We recently had the chance to connect with Mark McNally and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Mark, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Being a business owner definitely has it’s perks when it comes to time. A have the freedom to spend every morning bringing my youngest daughter to school, followed by a long walk for me and my golden retriever dog ‘Tayto’. A chance to clear the mind and prepare for the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
It’s still hard to believe what a boy from Belfast, Ireland has achieved after immigrating with nothing but the clothes in my suitcase, back in 2007.
One of the businesses I’m most proud of is Filters Direct USA. As an owner of a local mechanical company, FSI Mechanical here in North Carolina, I knew there was a better way to filter the air, so I created my own air filter. During Covid is really when the spark happened. We wanted to create something healthier for the home owner in a more eco-friendly way. After a year in product development and testing, we finally rolled out our invention of a plastic reusable filter frame to hold our polyester media, made from recycled plastics.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents definitely shaped my work ethic from an early age. Especially my Dad, who sadly passed away in 2024. I watched both of them work two jobs back in Belfast, Ireland just to give us what we needed as a family. To my Dad, that was a yearly trip to Europe where we would spend a couple of weeks in the sun, enjoying what hard work provided. Some great memories that I will cherish forever. Now as a serial Entrepreneur I have the same mindset when it comes to work. Going that extra mile is what allows me and my wife and children to enjoy some amazing trips together. Memories I hope they will cherish and look back on.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Leaving Ireland was one of the hardest things I have done in my life. Being surrounded by family, friends, cousins always brought good times and laughter. That’s the thing I miss most. Not being able to attend those big family parties, christenings of new children across our extended families and weddings. I know if we still lived in Ireland we would vacation together with cousins and build bonds our children would never forget. Living in America means those bonds will almost never happen.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I would hope it would be family. Regardless of success or my focus in their eyes, my number one focus is always my wife and children. Do they have what they need. Are they thriving and enjoying life. There’s nothing more motivating than working hard and knowing that I get to spend my free time with them. We travel a lot, which is always a major goal for my wife Charlene. She knows it’s a way to bring us all back close together no matter how distracting work and life can be.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I went for it, no matter what. I wasn’t someone who just talked about doing it. I actually did it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://filtersdirectusa.com/
- Instagram: @filtersdirectusa
- Linkedin: Mark McNally
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
- Youtube: FiltersDirectUSA
Image Credits
Aaron Lurie – VMA Studios
