Today we’d like to introduce you to David Dodgen.
Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our Story I founded AquaStorage in 2005, and over the past twenty years, have built deep expertise in water storage solutions and product development. My vision was clear from the start: to provide customers with a single source solution for all their water storage needs.
Our flagship product, the AquaPod Kit, a bathtub bladder for emergency water storage, was actually developed before Hurricane Katrina hit. In what became both a personal test and a powerful validation of our product, my parents used the AquaPod during Hurricane Katrina. That real world trial during one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history proved the value and reliability of what we had created.
What set us apart from day one was our commitment to quality and rigorous testing. We don’t rush products to market every AquaStorage product undergoes extensive field-testing with consumers, outdoor enthusiasts, and active military personnel to ensure it meets the highest standards of durability and performance.
As we grew, we made a deliberate choice to manufacture our products in the USA. This wasn’t just about quality control it reflected our belief in investing in our homeland and supporting American manufacturing.
Throughout our journey, we’ve stayed true to a core value: honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. This led us to partner with numerous non-profit organizations that support military veterans, law enforcement, and other government agencies. We’ve also secured US Military product approvals and established Ability One partnerships, which provide preferential sales channels to government entities.
Today, we’ve successfully developed and commercialized innovative water storage products while managing every aspect from design and manufacturing to market delivery. Our growth has been built on strategic partnerships and an unwavering commitment to quality, American manufacturing, and service to those who serve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road – and honestly, it still isn’t at times. Manufacturing in the United States is not for the weak. There are so many stipulations, rules, and regulations that other countries get to circumvent, which puts American manufacturers at a significant disadvantage in terms of cost and complexity. It requires real commitment and resilience to stay the course.
When you add military contracting into the mix, that introduces another layer of challenges entirely. The requirements are rigorous, the approval processes are lengthy, and the standards are exacting as they should be.
But here’s what makes it all worthwhile: when you finally complete a military approval or deliver a product that meets those stringent standards, it’s incredibly satisfying. You know you’ve done your best to make the best for the best for the men and women who serve our country. That knowledge, that we’re supporting those who put their lives on the line, makes every obstacle worth overcoming.
The road has been tough, but our commitment to American manufacturing and to serving those who serve has never wavered. That’s what keeps us going through the challenges.
As you know, we’re big fans of AquaStorage, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
About AquaStorage At our core, we specialize in innovative water storage solutions for emergency preparedness, military applications, and situations where clean water access is critical. We’ve built our reputation on American-made quality, rigorous testing, and a deep commitment to serving those who serve.
Our Products & What Sets Us Apart
The AquaPod Kit is like my first born – it will always be with me. This bathtub bladder gave me my start, and its real world validation during Hurricane Katrina, when my own parents used it, proved that we were onto something important. It remains our flagship product and the foundation of everything we’ve built.
More recently, I completed development of the Survival Water Storage Bag for the US Army. I’m incredibly proud that this product has been added to the new Army Technical Manual it’s now an officially recognized solution that our soldiers can rely on in the field.
Most recently, we just finished participating in the AEWE (Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment) where we received exemplary scores. We’re being looked at for some significant opportunities that I can’t discuss yet, but let’s just say the next year could bring some big developments for AquaStorage.
What Makes Us Different
What truly sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality through extensive field-testing and American manufacturing, combined with our mission to serve military, veterans, law enforcement, and emergency responders. We don’t just make products we create solutions that people can trust with their lives. Every product approval, every military contract, every positive field test reminds us why we do what we do: to make the best for the best.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Resources That Help Me Do My Best Honestly, it’s not apps, books, or podcasts – it’s other business owners, especially the ones who manufacture in the USA. They understand the sweat, blood, and tears in a way that no book or podcast ever could, because they’ve lived it. They know what it takes to navigate the complexity, the regulations, the challenges of keeping production on American soil.
The problem is, they’re a dying breed and hard to find. American manufacturers who’ve been through the trenches are becoming increasingly rare, which makes those relationships even more valuable when you find them.
It’s like finding a good attorney or CPA when you’re first starting out and don’t have the money to afford them. But you build the relationship anyway. They help you, and then as you grow, you help others coming up behind you. That’s how it works it’s a community built on shared struggle and mutual support.
Those connections, those conversations with people who truly understand what it means to build something in America that’s what keeps me going and helps me navigate the challenges. There’s no substitute for wisdom earned through experience, especially from those who’ve walked the same difficult path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aquapodkit.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquapodkit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aquapodkit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aquapodkit/featured
- Other: https://aquastorage.com/
