Sam Sood

Sam’s unique talents and skills will support Kingdom Franchisees by supporting them from beginning to end and beyond for their clubs in the central part of New Jersey and Bucks County, PA!

Sam’s career began in the Tech sector transforming into Fin-tech where he excelled in roles at several leading banks, including multinationals such as Citi, Bank of America, and Credit Suisse.  In 2017, Sam took the bold step of becoming a franchisee for AFC urgent care brand known for its commitment to excellence and patient-centric approach. Under Sam’s leadership, his urgent care franchises received accolades for exceptional patient care, short wait times, and a skilled medical team. His ability to inspire and lead teams are a testament to his exceptional vision and business acumen. 

As an avid and accomplished pickleball player, Sam’s firsthand experience on the court gives him valuable insights into the needs and preferences of the pickleball community. Furthermore, his in-depth knowledge of the local real estate markets in New Jersey (NJ) and Pennsylvania (PA) adds another layer to his capabilities. This expertise is crucial in identifying and developing suitable locations for pickleball kingdom facilities, understanding the demographic trends, and tailoring strategies to meet the specific demands of the region. His strategic thinking and understanding of the sport and the local markets make him a valuable asset in expanding and establishing the presence of Pickleball Kingdom in these regions.

Sam Sood

Ace Rodrigues

Founder and CEO

When asked how he came up with the concept of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace likes to say, “On a windy, dirty court while standing in the sun waiting to play on January 9, 2021, I said out loud, ‘There has to be a better way.’ And then God threw this lightning bolt of a mission into my heart that has lit my brain on fire, and it’s been blazing ever since.”  

And the pickleball world has been better for it. Ace’s past experiences founding companies, scaling growth, and creating support networks, primarily in the financial services and energy efficiency sectors, serves him well in setting the go-forward vision to build Pickleball Kingdom.   

Having developed and coined numerous concepts and phrases that are now industry standards, Ace’s innovative approach continues to craft the path for not only the Kingdom brand, but the greater indoor pickleball industry itself. The creation of “Pickleball Paddle Battle,” a competition reality show is one such example of Ace’s leading-edge thinking.  

Originally from Hawaii, Ace has been married to Tracy for over 30 years and they have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Ace and Tracy love sports, movies, and eating out. 

What motivates him? “I’m the most blessed man on the planet. So, my drive is to create Kings and Queens of Kingdoms, which are our franchisees, first throughout America, then throughout the world.”