National Merchants Association Leadership

Jeff Socha is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ark Financial, a boutique financial consulting firm in Austin, Texas. Jeff has extensive experience in developing solutions for private business, entrepreneurs, and executives. Jeff has been involved in two political action committees through which he lobbied the United States Congress on finance and tax regulations. His solutions for lowering the risk of business ownership and increasing his clients' profitability have been nationally recognized. Jeff’s specialization in financial consulting is in his family’s roots - he spent years working in the family business, founded by his grandfather in 1950. After taking a position as a member agent at the Nautilus Group, Jeff later founded Ark Financial Group leading a team that includes a CPA, JD, MBA, CFP, CFA, and other advanced degrees to bring the best solutions to clients. Jeff is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and finance.

Tony Duckett is a SVP of Sales at VIVREAU North America, Chief Sales Officer at National Merchants Association, and Co Founder at School of Hard Locks and is based in Carlsbad, California. He has worked as VP, National Sales at Sodexo; Senior Vice President Sales at Buzztime Inc; and Executive Vice President Sales at Buzztime Inc. Tony studied at Lafayette College between 1981 and 1985.