Outdoor
Products iota Outdoors

The president of iota, Derrick Ratliff, grew up hunting, fishing and working on a family farm in Boyd, Texas. As part of the farming lifestyle, he learned to build, repair and customize mechanical implements. A BS graduate in wildlife sciences from Texas A&M University with a minor in business, he was a competitive college archer who was ranked No. 13 in the nation. Following graduation, Derrick worked as the R&D Manager for Bowtech Archery and Octane and as the Wholesale Marketing Manager for Ranch Hand Truck Accessories. He was also the producer and host of the Sportsman Channel TV series "Ranch Hand Horizons” prior to founding the custom rifle manufacturing company Horizon Firearms. Derrick is an avid hunter and shooter who brings extensive field experience to iota's vision and business execution.

Austin Ratliff is the project coordinator for iota and is the company’s jack of all trades. Austin grew up the youngest of three Ratliff brothers on a farm and ranch in Boyd, Texas. Hunting, fishing, working and fixing things were a by-product of the stereotypical Texas upbringing. Austin received a visualization degree from Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture with a focus in 3-D animation and computer graphics. His dedication to detail and visual aesthetics as well as his unique set of computer skills provide great value to product development and marketing at iota. Austin’s dream hunt includes an Arctic Wolf with his totally tricked out Horizon Firearms 6.5 Creedmoor.

Katherine Rice holds a business administration degree, with a marketing concentration, from the University of Oregon. As the daughter of a forester, Katherine grew up in the woods of Oregon’s Willamette Valley hunting, fishing and camping with her family. Shortly after graduating from college, Katherine joined the marketing team at Bowtech Archery. After four years at Bowtech, she left to join S4Gear as marketing manager until its acquisition by Field Logic in 2012. Katherine then spent a brief, albeit educational, stretch in the snack food and tech industries before rejoining her absolute favorite industry — the outdoors. The combination of industry knowledge, passion and relationships, paired with the digital and content marketing tactics learned in the tech field, have proven to be a unique and valuable asset for Horizon Firearms and iota Outdoors.