UK: 0113 276 5060 USA: 423-239-9525
info@thesmilesfoundation.org

The Smiles Foundation’s Trustees

The Charity’s Trustees are the people responsible under the Charity Commission’s rules for controlling the management and administration of the Charity. The Trustees are committed to give time to the efficient administration of the charity and the fulfillment of its trusts. They are selected on the basis of their relevant experience and skills and take an active part in the running of the Charity. None of the trustees receives any remuneration for their time or professional involvement with the Charity.

Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States of America each have their own Board of Trustees, with Kevin Hoy, Chief Executive to the Foundation, being the consistent member of each Board.

Kevin Hoy
Chief Executive

Kevin trained and worked as an accountant before entering full-time ministry in Christian Artist Management in 1978. As co-founder of the Charity, his passion and energy for its work is in part the secret to its success.

Maria Hava (nee Cimpoca)
Romania Trustee

Maria joined Smiles in January 2003 as the fifth employee in a small but growing Charity. Today, we have over 100 employees – and Maria’s commitment to serve beyond the ‘call of duty’ is a testimony to what it sometimes takes to see such growth.

Mircea Toca
Romania Trustee

Mircea Toca is known to many for his loving care with wife Lidia, as House parents to House 5 at Caminul Felix in Romania . Having worked with Kevin for 20 years now, he was delighted to serve the Board in Romania for the development of Smiles.

Norman Adams
UK Trustee

Norman is a Chartered Accountant (CPA) and lives in Lisburn, Northern Ireland with his wife Elaine. They have been great supporters of Smiles for many years and made many trips to Romania. Norman supports Kevin with the business and finance development within Smiles as well as being a further help to Adrian Pogue, our DA in Northern Ireland, with the increasing demands which we have seen growing very fast in recent years in the region.

Gordon Cowan
UK Trustee

A successful business man, Gordon has been known to our Chief Executive for over 30 years. In the early ‘80’s, when Kevin Hoy was Managing Director to a Christian Record Company, he appointed Gordon as General Manager and they worked as a great team for several years. Gordon has since established and run various businesses and now serves on the Board of Charities and Business’s in his native Scotland. Gordon will bring new ideas, energy and vision to see the Smiles Foundation move forward on all levels.

Brian McKee
UK Trustee

Brian is a man of many talents and responsibilities. A Family man, an Elder at Church, Chair of a Youth for Christ Board for Europe & the Middle East and runs a successful business in Play Equipment based in Ballynahinch, Co Down. He has supported the work of Smiles for many years both at home, hosting the Romanian Choir at his Church in Northern Ireland as well as donating and installing Play Equipment at the Tileagd School in Romania.

Ian Steenson
UK Trustee

Ian runs his own Heating & Plumbing business in Northern Ireland. He is married to Wendy, and they have 3 sons and one daughter. Ian has been on many visits to Romania enjoying the hands-on work that uses his tremendous gifts to further the work of Smiles and impact the lives of so many through his building and practical abilities. Having also studied and trained at Bible College, Ian has true depth to his thoughts and vision on service and is a great addition to the Board of Trustees.

Mike Wildsmith
UK Trustee

Mike is Pastor at Bethesda Evangelical Church in Stockton Heath, near Warrington and has led our Pastor’s Conferences in Romania each time. Mike has known Smiles a long time, especially since he was pastor at our local church in Leeds for several years (City Evangelical Church). He and his wife Trish are great supporters of all we do and as a pastor, a tremendously valuable addition to the Board. Mike has also brought Mission Teams to Romania from previous churches where he has served.

Mark&Sheryl Jones
USA Trustee

Mark and Sheryl Jones are based in Phoenix AZ and have been strong supporters of the Missions Ministry for many years. Having retired early after selling their successful business, Mark now supports Smiles in a Development capacity on the West coast of America, Sheryl assists with finance and administration.

John Schwab
USA Trustee

Before retirement John Schwab was Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with a private wealth management company. He and his wife Donna have four children, Ryan, Anna, David and Brannon. His family have travelled to Romania for many years on mission trips and they have helped coordinate performances by Nia and the Gypsy Choir in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to raise significant awareness and funds for the work of Smiles.

Dante Rutstrom
USA Trustee

Dante joined the Board of Trustees in June 2021 having retired from Eastman Chemical Company after 32 years. He held several executive level positions and also had two international assignments totaling 8 years (Singapore and Shanghai). He is currently serving as a board member for The Good Shepherd Orphanage in Haiti, and also serves as a trustee for Gordon College, a leading Christian liberal arts college outside of Boston. Having done a couple of Mission Trips with Smiles, Dante and his wife Melanie were amazed by the impact in Romania and wanted to find a way to contribute.