A heartfelt reflection on the importance of welcoming new coworkers and building a supportive office culture through small acts of kindness and genuine connection.
Her Story
About Trista
Trista Mauller is a Client Advocate at Hylant, a Jacksonville, Florida, insurance brokerage, where she guides HR representatives through understanding and implementing employee benefits. She has been with the firm for nearly three years. She holds a 214 insurance license and is a notary public, and her earlier work in property management gave her a Community Association Manager license and a real estate license. A Jacksonville native, Trista graduated from Episcopal School of Jacksonville, formerly Episcopal High School, and began college studies in elementary education. She paused her studies to marry and raise two children, and she devoted fifteen years to being a stay-at-home mom. She then returned to the workforce through real estate and community association management. Her roles included Community Association Manager, Regional Manager for North Florida, teacher, and property manager, before she moved into insurance. She is a member of AINCAR and CAI. Outside her daily responsibilities, Trista is a member of a volunteer committee at her office that supports many local nonprofits. These include Ronald McDonald House, Wounded Warrior Project, Jax Humane Society, Feeding Northeast Florida, Foster Closet, and ACPS. She credits her friend and supervisor, Mary Hendrix, as a key mentor, and she draws on her teaching and parenting experience to mentor new colleagues. She is also a strong advocate for workplace volunteering.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Trista
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my friend Mary Hendrix, who recruited me and became my supervisor. She has been a significant mentor and a constant source of inspiration throughout my career.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
This role requires multitasking, client-facing responsibility, and a consistently positive, professional attitude. It is also very rewarding, and I am fortunate to work in an office with a strong sense of community. I encourage any woman considering this field to embrace those challenges.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Service to others is central to who I am. I love being part of my office's volunteer efforts, which support organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Jax Humane Society, ACPS, Foster Closet, and Feeding Northeast Florida. I believe companies should encourage and support employee volunteering. Being featured among influential women can expand one's network and validate one's work, but my main motivation is to advocate for workplace volunteerism. I also value mentoring my coworkers and staying involved in the community.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Trista
It Starts with Being Kind
How a Simple Act of Kindness Creates a Welcoming Workplace Culture
My husband and I see coworkers a little differently. For him, work is work, and coworkers don’t have to become friends. I get that—we’re there to do a job. But I’ve always been the person who wants to say hello, learn a name, and get to know the person sitting nearby.
I come by it honestly. My mother was a social butterfly, and I inherited her “gift of gab.” A quick trip to the grocery store or department store could turn into a conversation about someone’s whole life, children and grandchildren included. I’m not quite that chatty, but give me a choice between sitting in silence and talking with someone new, and I’ll usually start a conversation. Maybe being a mom of two grown kids and a former teacher has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, I’ve come to think of myself as The Office Buddy.
Remember your first day at a new job? You’re trying to learn names, find your way around, and figure out how everything works—all at once. That feeling doesn’t necessarily go away after the first week. I had a head start: the friend who recruited me is also my supervisor, and people made a point of coming over to welcome me. I felt comfortable from day one, but I still remember how much there was to take in.
One coworker in particular helped me find my feet. She retired not long after I started, but I still remember how she spent most of that first day with me. She gave me a tour, introduced me to people, and walked me through HR tasks, company software, email, Teams—all the little things that feel so big when you’re new. She didn’t have to take that time. She did it patiently and kindly, and I’ve never forgotten it. She is a mom and a grandmother, and I could feel the care she brought to that welcome.
That day made me want to be that person for the next newcomer. I know an office can call itself “a family” without feeling anything like one. I’m grateful ours is different. We’re a close group: we trust each other, rely on each other, and look out for each other. Why make someone wait weeks to feel part of it if a friendly welcome can help on day one?
So I tell new coworkers, “Stop by my desk or send me a Teams message if you have a question.” If an office event comes up before they’ve heard about it, I make sure they know they’re invited. Sometimes I just check in and ask how things are going. These are small gestures, and they aren’t in my job description. But someone made that space for me when I was new, and I want to keep paying it forward for as long as I’m here—hopefully until retirement.
You don’t have to become friends with every coworker to make their day a little easier. Say hello. Answer a question. Let someone know they’re included. I still remember the coworker who did those things for me, and I hope someone new will remember that I did the same for them. It starts with being kind.
Trista Mauller Client Advocate, Hylant Group
Discover how to get involved in community service and volunteer work. Learn about meaningful ways to help local nonprofits and make a real difference in your community, one act of kindness at a time.
It Starts with a Simple Question
Finding Your Place in Community Service: A Guide to Making a Meaningful Impact
Recently, someone sent me a message on LinkedIn after seeing the community service work I share on my personal page. Their question was simple: How can I get involved? It stayed with me because it was such a genuine reminder that sometimes people want to help - they just need to know where to begin.
I am proud to be part of our Jacksonville office's outreach volunteer committee. Together, we learn about local nonprofits, listen to what our community needs, and look for meaningful ways to lend a hand - whether an opportunity comes directly from an organization or is shared by a coworker.
Most recently, we supported the Pink Ribbon Foundation, which funds mammograms for people with little or no insurance. We welcome as many colleagues as possible because serving side by side gives us a chance not only to help others, but also to connect with one another.
We have walked and cared for dogs at the Jacksonville Humane Society and Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS), organized and distributed food with Feeding Northeast Florida, and coordinated several donation drives each year. By placing posters and collection boxes throughout our office park, we also make it easy for neighboring companies to join us. So far, we have supported more than 30 local nonprofit organizations, and every experience reminds us how much we can accomplish when people come together with a willingness to help.
Volunteer work matters, and it can be incredibly rewarding. If you have been thinking about getting involved, invite a few friends or coworkers to join you - or take the first step on your own. Reach out to a local organization, ask what would be most helpful, and start where you can.
It does not have to be a grand gesture to make a real difference. One act of kindness can change the day, the week, or even the life of one animal, one person, or one family. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple question - and the willingness to follow where it leads.
Trista Mauller
Client Advocate, Hylant Group
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