Our Team
At Merritt Plus, our partners are our family and we firmly believe in putting family first. In every investment we make, we understand that we are not only investing in a company but the team that goes with it. With our family first approach, we have the ability to stay hands on and build relationships with our partners, so that our partners receive the attention that they deserve.
John Paul Merritt
Managing Partner
John Paul is the Managing Partner of Merritt Plus and is the founder and acting CEO of Pony Oil, which was founded in 2013. John Paul has grown Pony Oil organically through a blue-collar approach making Pony Oil one of the largest mineral and royalty acquirers in the U.S. John Paul prides himself on being a motivator of people, an inspirational leader, and generous to the colleagues around him who have helped Pony Oil grow to what it is today. In 2017, John Paul founded Merritt Plus, a family office focused on creating long-term sustainable value and opportunities for its strategic partners.
Jeffrey Merritt
Vice President
Vice President of Merritt Plus, Jeffrey Merritt, has been with the firm since 2014. He also serves as Vice President of Land for Pony Oil. After college, Jeffrey used his leadership skills and competitive drive to succeed as a Landman in the Midland Basin. Jeffrey has worked with hundreds of mineral owners across multiple states and basins. He graduated from Samford University in 2012 with a B.S. in Management. Jeffrey attended Samford University on a basketball scholarship where he was named Team Captain and Honorable Mention All-Conference.
Levi Pettit, CFA
Associate
Levi has been with the firm since 2019 and his responsibilities include identifying and evaluating private equity and venture capital investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and monitoring portfolio investments. Prior to joining Merritt +, Levi was an analyst at Veritex Community Bank. Levi graduated Magna Cum Laude as a Finance and Economics double major at The University of Texas at Dallas. Levi was a member of the UTD men’s golf team. During his career as a student-athlete, Levi became a two-time Cleveland/Srixon Academic All-America Scholar. Levi is a CFA® charterholder.
Addison Buck
Controller
Addison Buck joined the Merritt Plus family in January of 2017 as Controller, while also working as Project Manager for Pony Oil and YIPS. Prior to Merritt Plus, Mrs. Buck worked for American Energy Partners as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer for three and a half years. From 2009-2013, she worked at Chesapeake Energy in various roles for the IT and HR departments. Her background includes college recruiting, administrative and management roles. Mrs. Buck graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Communications degree and a minor in Spanish.