July 1975 as an Ensign in the United States Navy. After completion aviation training, he was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1976.
During his early years of service, he flew the A-6 Intruder in multiple Attack Squadrons and served on the staff of Captain Medium Attack Wing ONE. During this period, he participated in four deployments onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY and one onboard USS AMERICA.
During his initial sea tour, he received the P.T. Smythe Junior Officer Leadership Award. In December 1983, he participated in combat actions in Lebanon. Additionally, he received the Mike Smith Memorial Award as the east coast "Intruder of the Year" in 1987. Following these early tours, he served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff.
In September 1992 he took command of an aviation squadron the "Road Runners" deployed on USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (the TR) to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Under his leadership the squadron won the Commander, Naval Air Force "Battle Efficiency E" and the Chief of Naval Operations "Safety S."
Following his command tour, he served as the ship’s Navigator on the TR. During this tour, he was selected for nuclear power training. Following nuclear power training, he once again returned to the TR, serving as Executive Officer (XO). While Captain McNally was XO, the TR deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf, winning the Golden Anchor for retention for 1997.
Captain McNally took command of the fast combat supply ship, USS DETROIT, in July 1998. While in command, DETROIT deployed to the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean theaters, participating in OPERATION DESERT FOX in the Arabian Gulf and OPERATION DELIBERATE FORGE in the Adriatic Sea. The USS Detroit was awarded a Navy Unit Citation during this time. He then took command of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, where he served until he retired from the Navy as a Captain, completing 28 years of active naval service.
After leaving the navy, he and his wife moved to Missouri, and he then worked five years as the Executive Director of the Mid-America Intermodal Port Authority and the three state Port Commission based in Quincy, Illinois. When funding from the states ran out, he was hired as the General Manager of the Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Commission.
The Commission is a political subdivision of the state which operates a ten million gallon a day water treatment plant, and has over 300 miles of pipeline to provide water to fourteen counties in northeast Missouri. He held certification from the Department of Natural Resources for Drinking Water Treatment and Drinking Water Distribution.
He retired from that position after twelve years of service. He now is the Veteran's Advocate for Hydr8 Us, a premium drinking water company.
Mark holds a masters degree in Engineering Management. Military awards include: a Legion of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, one with combat distinguishing device, a Navy Achievement Medal and various unit awards. He has over 950 carrier arrested landings and over 3800 A-6 flight hours.
Mark married the former Rose Hays of Monroe City, Missouri while in college. He has three children, and six grandchildren.
Amy McNally, Chief Hydration Officer & Founder
Amy McNally is the founder of Hydr8 US, the CEO, and serves on its Board of Directors.
Before founding Hydr8 US, Amy was a consultant for many years for a beverage and bottling company. As a start-up, Amy was responsible for the sales, marketing, logistics, e-commerce, business development, production, and much more. It was an opportunity to learn every facet of the beverage business while forging a powerful network of distributors, brokers, and category buyers.
With her expertise, and the strong desire to give back, Amy left her consulting work to focus full-time on developing a premium brand that would support U.S. Veterans and First Responders.
After selecting the flagship product, identifying appropriate partners, and getting the green light from the Gary Sinise Foundation, the HYDR8 brand was born!
Amy holds a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and is the proud mother of two sons, a Great Dane named Wolfie, and a really, really, ridiculously good-looking cat named Hansel.
Mark McNally, Veteran's Advocate
Mark McNally was born to a Navy family, the third of eleven children. After graduation from the University of Missouri, with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, he was commissioned on 7 July 1975 as an Ensign in the United States Navy. After completion aviation training, he was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1976.
During his early years of service, he flew the A-6 Intruder in multiple Attack Squadrons and served on the staff of Captain Medium Attack Wing ONE. During this period, he participated in four deployments onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY and one onboard USS AMERICA.
During his initial sea tour, he received the P.T. Smythe Junior Officer Leadership Award. In December 1983, he participated in combat actions in Lebanon. Additionally, he received the Mike Smith Memorial Award as the east coast "Intruder of the Year" in 1987. Following these early tours, he served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff.
In September 1992 he took command of an aviation squadron the "Road Runners" deployed on USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (the TR) to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Under his leadership the squadron won the Commander, Naval Air Force "Battle Efficiency E" and the Chief of Naval Operations "Safety S."
Following his command tour, he served as the ship’s Navigator on the TR. During this tour, he was selected for nuclear power training. Following nuclear power training, he once again returned to the TR, serving as Executive Officer (XO). While Captain McNally was XO, the TR deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf, winning the Golden Anchor for retention for 1997.
Captain McNally took command of the fast combat supply ship, USS DETROIT, in July 1998. While in command, DETROIT deployed to the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean theaters, participating in OPERATION DESERT FOX in the Arabian Gulf and OPERATION DELIBERATE FORGE in the Adriatic Sea. The USS Detroit was awarded a Navy Unit Citation during this time. He then took command of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, where he served until he retired from the Navy as a Captain, completing 28 years of active naval service.
After leaving the navy, he and his wife moved to Missouri, and he then worked five years as the Executive Director of the Mid-America Intermodal Port Authority and the three state Port Commission based in Quincy, Illinois. When funding from the states ran out, he was hired as the General Manager of the Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Commission.
The Commission is a political subdivision of the state which operates a ten million gallon a day water treatment plant, and has over 300 miles of pipeline to provide water to fourteen counties in northeast Missouri. He held certification from the Department of Natural Resources for Drinking Water Treatment and Drinking Water Distribution.
He retired from that position after twelve years of service. He now is the Veteran's Advocate for Hydr8 Us, a premium drinking water company.
Mark holds a masters degree in Engineering Management. Military awards include: a Legion of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, one with combat distinguishing device, a Navy Achievement Medal and various unit awards. He has over 950 carrier arrested landings and over 3800 A-6 flight hours.
Mark married the former Rose Hays of Monroe City, Missouri while in college. He has three children, and six grandchildren.
