Author Archives: John Ratliff

About John Ratliff

John Ratliff founded Appletree Answering Service in 1995 in his two-bedroom, commercially zoned apartment in Wilmington, DE. For the first few years, John was handling all aspects of the business including answering the calls, marketing the company and sales efforts, all while trying to operate the business. Since this time, Appletree has experienced steady growth and has maintained at least a 30% growth in revenue each year. Appletree Answers is now an answering service and call center provider with 22 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Small Details Really are Huge

Posted on May 9, 2011 by John Ratliff

I am at 15,000’ 23.1nm NW of Charleston, SC, about 1 hour 54 minutes out from KOXB, Ocean City, MD at a groundspeed of 202kts.  I departed from KHXD in Hilton Head, SC.  I was down there with Doug Swift … Continue reading →

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Better Information Leads to Better Decisions – in air and on the ground.

Posted on May 3, 2011 by John Ratliff

We are at 9000’ 17.1nm SW of the GENOD intersection in Western North Carolina.  We are returning back to KILG from KRYY (McCollum Field in Atlanta) after another successful town hall meeting.  Our True Airspeed is 187kts and thanks to … Continue reading →

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Gaining Perspective and Finding What Motivates You

Posted on March 9, 2011 by John Ratliff

I’ve undertaken this journey to try and get perspective on my professional and personal life and to follow my yearly ritual of goal setting and self reflection on New Years Day.  It normally lasts well through the first quarter for … Continue reading →

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Embrace Your Opportunities

Posted on March 2, 2011 by John Ratliff

This is the first time I have written a blog post with the chills.  I am at 9000’ and 11.6nm from the Freeport VOR in route to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.  I am truing 187kts with a groundspeed of 183kts … Continue reading →

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The Sky High Perspective on Business

Posted on February 24, 2011 by John Ratliff

I am at 9000’ over a very chilly Lake Michigan having just departed KPWK airport in Chicago with our COO, Kevin O’Connor.  We are cleared direct to Wilmington and thanks to a nice tailwind we are doing 213kts over the … Continue reading →

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