Clifford Thomas Rowley is an inspiring leader, a visionary, and an avid sports enthusiast. Currently serving as the Founder and CEO of HydraPatch® U.S.A. Corporation, Clifford leads the company with a focus on helping sustain athletes throughout the game while managing their hydration levels. Before founding HydraPatch®, Clifford held roles at several renowned firms including Monmouth University and the New York Yankees. With a proven track record of success, Clifford is well-known for his strategic mindset and dedication to mentoring and helping individuals grow both personally and professionally. His expertise in the business field continues to drive Clifford’s growth and success in the industry.
Driven by his personal experience as an athlete and the challenges of dehydration, Clifford set out to address the global issue of dehydration. . “As a former Soccer State Champion, I always experienced dehydration symptoms on and off the field. I was never able to find a product that assisted in managing my hydration throughout my extensive training, gameplay, etc.,” he recalls.
Recognizing the opportunity to solve this global problem, Clifford developed an innovative transdermal patch, HydraPatch®, to replenish electrolytes and supply essential nutrients directly to the body. . Clifford’s sole vision behind HydraPatch® was to bypass the digestive tract process and provide a less invasive and convenient process for consumers worldwide.
A Tale of Determination and Success
Clifford earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from the esteemed University of Massachusetts at Amherst, which is known to be the leading Institution in Sport Management in the United States, and later a Master of Arts degree in Corporate and Public Communications from Monmouth University. He began his professional journey with the New York Yankees front office, where he focused on corporate partnerships and marketing. This role helped him gain necessary insights into high-level brand deals and wellness, which ultimately sparked his interest in creating products that benefit athletes and assist in battling dehydration symptoms on and off the field.
The Key Inspiration Behind HydraPatch®
Clifford ventured onto his entrepreneurial path with his original product, “U-ADE,” the world’s first sport-specific performance drink. Although he found fulfillment in entrepreneurship, Clifford aspired to create something more innovative than a new sports drink. The idea for his next venture came to him while watching a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. He noticed that the players were drinking sports drinks or water during timeouts (nothing out of the ordinary) but suddenly realized that they would eventually lose nutrients through sweat during the game. This insight led him to create HydraPatch® a solution designed to sustain athletes throughout the game by managing their hydration levels.
Unique Strategies to Attract and Retain Top Talent
Clifford and his team believe in authenticity when communicating with anyone, be it a customer, distributor, investor, or prospective employee. They ensure that people understand who they are and the goals they want to accomplish, which generates a sense of excitement among all the stakeholders after discussions.
The Development Process at HydraPatch®
The R&D process for HydraPatch® was fraught with challenges due to its groundbreaking nature. Developing a novel concept, that had never been done before, presented numerous challenges for Clifford and his team. Despite these difficulties, Clifford believes that the 4+ years development phase was extremely crucial, allowing him to perfect the product and enter the market at the perfect time.
“Key milestones included finding a suitable Board-Certified medical professional with a concentration involving electrolytes and kidney function, formulating an effective product, and finalizing the regulatory pathway to market. Once the design of the HydraPatch® was developed, the next significant phase involved human testing. Testers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom had suffered from some sort of dehydration ailment, reported positive experiences with the HydraPatch®, confirming its unique potential,” he remembers.
Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
Adaptability and innovation lie at the center of HydraPatch’s ethos. Clifford and his team are always listening to their customers and allowing the data to show what is successful among the customer base. Clifford has always believed that the best products solve problems in a convenient and different way, and not only does HydraPatch® solve a worldwide issue like dehydration, but it does so more simply and efficiently.
“We will continue to pair effective solutions while keeping efficiency and convenience as we develop our brand,” Clifford affirms.
Overcoming the Hurdles Along the Way
Navigating the intricacies of the corporate world often presents challenges. For Clifford, education is the biggest challenge due to the novel nature of HydraPatch®. “We have teamed up with brand influencers, posted organic social media content, and continue to market and build relationships with key distributors,” Clifford acknowledges.
These strategies have proven to be extremely crucial in raising awareness and educating the larger public about the unique benefits and advantages of HydraPatch®. So, despite all these challenges, Clifford still remains committed to ensuring that people understand the value of HydraPatch® and its innovative solutions.
The Future Outlook
Clifford believes that the skin will be a pathway to many other opportunities to aid the body. The transdermal market will continue to grow, and Clifford plans to be at the forefront of this market. He and his team have created other SKUs that will eventually hit the market to assist customers around the world.
Clifford envisions HydraPatch® being available around the globe and becoming a household brand name. He states, “Our future is marked by ambitious growth and innovation, but, most importantly, my future plan will be focused on staying true to our mission and providing people with a wellness solution to combat dehydration while allowing our customers to live smarter each day.”