JEFFREY LANDI, FOUNDER
Jeffrey Landi was born in Queens, NY, which means that bold optimism and an incisive view of the world are built into his being. An intensely curious person, he harnessed that energy to attend California State University, Northridge for a degree in Business then went on to build a 25+ year career in technology, specifically software.
Curiosity led Jeffrey to adventure to 37 countries, bringing his family to many magical places. Country #36 was Nicaragua. It was there during a regular tourist visit that Jeffrey was struck by the beauty and the difficulty of the Nicaraguan story, and where he felt a profound pull to do something bigger and bolder.
Jeffrey went on to build a home in San Juan del Sur in 2019. It was quite clear that life for everyday Nicaraguans was hard and he was compelled to contribute. After a lunch with the leadership of the local hospital, Sonrisas Felices (Happy Smiles) was born in February, 2020; a philanthropic project that has brought dental services and education about oral health to over 15,000 people in remote villages/schools since inception.
Additionally, Sonrisas Felices provides full-ride university scholarships to girls of low income families, since Jeffrey believes there is no greater way to lift up a community than through education for girls.
Then, in January 2022 Jeffrey and a few partners created a small business with a social mission: to employ differently-abled people. They operate a restaurant and a plant nursery that employ deaf and other differently-abled staff, providing work opportunities to people living in the shadows of a very difficult economy.
Before Nicaragua, Jeffrey has never been a business owner or a dentist or a solid Spanish speaker or familiar with sign language. This is the power of curiosity, optimism, and love.
Jeffrey visits San Juan del Sur often and also resides in Campbell, CA.
KELLY FERNANDA GUTIÉRREZ MARTÍNEZ, PRINCIPAL DENTIST
Kelly Fernanda Gutiérrez Martínez serves as the organization's principal dentist. She completed her primary and secondary studies at the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Fátima, where she learned the importance of dedication and great values. Later, she decided to study dentistry at the UNICA Catholic University, motivated by her interest in health and caring for people.
Since February 2020, she has been working at Sonrisas Felices as a general dentist. She is in charge of performing different dental treatments, educating adult patients and thousands of school children on the importance of proper oral hygiene. She promotes dental care by distributing specialized oral health kits. Dr. Gutierrez feels immense satisfaction helping her patients improve their quality of life, since most people she encounters have never had access to dental services.
Board Members
Archana Shetty, Board Chair
Nathaniel Landi, Board Vice Chair
Kevin Dyels, Board Treasurer
Kaiya White-Fawn, Board Secretary