Meet Todd Gustke

At Smile Partners USA, we don’t believe you should have to. Todd Gustke, our Chief People Officer and one of the founding voices of our organization, took a moment to share how Smile Partners got started and how we’re building something different in a DSO space that often feels one-size-fits-all. Todd shared a powerful reflection on what happens when you center your business on people, not just process and how the right kind of partnership can actually enhance what doctors, and their teams have already built. 

The Early Days: Learning What Not to Do 

Todd’s story starts long before Smile Partners. Back in the mid-2000s, he was part of another dental group that scaled quickly expanding from a local base in Detroit to more than 250 offices across nine states. But the way they did it? Full standardization. New name, new brand, new uniforms, new systems. Every office looked and felt the same. It worked on paper, but the cultural impact was real.  

“I’d walk into a practice from corporate, smiling, and half the staff wanted to kick me in the shins,” Todd jokes. “We weren’t listening. We were forcing change without asking what was already working. And I don’t like being kicked in the shins.” That experience shaped everything that came next and when the opportunity arose to build something new alongside like-minded individuals who were also drawn to doing it differently, Todd was thrilled to step in and offer foundational support. 

When Smile Partners USA first came to life, it started with a blank canvas. A chance to take lessons learned and apply them to something more sustainable, more people-focused, and more respectful of the legacies that doctors had built. And almost immediately, a decision was made that would have a lasting impact. “At first, we thought we’d rebrand every office like other groups do,” Todd remembers. “But after really assessing and listening after that first partnership, we realized: there’s no upside in stripping away a practice’s identity. There’s more power in preserving what makes each one special.” That mindset became the backbone of who we are and how we grow. 

We Don’t Take Over. We Team Up. 

As Smile Partners USA has expanded across the country, one thing has stayed constant: this is a true partnership model. We don’t walk into practices and issue mandates. We show up, we listen, and we collaborate. Yes, we provide consistent back-office support including HR, payroll, IT, finance, legal, recruiting, marketing. But we do it in a way that lifts practices up, not flattens them out. “If we’re doing our jobs right,” Todd said, “the patients don’t even know Smile Partners exists. What they notice is a smoother visit, a happier team, and an experience that keeps getting better.” 

The Smile Partners USA integration process is high-touch and personal. We observe what works. We protect clinical autonomy. And when something doesn’t fit, we talk about it. Not everything has to change. Because when our doctors are co-owners in the bigger vision, which in our model they are, their voices aren’t just heard. They help shape what we do. 

Real Conversations, Not Corporate Scripts 

When potential partners come through our process, they’re not just talking to someone with a brochure and a slide deck. They’re talking to Todd. To our CEO Dave Gaspar. To the leaders who actually built this organization. To doctors and leadership who have walked in their shoes. People like Dr. John Poczatek, our Vice President of Clinical Affairs who owned and operated multiple thriving, premier dental practices before joining Smile Partners USA. The people on this team understand the perspective of our partners because, in some cases, they started as partners, believed in the vision, and have helped us continue to grow intentionally while remaining firmly rooted in who we are and what makes us as unique as the practices we serve. We tell potential partners who we are and what we do. We openly share what we don’t do. And then, “We give them a list of 30+ doctor partners and say, ‘Call any of them. No prep. No coaching. Just ask them what it’s like to work with us.’” That kind of transparency is how we operate on a molecular level. And because our partners are true equity owners in this journey, they want others to succeed alongside them. 

Like every DSO, we’ve built centralized systems where it makes sense. For example, we have systems in place where it improves efficiency, reduces headaches, and creates consistency without compromising individuality. But unlike many groups, we don’t treat practices like franchises. We aren’t looking to mass-produce the same experience 100 times over. We’re looking to build a network of distinct practices that benefit from shared, consistent, support not shared identities. “If it’s working, we’ll amplify it. If it’s not, we’ll help you pivot. But the key is: it’s a conversation. Not a command.” Todd shared. That flexibility, coupled with real accountability and partnership, is what keeps our model grounded in respect.  

The dental industry is evolving fast, and consolidation is happening whether we like it or not. But we believe there’s a way to grow responsibly, protect what matters, and still achieve the kind of scale that benefits everyone involved. “I really think we have a shot to change how DSOs are done,” Todd shared. “We’re already doing it with every new practice that joins us, every doctor who stays to help lead, and every patient who gets great care without even realizing the model behind it.” 

Todd is Chief People Officer at Smile Partners USA and has been with the organization since its founding. A proud Detroiter, dad of two, and lover of dogs, cooking, and connection, he brings more than just strategy to his role, he brings heart.