Successful office managers grow through experience, reflection, and a people-first mindset. Over the past five years, Maribel, the office manager at our Conway Oaks practice, has grown into a confident, impactful leader. Her approach blends strong systems with servant leadership and heart, offering powerful lessons for anyone looking to grow in office management within a DSO.

Maribel still remembers her first impression of Operation Dental clearly.

“It was very down-to-earth and welcoming,” she shares. “Right away, I saw growth opportunities.”

That early sense of openness and possibility turned out to be exactly right. While Operation Dental has grown significantly over the years, Maribel credits the organization for never losing sight of what matters most and for supporting the offices and teams that make that growth possible.

One of the most defining aspects of Maribel’s experience has been knowing her ideas are valued.

“I’ve given suggestions on improving workflow, implementing new ideas, and creating systems,” she says. “They’ve always been considered and even implemented when appropriate.”

When reflecting on the most significant change from her first year as an office manager to now, Maribel’s answer is simple yet powerful.

“My confidence,” said Maribel.

Over time, a culture of listening, mentorship, and hands-on experience shaped Maribel’s confidence as a leader and reinforced her belief that the best ideas often come from those closest to the work.

Years of leadership have taught Maribel that strong offices don’t run on reactions; they run on intention.

Some of her biggest lessons include listening to understand, building relationships first, maintaining consistent auditing for compliance, and creating checks and balances to ensure accuracy.

When reflecting on what Maribel credits most for her driven success, she doesn’t point to just one thing, but she points to a mindset. It’s a mindset rooted in clear, consistent communication, patience, and emotional intelligence reflected through servant leadership, a strong commitment to teamwork, and a constant desire to improve systems and processes. She is passionate about building leaders who can grow beyond her, and she takes pride in always leading by example.

Maribel leads her office by fostering a positive, productive, and mutually supportive environment, encouraging ideas, promoting collaborative problem-solving, and prioritizing a strong team culture.

Her patient-centered approach prioritizes warm smiles, clear, and compassionate communication to help reduce wait times, prevent burnout, and keep the team aligned while ensuring patients feel genuinely cared for.

Building trust starts with servant leadership, listening, observing, and learning how each team member receives feedback. Maribel believes accountability doesn’t have to damage morale. Her approach?

“If one person is struggling, others probably are too; it just isn’t visible yet. Address it as a team, explain the concern, and ask: ‘What can we do to make this better?’” said Maribel. “It creates a solution, but also has them be a part of the problem-solving process.”

By involving the team in the problem-solving process, accountability becomes empowering rather than discouraging. Maribel credits her strong support structures for her ability to perform at a high level, including the support of assistant managers and regional leadership, effective communication with the billing department, and clear, well-defined training guides.

She also emphasizes personal growth.

“Reading is so important. Investing time in self-growth books has taught me so much and reassured me that I’m on the right path,” says Maribel.

For Maribel, meaningful recognition goes beyond praise; it's about trust. That trust is shown through being recognized for creating new systems, being asked to train or mentor others, receiving office shout-outs in monthly newsletters, and being fairly compensated for hard work. These gestures reinforce that her leadership, innovation, and dedication are truly seen and valued.

For anyone feeling nervous about joining a growing DSO, Maribel offers this reassurance:

“There are endless opportunities. The sky is truly the limit if you show hard work and determination. If you’re tired of feeling stuck, this is where you want to be. It’s a positive, uplifting, forever-growing environment.”

She also encourages new office managers to slow down when emotions are high.

“If you feel strongly in the moment, reflect on that evening and address it the next day. You’ll be clearer and more effective instead of reacting emotionally,” she says.

As an office manager, Maribel’s leadership extends beyond day-to-day office management. She strengthens her team and develops future leaders by investing in individual growth and a people-first mindset.